Around the League

Nash, Thompson, Garcia & Backman Take Home Annual Honors

Atlantic League announces Player, Pitcher, Rawlings Gold Glove Defensive Player and Manager of the Year winners
(Nash photo courtesy of Joe Doll, Thompson and Garcia photos courtesy of Bert Hindman/Memories Photography, Backman photo courtesy of Long Island Ducks)

 

(Lancaster, Pa., Nov. 7, 2019) – The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball today announced the recipients of four 2019 post-season awards, including the league’s Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Rawlings Gold Glove Defensive Player of the Year and Manager of the Year. Results were based upon voting from league club administrators and field managers.

York Revolution infielder Telvin Nash has been named the Atlantic League’s Player of the Year. Nash led the Atlantic League in a host of offensive categories during the 2019 season. He made a thrilling run for the Triple Crown, ranking first in home runs (41) and RBIs (100) while finishing sixth in batting average (.294). The first baseman also led the ALPB in runs scored (107), total bases (303), walks (105), extra-base hits (77), on-base percentage (.423), slugging percentage (.623) and OPS (1.046). Additionally, the 28-year-old ended the season second in games played (137), third in doubles (35), tied for fourth in hits (143) and fifth in at bats (486). The fifth-year Rev was selected to play in the Atlantic League All-Star Game in York on July 10 and helped lead the Revolution to a second half Freedom Division Championship. Earlier this week, he was named to the league Post-Season All-Star Team at first base.

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs starting pitcher Daryl Thompson has been chosen as the Atlantic League’s Pitcher of the Year. Thompson dominated on the hill in 2019, also flirting with the league’s Triple Crown. The right-hander led the Atlantic League in wins (15) and strikeouts (162) while ranking fourth in ERA (3.13). His 162 punchouts were just two shy of tying the league’s single-season record of 164, set by Jonathan Albaladejo (Bridgeport, 2016). The 34-year-old also led the ALPB with 28 games started and 192.2 innings pitched and was tied for the league lead with four complete games. His 1.01 WHIP ranked second in the league, while his .230 opponents’ batting average was third best. The eighth-year Blue Crab collected 11 consecutive wins from June 19 to August 13 and was named the league’s Pitcher of the Month in July. Thompson pitched for the Freedom Division at the Atlantic League All-Star Game in York on July 10, and earlier this week, he was selected to both the ALPB’s Post-Season All-Star Team and the Red, White and Blue All-Defensive Team.

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs infielder Edwin Garcia has been selected as the Rawlings Gold Glove Defensive Player of the Year. This marks the second consecutive season that Garcia has won the honor. He appeared in 113 games at shortstop during the 2019 campaign and posted an impressive .974 fielding percentage at the position. The 28-year-old also played 24 games at second base and made just one error, good for a .991 fielding percentage. He committed just 14 errors in the field during his 137 games played. The third-year Blue Crab also totaled 343 assists, 263 putouts and 620 total chances while helping turn 102 double plays. Earlier this week, Garcia was selected to both the Post-Season All-Star Team and Red, White and Blue All-Defensive Team at shortstop.

Long Island Ducks manager Wally Backman has been named the Atlantic League’s Manager of the Year. In his first season at the helm of the Ducks, he led the club to a franchise regular season record 86 wins. That total eclipsed the previous record of 82 under the guidance of Bud Harrelson during the team’s inaugural season of 2000. Long Island’s 86-54 record was the best in the Atlantic League in 2019, 11 games better than any other club. Additionally, the 14-year Major League veteran infielder saw 15 Ducks players have their contracts purchased by Major League or foreign professional organizations. Backman guided the Ducks to Liberty Division Championships in both the first and second half of the season, just the second time in team history that they won both halves. The 60-year-old led the Flock to their fourth consecutive Liberty Division Championship, becoming the first team in league history to accomplish the feat. Then, he capped the season with Long Island’s fourth Atlantic League Championship in team history with a 3-2 series win over the Sugar Land Skeeters.

The Atlantic League will wrap up its 2019 post-season award announcements on Friday, November 8. Among the final awards unveiled will be the Joe Klein Executive of the Year, the Ken Shepard Award for Promotional Excellence, the Ray Cipperly Award for Groundskeeping Excellence, Mascot of the Year, Ballpark of the Year, Promotion of the Year and Outstanding Club Community Service Award.

About The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

With eight teams in the Mid-Atlantic and Texas, the ALPB is a leader in baseball innovation and a player gateway to Major League Baseball. Through its exclusive partnership with MLB, the Atlantic League tests Major League Baseball rules and equipment initiatives. The Atlantic League has sent over 950 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 42 million fans to its affordable, family-friendly ballparks throughout its 22-year history.

For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
 

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