Content of the article
TORONTO — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was named Blue Jays Player of the Year Thursday in a vote by the Toronto Chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
Content of the article
The all-star first baseman had a .274 batting average, hit 32 homers and won a Gold Glove for his lineup.
Alek Manoah was named pitcher of the year and right-hander Ross Stripling was named most improved player.
Manoah went 16-7 in his first all-star season with 180 strikeouts and a 2.24 ERA in 196 2/3 innings pitched.
Stripling, who has spent most of his career as a longtime reliever, entered Toronto’s starting rotation and posted a career-best 10-4 record and 3.01 ERA. . He also had 111 strikeouts.
Broadcaster Buck Martinez and first baseman coach Mark Budzinski were named co-winners of the John Cerutti Award. The honor is awarded annually to those who demonstrate goodwill, cooperation and character.
Martinez, 73, walked away from the broadcast booth in mid-April after being diagnosed with cancer. He returned on July 26 after completing his treatment for the disease.
His ties to the Blue Jays date back to 1981 when he began a six-year stint as one of the team’s catchers.
Budzinski, Toronto’s first baseman coach, lost his 17-year-old daughter Julia in a fatal accident on the James River in Richmond, Virginia on July 2.
Source link-23
