Dodgers News: May Dodger Pride Award Winners Announced, Romak Honored
On Friday, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced the winners of the Dodger Pride Awards for the month of May. The award was created by Ned Colletti in 2008 and is meant to exemplify the exceptional players the Dodgers have at each level of their farm system.
For the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, pitcher Yimi Garcia and recent Dodger call-up Jamie Romak were given the award. For the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts, left-handed pitcher Chris Reed and infielder Darnell Sweeney took home the award.
For the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, right-handed pitcher Blake Smith and top Dodger prospect Corey Seager were given the monthly award. Lastly, for the Single-A Great Lakes Loons, right-handed pitcher Mark Pope and catcher Kyle Farmer were given the Dodgers prestigious award.
You can read the Dodgers official press statement regarding it below:
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced the May winners of the Dodger Pride Awards. The Dodger Pride Awards were created in 2008 by General Manager Ned Colletti, and are issued on a monthly basis to the players at each level of the club’s minor league system who play the game with a hustling, smart, aggressive style. The players and staff on each respective club vote for the awards.
The winners for May are as follows:
Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
Pitcher – RHP Yimi Garcia posted a 1.50 ERA in May, striking out 12 batters and only giving up one walk in ten games. The reliever contained batters to a .217 batting average, without allowing a home run. The 23-year old signed with the Dodgers in 2009 as a non-drafted free agent.
Player – INF/OF Jamie Romak batted .303 with a Pacific Coast League-leading ten homers, six doubles and 18 RBIs in 25 games for the month of May. Romak was called up by the Dodgers on May 28th and made his Major League debut on that same day. The Atlanta Braves drafted the 28-year old in 2003.
Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts
Pitcher – LHP Chris Reed led all Southern League pitchers with 38 strikeouts in May and held a 3.97 ERA in his six starts. Reed earned a spot on the Southern League Mid-Season All-Star team. The 24-year old was selected 16th overall by the Dodgers in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.
Player – INF Darnell Sweeney hit for a .325 batting average in the month of May, hitting for 13 extra-base hits, while getting 18 RBIs in 30 games for the Lookouts. Sweeney was selected in the 13th round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft by the Dodgers from the University of Central Florida.
Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Pitcher – RHP Blake Smith went 1-1 with five saves in six opportunities for the Quakes. He posted a 3.77 ERA while getting a 13-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 11 May games. Smith was selected by the Dodgers in the second round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.
Player – INF Corey Seager led the California League in batting average, doubles, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage in 27 games for the month of May. Seager was selected as a Mid-Season All-Star and was drafted 18th overall by the Dodgers in the first round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.
Single-A Great Lakers Loons
Pitcher – RHP Mark Pope went 5-for-5 in save opportunities and did not allow a run in 11 innings pitched in May. Pope was selected in the fifth round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft and was signed as a free agent by the Dodgers on January 16th, 2014.
Player – C Kyle Farmer contributed a .288 batting average in 22 May games. Farmer was selected to the Midwest League Mid-Season All-Star team. The Dodgers selected the 23-year old in the eighth round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft.
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