SURPRISE, Ariz. -- With all of the people who make up the Royals¡¯ Spring Training complex -- from players to coaches to staff members ¨C gathered inside the indoor batting cages early Saturday morning, the Royals announced their 2024 organizational award winners, recognizing standout performances from all parts of the Minor League affiliates in front of the big league club.
¡°I talk about this all the time, but as I stand here in front of an army of baseball players, there¡¯s nothing like this in all of sports,¡± Royals CEO/chairman John Sherman said. ¡°What it takes to put together a team that¡¯s capable of winning a championship, there¡¯s nothing like it. Minor League affiliates, scouts all over the world, and the players.
¡°This is a proud and storied franchise. It¡¯s incredibly important we recognize our past and the achievements of players and coaches who helped us get here today.¡±
¡°Our culture is strong,¡± general manager J.J. Picollo added. ¡°Sitting here today and watching our Major League team recognizing you, it¡¯s a true team effort. All our successes are tied together. Everyone who¡¯s involved, it¡¯s a huge operation, and the most important thing is the culture¡¯s got to be good.¡±
The Royals recognized their 2024 overall award winners, like the George Brett Hitter of the Year Blake Mitchell (Royals¡¯ No. 2 prospect) and Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year Steven Zobac (No. 7). That group was celebrated last year on Futures Night at Kauffman Stadium.
Saturday¡¯s ceremony expanded that recognition to all areas of the Minor Leagues.
Kansas City handed out rings to the entire Triple-A Omaha team, which won the 2024 International League with a league-best 89-59 record. The Storm Chasers lost to Sugar Land (Houston) in the Triple-A National Championship game, but the league championship was the Chasers¡¯ eighth league title in franchise history.
Monica Ramirez, the Royals¡¯ education/ESL and Latin American initiatives coordinator, handed out diplomas to her Latin students who graduated her ESL program by scoring 90% or higher on an exam: Lizandro Rodriguez, Yunior Marte, Jose Catano and Bryan Gonzalez.
Royals infielder Maikel Garcia was part of this group after becoming the first student in Ramirez¡¯s program to graduate while in the Major Leagues.
Ramirez honored Marte, the 2024 Carlos Fortuna Award winner, given to a player who is dedicated to improving his English and who exemplifies leadership, work ethic, discipline and dedication -- all traits of Fortuna, a Royals player who died in 2013 after a battle with cancer.
With the help of Royals catcher Freddy Fermin, who was the 2019 recipient of the Carlos Fortuna Award, Marte was recognized not only for his nine appearances made between the Arizona Complex League and Single-A Columbia, but also for his dedication to education. Since signing with the Royals in January 2022, Marte has graduated from high school and is currently taking college classes online.
¡°This is an honor for me to present this award to this player who has a constant attitude of service,¡± Fermin said, introducing Marte. ¡°He is a great leader with his teammates and for all Latinos. He¡¯s worked really hard to learn the language.¡±
In addition to their overall player award winners, the Royals recognize a pitcher and player of the year for all seven Minor League teams:
Double-A: Outfielder Gavin Cross (No. 6) and righty Steven Zobac
High-A: Catcher Carter Jensen (No. 3) and righty Ethan Bosacker
Single-A: Catcher Blake Mitchell and righty Felix Arronde
ACL Royals: Catcher Ramon Ramirez (No. 10) and righty Julio Rosario
Dominican Summer League Ventura: Infielder Jose Cerice and righty Jorge Herrera
DSL Fortuna: Outfielder Raimel Medina and righty Marwys Cabrera
The Royals also recognized the following player development award winners:
? Dick Howser Award, recognizing a player development employee for outstanding contributions to the organization: J.C. Boscan, Royals Minor League catching coordinator
? Matt Minker Award, recognizing an outstanding Minor League affiliate employee: Nicholas Badders, Triple-A Omaha broadcast and media relations manager
? Mike Coolbaugh Award, a Minor League Baseball award presented to an individual who has shown outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game and skill in mentoring young players on the field: Chino Cadahia, Royals special assistant to the GM/player development, who received a standing ovation from the entire room to end the ceremony.