Quakes with 4 All-Stars; Rylan Bannon Named MVP

August 21, 2018 - California League (CalL1)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes News Release

Rancho Cucamonga, CA - California League Post-Season Awards were announced by the league office today and for the fourth time in team history, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are sporting the league's MVP, as former Quake Rylan Bannon has been voted as the 2018 California League Most Valuable Player. Awards are voted on by Managers, Radio Broadcasters, Media and General Managers.

In addition, Bannon has also been named the league's Rookie of the Year, an award given to a Cal League Player in his first "full" year in pro baseball. It's the second time in as many years that the Quakes have swept both the MVP and ROY awards, as DJ Peters nailed down both those honors in 2017.

Bannon joins Brandon Wood (2005), Corey Seager (2014) and Peters (2017) as former Quakes to win the league's MVP honor. This year's award is much different than when Peters took home the trophy last season, as Bannon isn't just a former Quake, he's also a former Dodgers' farmhand, as he was a key piece of the trade that netted them Manny Machado, with Bannon being one of five players traded to the Baltimore Orioles.

Over 89 games with the Quakes in 2018, Bannon the former eighth-round pick out of Xavier in 2017 hit .296 with a league-high 20 homers (at the time of the trade) and 61 RBIs. He also led the league in walks (59) and had an on-base percentage of .402.

Bannon wasn't the only Quake to be honored on Tuesday, as Gavin Lux (SS), Cody Thomas (OF) and Dustin May (P) were also recognized as Cal League post-season All-Stars.

Lux was an MVP candidate before his recent promotion to Tulsa, as he left the Cal League with the top batting average (.324) to go along with a career-best 11 homers and 48 RBIs.

Dustin May was also recently shipped to Double-A Tulsa, as he left Rancho with a 7-3 record and a 3.29 ERA over 17 starts.

Cody Thomas is the only player still left on the active roster, as his blistering second half numbers (.279 avg, 14 HR, 43 RBIs) were no doubt a big reason.

Congrats to all of our Quakes Post-Season All-Stars and best of luck to all three who have moved on from Rancho. Your contributions will not be forgotten by the fans and by the players who are still here, trying to win a Cal League Championship!

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes SS Gavin Lux (Chloe Melanson)	Rancho Cucamonga Quakes pitcher Dustin May (Chloe Melanson)	Rancho Cucamonga Quakes outfielder Cody Thomas (Chloe Melanson)
Rylan Bannon with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Chloe Melanson)

• Discuss this story on the California League message board...

California League Stories from August 21, 2018

• Santa and White Go Deep in 9-3 Win - Modesto Nuts
• Quakes Back in the Win Column, Drop Lancaster - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
• Quakes Strike Early to Defeat JetHawks - Lancaster JetHawks
• JetHawks Receive Four Postseason All-Star Selections - Lancaster JetHawks
• Magnante Named 2018 Cal League Manager of the Year - Stockton Ports
• Quakes with 4 All-Stars; Rylan Bannon Named MVP - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
• Emilio Vargas Named Pitcher of the Year - Visalia Rawhide
• 2018 on Field Awards and Post Season All-Stars Announced - CalL1

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Stories

• Ports End Quakes' Streak at Eight
• Make It Eight Straight for Quakes
• Quakes Keep Rolling with Walk-Off Walk
• Rancho Win-Streak Reaches Six
• Quakes Roll 66ers on Sunday