Orioles announce 2012 award winners for player development & scouting

The Orioles today announced the winners of their player development and scouting awards for 2012, including OF L.J. HOES as the club's top minor league player and RHP DYLAN BUNDY as the club's top minor league pitcher. The winners will be honored before tonight's game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Hoes, the Brooks Robinson Minor League Player of the Year, hit a combined .287 with five home runs and 54 runs batted in for Norfolk and Bowie. He also had a .372 on-base percentage, 20 stolen bases and 79 runs scored. His 79 runs scored ranked him second in the organization. He had the 5th-most stolen bases in the organization. Hoes' 147 hits were the 3rd-most and his 65 walks were the 4th-most in the organization. His .287 batting average was the 4th-highest among qualifying Orioles minor league players. He was the Orioles' Minor League Player of the Month for August, during which he hit .321 with a home run, 15 runs batted in, 18 runs scored and two stolen bases. He was the Orioles' third round selection in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of St. John's High School in Washington, D.C. and was signed by Orioles scout, Dean Albany who will present Hoes with the award. The Orioles selected Hoes's contract on September 11.

Bundy, the Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year, went a combined 9-3 with a 2.08 ERA in 103.2 innings pitched as a 19-year-old in his first professional season. After spending time at Bowie, Frederick and Delmarva, Bundy earned a promotion to the major leagues in September. Bundy was named a Minor League All-Star by Baseball America one year after being selected fourth overall in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Owasso (OK) High School, signed by Orioles scout, Ernie Jacobs. He was also a Mid-Season All-Star and the Pitcher of the Week for the week ending August 6 in the Carolina League. He was the Orioles' Pitcher of the Month for April, during which he struck out 25 batters and walked two in 17.0 innings at Delmarva. Bundy earned the win in the MLB Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game in Kansas City, allowing three hits in a scoreless 4th inning for the U.S. team. Bundy's 119 strikeouts were the 2nd-most among Orioles minor leaguers. Following the minor league season, he was named the number two prospect in the minors by MLB.com. Bundy was recalled by the Orioles on September 19 and was the first Oriole to debut before his 20th birthday since RHP MIKE ADAMSON, July 1, 1967 (19 years, 291 days) when he debuted on September 23 in Boston. Orioles Director of Pitching Development, Rick Peterson will present the award.

LHP TRENT HOWARD has been named this year's recipient of the Elrod Hendricks Minor League Community Service Award.  Howard, the Orioles' seventh-round pick in 2011 out of Central Michigan University, has displayed outstanding character both on and off the field. He was part of numerous appearances in the community (approximately 30 hours' worth) including baseball camps around Frederick and Washington D.C. Howard also attended library reading events, charity walks and visits. Orioles Director of Baseball Administration, Tripp Norton will present the award.

Director of Pitching Development RICK PETERSON is the winner of the Cal Ripken Sr. Player Development Award, presented to a minor league staff member who exemplifies the qualities of the late Oriole who is regarded as the architect of "The Oriole Way". Peterson completed his first season with the Orioles in a new position working with Orioles' minor league pitchers to help maintain consistency in their deliveries and routines, using the ASMI Biomechanical Pitching Analysis with the Orioles, which employs precise measurements to aid pitchers in refining their deliveries. Orioles Director of Player Personnel, John Stockstill will present the award.

Special Assignment Scout JIM HOWARD will receive the Jim Russo Scout of the Year Award, named in honor of the man who spent 33 years in various scouting capacities with the Orioles beginning with their move from St. Louis in 1954.  Howard has been an Orioles scout for 24 years, having started with the organization in 1988. He contributed directly to the 2012 Orioles squad by making key recommendations to acquire pitchers JASON HAMMEL and MATT LINDSTROM. He signed All-Star closer JIM JOHNSON after the Orioles selected him in the 5th Round of the 2001 Draft out of Union-Endicott (NY) High School and was instrumental in the decision to draft RHP KEVIN GAUSMAN 4th overall in the 2012 First Year Player Draft out of Louisiana State University. Orioles Director of Scouting, Gary Rajsich will present the award.

2012 AWARD WINNERS

Brooks Robinson Minor League Player of the Year: L.J. Hoes (Norfolk/Bowie)
Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year: Dylan Bundy (Bowie/Frederick/Delmarva)
Elrod Hendricks Minor League Community Service Award: Trent Howard (Frederick/Delmarva)
Cal Ripken, Sr. Player Development Award: Rick Peterson (Director of Pitching Development)
Jim Russo Scout of the Year Award: Jim Howard