MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Brewers have announced the recipients of the 2018 Robin Yount Performance Awards, presented annually to the organization's top minor league performers. Right-handed pitcher Zack Brown was named Brewers Minor League Pitcher of the Year and center fielder Corey Ray was named Brewers Minor League Player of the Year. The pair play for the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers, who are currently competing in the Southern League Championship Series.
"Zack and Corey were both tremendous all year long," said Milwaukee Brewers Farm Director Tom Flanagan. "Their contributions stood out on a very talented Biloxi team, and helped propel them to the Southern League Championship Series. Corey was fully healthy and that allowed him to display his tools as well as rack up some impressive numbers. Zack is a premium competitor and that, combined with the type of talent he possesses, makes him a pretty special package."
Brown finished the year 9-1 with a 2.44 ERA (125.2ip, 34er) with 36 walks and 116 strikeouts in 22 games (21 starts) with the Shuckers. The 22-year-old led both the Southern League and organization in ERA. He also ranked among league leaders in WHIP (2nd, 1.04), opponent batting average (2nd, .207) and fewest walks per nine innings for starting pitchers (2nd, 9.91).
The Brewers fifth-round selection from the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Kentucky was named Southern League Most Outstanding Pitcher as well as both a midseason and postseason All-Star. In addition, he was named the league's Pitcher of the Week for June 12-17 after tossing a complete game 1-hitter and striking out 8 in a 5-0 win over the Mississippi Braves.
Brown was also selected as the organization's Pitcher of the Month for May, going 3-0 with a 1.62 ERA (39ip, 7er), 12 walks and 34 strikeouts in 6 starts. He was signed by area scout Jeff Simpson.
Ray ended his third year in the Brewers system with an .801 OPS in 135 games with Biloxi. The 23-year-old finished his campaign first in the Southern League in home runs (27), extra-base hits (66), steals (37), total bases (254), slugging percentage (.477) and tied for first in doubles (32). He placed second in runs (86) and games, third in hits (127) and fourth in RBI (74) and triples (7). This led to his selection as the league's MVP. Ray was both a midseason and postseason All-Star and was also selected as the circuit's Player of the Month for July (29 games, .273/.333/.628, 11 HR, 27 RBI, 13 SB) and Player of the Week for July 16-22 (6 games, .478/.520/1.043, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 3 SB).
The outfielder was selected as the Brewers first selection (fifth overall) in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Louisville. He was also signed by Jeff Simpson.