Dave Duncan to receive Roland Hemond Award tonight
Baseball America celebrates the life of Tony Gwynn, hands out its top honors at awards gala in San Diego
SAN DIEGO - Baseball America will honor San Diego icon Tony Gwynn and present 12 of its annual postseason honors at its Awards Gala during the Winter Meetings tonight. Gwynn, who not only had a Hall of Fame career with the San Diego Padres but also served as the coach at San Diego State until his death in June, will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, to be accepted by his wife Alicia and his children. The award will be named in Gwynn's honor going forward.
Arizona Diamondbacks Special Assistant to the General Manager/Pitching Consultant Dave Duncan will receive the Roland Hemond Award, honoring lifetime achievement in scouting and player development.
The Awards Gala will have a distinct San Diego flavor, with local product Alex Jackson winning BA's High School Player of the Year Award, and Cubs prospect Kris Bryant, who played his college ball at the University of San Diego, winning the Minor League Player of the Year Award.
BA's top annual honor, Organization of the Year, will go to the Kansas City Royals. The Royals broke a 29-year postseason drought and raced all the way to Game Seven of the World Series to earn this year's nod.
"There are parents who have kids now who have no idea what this is like," Royals assistant general manager J.J. Picollo told BA. "They didn't grow up coming to the ballpark. They didn't want to invest their time or money. That's all going to change. That's been probably the most rewarding and impactful thing is how this city is going to embrace baseball again."
Other awards to be presented at the gala are:
Major League Player of the Year: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
Major League Rookie of the Year: Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox
Major League Executive of the Year: Dan Duquette, Baltimore Orioles
Major League Manager of the Year: Buck Showalter, Baltimore Orioles
Minor League Executive of the Year: Sam Bernabe, Iowa Cubs
Minor League Manager of the Year: Mark Johnson, Kane County Cougars/Chicago Cubs
Ripken Baseball Youth Coach of the Year: Todd Fine, Top Tier Sports
College Player of the Year: A.J. Reed, Kentucky
Roland Hemond Award: Dave Duncan, Arizona Diamondbacks