ARLINGTON -- Nick Neidert, the Mariners' top-ranked pitching prospect, was named the team's top Minor League pitcher on Monday after a standout season at High-A Modesto and Double-A Arkansas, while the club honored breakout outfielder Ian Miller as its Minor League Hitter of the Year.
Neidert, the Mariners' No. 2 prospect, per MLBPipeline.com, received the "Jamie Moyer Minor League Pitcher of the Year Award" after going 11-6 with a 3.45 ERA in 25 starts overall. The 20-year-old was 10-3 with a 2.76 ERA in 19 starts for Modesto and was just named to Baseball America's High-A Level All-Star Team for the best players in the California, Carolina and Florida State leagues. Neidert was a second-round Draft pick out of Peachtree Ridge High in Atlanta in 2015.
Miller, the Mariners' No. 23 prospect, earned the Ken Griffey Jr. Award as the organization's top hitter. The 25-year-old speedster batted .307 with 85 runs and 43 stolen bases in 124 games between Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma. He was a 14th round Draft pick in 2013 out of Wagner College in New York.
Infielder Chris Mariscal, who split the year between Modesto and Arkansas, received the Alvin Davis "Mr. Mariner" Award.
Infielder Jordan Cowan from Modesto earned the Edgar Martinez PTPA (Productive Team Plate Appearance) Award, while right-hander Ljay Newsome from Class A Clinton received the 60-feet, 6-inch Award, a first-year honor designed to reward the pitcher who best adopted the club's control-the-zone philosophy.
Outfielder Dimas Ojeda of Clinton was given the Dan Wilson Minor League Community Service Award, while Cesar Nicolas of the Dominican Summer League Mariners received the Dave Henderson Minor League Staff Member of the Year award.
All seven award winners will be honored in a pregame ceremony at Safeco Field prior to the Mariners' game against the A's on Friday, Sept. 22.
Worth noting
• Felix Hernandez and James Paxton threw bullpen sessions on Monday at Globe Life Park as their final mound work before returning from the disabled list later this week. Hernandez will start Thursday's series finale against the Rangers, with Paxton to follow on Friday in Houston.
Mariners manager Scott Servais said Hernandez will be limited to about 50 pitches in his first outing since July 31, due to shoulder bursitis, while Paxton -- out since Aug. 10 with a strained left pectoral muscle -- could go a little longer.