Dodgers News: April Dodger Pride Awards Announced, Pederson Honored
On Monday, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced the winners of the Dodger Pride Awards for the month of April. Created in 2008 by Ned Colletti, these awards are meant to honor two minor league players from every level who have exemplified aggressive and intelligent play and are voted upon by the players and staff of each respective team.
It comes as no surprise to see Joc Pederson earn the honors for Triple-A Albuquerque. Leading the Pacific Coast League in a handful of offensive categories, the young prospect has been a star for the Isotopes so far. Pitcher Henry Sosa also received the honors for the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate. For the Lookouts, right-handed pitcher Tyson Brummett and outfielder Scott Schebler received the monthly reward as reliever Matt Shelton and Corey Seager were awarded at the Single-A level. Similarly for the Great Lakes Loons, a right-handed reliever as well as an outfielder in Michael Johnson and Joey Curletta received the Dodger Pride Award honors.
Read the official press release from the Los Angeles Dodgers below:
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced the April 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 April are as follows:
Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
Pitcher – RHP Henry Sosa posted a 1-0 record with a 2.61 ERA (9 ER/31.0 IP), striking out 21 batters against seven walks in five April starts for the Isotopes. The right-hander held opposing batters to a .233 batting average (27-for-116), while allowing only one home run in the month. The 12-year professional, who made 10 starts for the Houston Astros in 2011, was signed by the Dodgers as a free agent on December 13, 2013.
Player – OF Joc Pederson finished April among the Pacific Coast League leaders in several offensive categories including batting average (.398, 2nd), runs (22, T-3rd), hits (39, 1st), home runs (6, T-3rd), and stolen bases (9, T-2nd). On the year, the left-handed hitting outfielder is batting .368 (50-for-136) with 11 home runs and 22 RBI, including a .418 batting average (38-for-91) against right-handed pitching. Through 36 games this season, Pederson has also tallied 15 multi-hit games, including six performances with three or more hits. The Northern California native was selected in the 11th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft and entered 2014 as the Dodgers’ No. 1 prospect according to Baseball America.
Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts
Pitcher – RHP Tyson Brummett went 2-1 and allowed only one run in 23.0 innings spanning four April starts, leading the Southern League in ERA (0.39) and ranking sixth in opponents’ batting average (.181). On the season, the former UCLA pitcher is 3-3 with a 0.83 ERA (4 ER/43.1 IP) and has allowed one run or less in six of his seven starts for the Lookouts. With runners in scoring position this season, the right-hander has allowed only four hits (4-for-36), good for a .111 batting average. Brummett signed with the Dodgers as a free agent on February 20, 2014, after being drafted by the Phillies in the seventh round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.
Player – OF Scott Schebler drove in 16 runs (T-7th, Southern League) and clubbed five homers (T-2nd, Southern League) in 25 April games for Double-A Chattanooga. On the year, the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native has a .258 batting average with six homers, four triples and 21 RBI, and has excelled in clutch situations, batting .300 (9-for-30) with runners in scoring position. The 23-year-old, who was selected in the 26th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, was the Dodgers’ 2013 Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year after batting .296 in 125 games for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga last season.
Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Player – RHP Matt Shelton went 1-1 in April with a 1.76 ERA (3 ER/15.1 IP) in eight appearances for the Quakes, limiting opponents to a .228 batting average (13-for-57) and pitching scoreless relief in seven of his eight outings. The Texas native struck out 14 batters and walked only one in April before being promoted to Double-A Chattanooga on May 1, where he has made four appearances for the Lookouts. The 25-year-old was selected by Los Angeles in the 24th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.
Player – INF Corey Seager batted .294 (25-for-85) in April, powering 10 extra-base hits, while tallying 13 RBI in 20 games for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. On the young season, the 20-year-old has raised his average to .333 (40-for-120) with two homers, 11 doubles, two triples and 15 RBI, batting .429 (15-for-35) with a .512 on-base percentage in nine May games. Seager was selected by the Dodgers in the first round (18th overall) of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft and entered 2014 as the Dodgers’ second-best prospect according to Baseball America.
Single-A Great Lakes Loons
Player – RHP Michael Johnson posted a 1-1 record with a 1.35 ERA (2 ER/13.1 IP) and a save in eight April appearances. The right-handed reliever limited opposing hitters to a .200 batting average (10-for-50) with 19 strikeouts and five walks. On the season, the Massachusetts native has a 1.47 ERA (3 ER/18.1 IP) and 22 strikeouts in 11 appearances for the Loons. The 23-year-old, who was selected in the 14th round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, led the Ivy League with seven wins as a senior at Dartmouth College in 2012.
Player – OF Joey Curletta had a terrific month of April, as he was among the Midwest League leaders in several offensive categories, including batting average (.368, 2nd), runs (18, T-3rd), hits (39, 1st), doubles (9, T-3rd) and RBI (15, T-6th) in 25 games for Great Lakes. Overall this season, Curletta has posted a .356 batting average (52-for-146) in 35 games, which ranks second among Midwest League hitters, and has seven three-hit performances for Great Lakes. The Arizona native was selected by the Dodgers in the sixth round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.
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