Goins among club's Minor League award winners
BALTIMORE -- Infielder Ryan Goins headlines the list of Blue Jays prospects who received this year's R. Howard Webster Awards, which recognize the most valuable players on each of the club's Minor League affiliates.
Goins was named MVP at Triple-A Buffalo after he hit .257 with 22 doubles and a .311 on-base percentage in 111 games. The Texas native also provided well-above average defense at shortstop with an impressive .981 fielding percentage during a year that also included a handful of games at second and third base.
It marks the second consecutive Webster Award for Goins after he was named MVP for Double-A New Hampshire following the 2012 season.
"I like everything I've seen out of him," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said of Goins, who was called up at the end of August. "He was there all year long and he's just a good steady baseball player. It's a good honor for him."
The other winners announced Tuesday included outfielder Brad Glenn (Double-A New Hampshire), second baseman Jon Berti (Class A Dunedin), outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. (Class A Lansing), first baseman L.B. Dantzler (Class A Vancouver), first baseman Matt Dean (Rookie Advanced), shortstop Franklin Barreto (Rookie League) and Miguel Castro (Dominican Summer League).
Barreto is ranked the club's No. 18 overall prospect, according to MLB.com. He signed for $1.45 million last July and made his debut this year in the Gulf Coast League. He ranked second on the team with a .299 average, first in the league with a .529 slugging percentage while also hitting 16 doubles, six triples, four homers and 30 runs.
Dean finds himself as the Blue Jays' No. 20 prospect on MLB.com's list. He signed an over-slot deal after being taken in the 13th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft and made his debut last year in the Appalachian League. He won the batting title in the same league this season with a .338 average and a .909 OPS. Dean also added 14 doubles, three triples, six homers and 37 runs in 63 regular-season games.