The Guardians organization is on a roll.
It started at the 2023 Winter Meetings, when Cleveland won the first overall pick in the 2024 draft lottery.
It continued when the Guardians won 92 games and the American League Central division title.
It continued when Cleveland advanced to the AL Championship Series and when Stephen Vogt was voted AL Manager of the Year.
Another accolade for the Guardians: The organization’s High-A Lake County affiliate is the Baseball America Minor League Team of the Year.
That is a lot of hardware, and a lot of winning, even for a franchise on a roll.
“Winning is part of development,” Guardians assistant GM James Harris said. “The goal is to play what we call ‘Guards ball’ and be the best version of ourselves that we can be.”
Under manager Omir Santos, the Lake County Captains were all of that, and more, in 2024. The team went 77-53 (.592) then beat Wisconsin in the best-of-three championship series to win the Midwest League title.
The Captains led the MWL in runs scored and fewest runs allowed. They led in walks and on-base percentage and ranked second in stolen bases and slugging. Lake County pitchers allowed the fewest baserunners.
“When we looked at our roster at the start of the year, we were quite excited,” Harris said. “Then at midseason, we moved some guys up and got even more excited.”
Among those midseason additions were 21-year-old lefthander Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson, who was summoned to Lake County from Low-A Lynchburg, where in eight starts he allowed five earned runs with 71 strikeouts in 40.1 innings.
Denne historien er fra December 2024/January 2025-utgaven av Baseball America.
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Denne historien er fra December 2024/January 2025-utgaven av Baseball America.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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INDEPENDENT/PARTNER LEAGUES PLAYER OF THE YEAR ADAM FOGEL, MISSOULA PADDLEHEADS
Adam Fogel sets the Pioneer League home run record in a season to remember
MINOR LEAGUE EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR MIKE ABRAMSON, HARTFORD YARD GOATS
Hartford GM Mike Abramson’s tireless dedication has made the Yard Goats one of the best tickets in the minor leagues
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MINOR LEAGUE MANAGER OFTHEYEAR ZACH VINCEJ, MODESTO
Zach Vincej led Modesto to back-to-back California League championships with teams brimming with top Mariners talent
MINOR LEAGUE TEAM OF THE YEAR LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS
The low-payroll Guardians rely on homegrown talent to fuel MLB success. Midwest League-champion Lake County provides optimism for the future.
MLB COACH OF THE YEAR CHRIS FETTER, TIGERS
Chris Fetter applies all the right touches to a Tigers pitching staff that clawed its way toward the top
MLB EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR MATT ARNOLD, BREWERS
Continuity is the Brewers’ secret weapon. Matt Arnold made sure the 2024 club met expectations
MLB MANAGER OF THE YEAR DAVE ROBERTS, DODGERS
The Dodgers’ Dave Roberts has done things few managers have ever done. Now, he’s finally getting his due.
