Outfielder Johan Rojas and right-handed pitcher Orion Kerkering were selected as the 2023 Paul Owens Award winners, the Philadelphia Phillies announced Thursday.
The award is given annually to the top position player and pitcher in Philadelphia’s minor league system.
Rojas posted a .306 batting average with 20 doubles, nine home runs, 45 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases in 76 games with the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils this season before being promoted to Philadelphia. The 23-year-old was leading the Eastern League with 98 hits, five triples and 56 runs when he was promoted to the majors on July 14.
“Johan is in the middle of an outstanding season,” Phillies director of player development Preston Mattingly said in a statement. “From the first day of spring training, it was evident that Johan was motivated to show he could impact our major league team. We’re proud of his commitment to preparation and his daily improvement plans. We think Johan is just scratching the surface, and with continued development, will play in Philadelphia for years to come.”
Rojas, known for his defense, went into Thursday hitting .301 with two homers, 21 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 52 games for the Phillies.
Kerkering is 4-1 with 14 saves and a 1.51 ERA in 49 relief appearances across four levels this season. He began his season with Single-A Clearwater in April and after stops in High-A Jersey Shore and Reading, Kerkering was promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sept. 18.
Kerkering, 22 and a fifth-round pick in the 2022 draft, posted a team-leading 2.05 ERA and seven saves in 21 games with Reading this season. He is ranked as Philadelphia’s No. 7 overall prospect and the top reliever in the Phillies’ farm system, according to MLB Pipeline.
“Orion’s performance speaks for itself, but this award was won in the offseason with hard work,” Mattingly said. “Orion committed to improving all aspects of his game and it led to success and stops at all four affiliates. We are proud of the leader he has become and look forward to the bright future ahead.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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