Vlad Guerrero named MLB Outstanding DH
Major League Baseball announced today that Vladimir Guerrero has been voted as winner of the 2010 Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award. He joins Rafael Palmeiro (1999) as the only Texas players ever to win the award.
Guerrero batted .300 with 29 home runs and 115 RBI in 152 games for Texas last season. He led all designated hitters with a .306 average and 106 RBI in that role, also hitting 25 homers as the DH. Guerrero also played in the World Series for the first time.
The ODH award joins several other honors for
Guerrero, who was selected for the All-Star Game for a ninth time this year. He was named by Sporting News as A.L. Comeback Player of the Year and also selected to that publication’s A.L. All-Star team. He also earned his eighth career Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award.
The Outstanding Designated Hitter Award has been presented annually since 1973. In September 2004, Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced at Safeco Field ceremonies that the award would be renamed in honor of the retiring Edgar Martinez, who was a five-time ODH recipient (1995, 1997-98, 2000-01).
Votes are cast by club beat writers, broadcasters and American League public relations departments. Nominees included all players with a minimum of 100 at-bats as a designated hitter. Guerrero received 61 first-place votes out of 84 ballots. David Ortiz finished second, with Jim Thome ranking third.
JOSH HAMILTON NAMED 2010 TEXAS RANGERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Josh Hamilton earned another award today with the announcement of his selection as the 2010 Texas Rangers Player of the Year by the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Hamilton, who was selected as the 2010 BBWAA American League Most Valuable Player on Tuesday, will receive both of these awards at the Dr Pepper Mid-Winter Award Banquet on Friday, January 21 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine.
Hamilton was selected as the Rangers Player of the Year for the second time, previously winning in 2008.
Tickets for the banquet, which will honor a number of baseball personalities and feature appearances by Texas Rangers past and present, can be purchased at www.texasrangers.com or by calling 972-RANGERS.
The honorees will also include Neftali Feliz, who will be presented with his awards as the American League BBWAA Rookie of the Year and Rangers Rookie of the Year. Other award recipients will be announced in the upcoming weeks, including the Rangers 2010 Pitcher of the Year and the Harold McKinney Good Guy recipient.
Tickets for the Dr Pepper Mid-Winter Awards Banquet are priced at $75.00 each with tables of ten available for $750.00. Net proceeds benefit the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m.
