Photo By Mets.com
Every year the Mets give out the Sterling Awards to recognize the most valuable player at each Minor League level while giving one to the best hitter and pitcher overall as well. Here are this years winners:
- Minor League pitcher of the year – RHP Robert Gsellman was a Florida State League All-Star going 7-7 with a 3.51 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and allowed just 5 homeruns in 143.1 innings combined for St. Lucie and Binghamton.
- Minor League position player of the year – OF Michael Conforto was also a FSL All-Star and Futures Game participant while hitting .297/.372/.482 with 24 doubles, three triples, 12 homeruns, 54 RBI and 46 runs in 91 games between St. Lucie and Binghamton.
- Las Vegas – OF Travis Taijeron led the Mets minor leagues with his career high 25 homeruns and hit .274/.393/.536 with 147 strikeouts in 127 games for the Las Vegas 51’s.
- Binghamton – SS Gavin Cecchini racked up the accolades this year thanks to a breakout offensive year in which he hit .317/.377/.442 with 26 doubles, four triples, seven homeruns, 51 RBI, 64 runs and had a 42/55 BB/SO in 109 AA games. He was a midseason and postseason Eastern League All-Star, EL player of the month for July and was also the EL Rookie of the Year.
- St. Lucie – 1B Dominic Smith had a breakout year of his own being named the Florida State League Player of the Year after leading the league with 33 doubles and 79 RBI. In 118 games for the St. Lucie Mets he slashed an impressive .305/.354/.417 and will be only 20 years old still when the 2016 season starts. He also scored 64 runs, hit six homeruns, and played gold glove caliber defense at first base.
- Savannah – SS Luis Guillorme was the South Atlantic League Most Valuable Player this year after finishing second with his .318 average and 142 hits to go along with his .391 OBP which was 4th. He knocked in 55 runs despite having only 11 extra base hits thanks to his .353/.416/.383 with runners in scoring position. He is another gold glove caliber defender.
- Brooklyn – Closer Alex Palsha allowed one run on ten hits and nine walks in 24.2 innings while striking out 34. He was 13-14 in save opportunities for the Cylcones before getting a cup of coffee (1.2 IP) with Savannah at the of the year.
- Kingsport – OF Kevin Kaczmarski was the Mets 2015 9th round pick and led the Appalachian League with his .355 average. He final slash line was .355/.415/.512 with 18 doubles, five triples, four homeruns, 47 runs, 34 RBI and stolen 20 bases. The lefty hitter played all three outfield positions with the majority (50 games) coming in left field. 1B/C Patrick Mazeika was the Mets 2015 8th round pick, he led the APPL with 27 doubles and his .451 on-base percentage. He hit .354/.451/.540 with five homeruns, 48 RBI and a 24/26 BB/SO ratio. The lefty hitter played 31 games behind the plate and 11 at first base. Both him and Kevin were named postseason All-Stars.
- Gulf Coast League – RHP Adonis Uceta pitched to a 3.07 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 13 games (10 starts) for the GCL Mets (one start for Kingsport). He allowed only one homerun in 67.1 innings and had a 52/11 SO/BB ratio this season.
- Dominican Summer League – OF Wagner Lagrange hit .347/.404/.417 in his first taste of pro ball. RHP Nicolas Debora went 5-2 with a 1.65 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 15 games (10 starts).
Steven Matz won pitcher of the year last season while Dilson Herrera was the position player of the year. Here is the full list of last years winners.
