Batter's Box Interactive Magazine

2011 Webster Awards

On Saturday the Blue Jays handed out the 2011 R Howard Webster Awards. In addition the Jays presented several other awards to their on-field and off-field staff.

I was at the Jay's game on Saturday and I have some pictures of the winners to share.

Three of the winners could not be present to receive their award. This year the last Saturday home game for the Blue Jays was September 17th. Historically this is a very early date and as a result two of the affiliates were still in playoff action. Had the Jays had a home game this weekend all the winners could have come to Toronto.

The missing were Travis d'Arnaud, Jake Marisnick, Justin Nicolino and Jairo Labourt. The first three were in the playoffs while the DSL winner doesn't usually make it to Toronto. In addition Anthony Gose, who won the community service award, was unable to attend.

The Blue Jays hosted the awards dinner on Saturday night and in addition to the award winners the minor league managers of the year were invited as well as the GM's of the affiliates.

With four players missing there were only four winners in the building, they were David Cooper; AJ Jimenez; Chris Hawkins; and Jorge Vega-Rosado. Here they are with Jays minor league bosses Charlie Wilson on the left and Doug Davis on the right of Cooper:

You are familiar with Cooper so I won't post his presentation picture, here is Jimenez getting his award.

Chris Hawkins who as you can see is a big lad.

And finally Vega-Rosado who is not tall.

I had a few minutes to chat with Doug Davis and the transcript of that abbreviated conversation will be on Da Box tomorrow.

Posted by Gerry on Wednesday, September 21 2011 @ 04:33 AM EDT.

2011 Webster Awards | 11 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

TamRa - Wednesday, September 21 2011 @ 05:08 AM EDT (#244353) #

He like to be called Chino Vega, which is certainly much easier to write - i say we roll with it (and the official roster catches up with the situation)

also, it's a hella cool name IMO.

92-93 - Wednesday, September 21 2011 @ 10:30 AM EDT (#244366) #

I've read a lot of very positive reviews on Christopher Hawkins. He could be flying a bit under the radar here.

dan gordon - Wednesday, September 21 2011 @ 01:27 PM EDT (#244379) #

Hawkins had quite a good season. A nice line of .318/.375/.492/.866 in Bluefield at the age of 19/20 (just turned 20 last month). Major improvement over last year's performance with the Gulf Coast League team. He could be in Lansing next year. He also stole 14 bases in 18 tries and had 6 triples, so can run, too. Another nice thing to see - a lefty batter who actually hit better against LHP. From that picture he's obviously heavier than his listed weight of 195 - he's 6'2".

Vega had a very similar line to Hawkins, .317/.380/.470/..850 at a level one notch lower. Vega is 4 months younger than Hawkins and plays a premium defensive position, SS. Vega stole 22 bases in 26 attempts, so he is a significant baserunning threat. With the large number of quality middle infielders in the lower minors, it will be interesting to see where guys like Vega play next year. Vega could be a nice steal at round 28 in the 2011 draft. Hawkins was a 3rd rounder in 2010.

PeteMoss - Wednesday, September 21 2011 @ 01:50 PM EDT (#244382) #

Baseball America just released their top prospects for the Appy league. Jays on the list:
4. Noah Syndergaard, rhp, Bluefield Blue Jays
11. Chris Hawkins, of, Bluefield Blue Jays
12. Aaron Sanchez, rhp, Bluefield Blue Jays

Miguel Sano of the Twins is #1 to no surprise.

PeteMoss - Wednesday, September 21 2011 @ 01:52 PM EDT (#244383) #

I assume these were posted before... just for the sake of having everything together, here's the GCL Jays rankings:

8. Adonys Cardona, rhp, Blue Jays
15. Joe Musgrove, rhp, Blue Jays

greenfrog - Wednesday, September 21 2011 @ 02:02 PM EDT (#244386) #

The Yankees did pretty well by selecting Dante Bichette Jr. in the 2011 draft (51st overall selection - in contrast, Musgrove was chosen 46th overall by the Jays). BA ranked Bichette the #1 prospect in the GCL, where he hit 342/446/505, displaying "an advanced approach at the plate, good bat speed and plus-plus power."

Gerry - Wednesday, September 21 2011 @ 02:32 PM EDT (#244391) #

Vega-Rosado may want to be called Chino but the Jays PA announcer called him Jorge and that was what was on the jumbotron.

Gerry - Wednesday, September 21 2011 @ 02:43 PM EDT (#244393) #

And, if you look carefully, on his plaque.

85bluejay - Wednesday, September 21 2011 @ 03:48 PM EDT (#244401) #

The jays having 3 top 20 Appy league prospects is nice - of course, the Rays having 7 is a bummer.

uglyone - Wednesday, September 21 2011 @ 04:18 PM EDT (#244404) #

Nice to see Cardona getting ranked. That kid is the youngest real prospect in the system, and he put up numbers this year comparable to any of the older guys he played with this year. This kid might be a good one.

I'd like to hear more about Vega's defense, because if he can stick at SS, the batting line he put up this year is mighty impressive, and might vault him to the top of our SS prospect list.

TheBunk - Wednesday, September 21 2011 @ 05:34 PM EDT (#244407) #

Chris Hawkins is the safest bet to be in Lansing next year of all the short season offensive prospects.

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