CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Linton Named Matt Minker Award Recipient by Royals

Published on March 20, 2013 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - It is always an incredible honor for any employee of a Kansas City Royals minor league affiliate to receive the Matt Minker Award, but it means a little bit more to the Wilmington Blue Rocks. That is because the honor, given annually to the most outstanding employee of a Royals farm club, was named after the man who founded the franchise, late owner Matt Minker. He would have been proud on Monday, as Blue Rocks community affairs director Kevin P. Linton was presented with the award by Minker's brother, Jack, during a ceremony held at the Royals spring training complex in Surprise, AZ.

It marks the third time a Blue Rocks employee has won the award. Chris Kemple was celebrated in 2009 while Andrew Layman received the honor in 2011.

Linton is in his 12th season with the Blue Rocks, and his third as the Director of Community Affairs. The 35-year-old served for three seasons as a sales and group sales executive and three seasons as assistant director of media relations. After four seasons as director of promotions, Linton took over the community affairs department in 2011.

The Lancaster, PA native has continued and evened broadened the Blue Rocks deep entrenchment in the First State community. He shepherds the organization's school programs and also organizes its charity drives. His passion is aiding others, and Linton has helped the Blue Rocks to do exactly that by reading to children, visiting sick kids and their families in the hospital, promoting outstanding achievement in the classroom and healthy living for everyone.

Those are not his only duties with the Blue Rocks, however. When the team lost a dear member of its baseball family on June 16, 2005, when longtime Frawley Stadium voice John "Johnny Mac" McAdams passed away at the age of 64, it was Linton who was left to fill the void. In a special in-stadium memorial service for McAdams on June 18, 2005, Linton was introduced by Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles stadium announcer Dan Baker, as just the second public address announcer in Frawley Stadium history. It is a role he has filled with distinction since.

A 1999 graduate of the University of Delaware, Linton earned a bachelor's degree in recreation and parks administration. Known as the "Voice of the Bob Carpenter Center," he recently completed his 11th season as men's and women's basketball public address announcer at the University of Delaware. Linton has also served eight seasons as the "Voice of Delaware Stadium" for the Fightin' Blue Hens football team.

The Blue Rocks begin their 2013 season on April 4 in Myrtle Beach. After a seven-game road trip, the Rocks return to Wilmington for their home opener on Friday, April 12 at 7:05 p.m. Individual tickets for that and every other Blue Rocks game during the 2013 campaign are on sale now by visiting bluerocks.com .

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Carolina League Stories from March 20, 2013


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