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Minicozzi wins Giants' spring Jordan Award

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Giants sprinkled a dash of glory upon Mark Minicozzi's remarkable baseball potpourri Monday when he received the Harry S. Jordan Award in a vote among teammates and coaches.

Named in honor of a former longtime Minor League athletic trainer for the club, the award is given in recognition of the player in his first big league camp whose performance and dedication in Spring Training best exemplifies the San Francisco Giants spirit.

Minicozzi's spirit might be unparalleled. He underwent three significant surgeries, nearly quit as an active player due to health reasons, spent three years with independent-league teams after sitting out a season to heal himself, went to Nicaragua to remain active as a ballplayer and rejoined the Giants organization in 2012, mostly due to a well-timed phone call, after a four-year absence.

That's a highly abridged version of his saga.

"There's nothing better than to get an award from your peers and coaches," said Minicozzi, a non-roster invitee to big league camp who edged right-hander Derek Law in the voting. "... Like I said before, two years ago at this time I was sitting on the couch, hoping to have a uniform."

Said manager Bruce Bochy, "[With] his attitude and enthusiasm, [the award] was well-earned."

Minicozzi, who was sent to Minor League camp last Friday, expressed excitement over his assignment to Triple-A Fresno. The 31-year-old never has played above Double-A, where he was an All-Star last year with the Giants' Richmond affiliate.

Minicozzi owns a .238 (10-for-42) batting average with two home runs and three RBIs in 19 games for the Giants this spring.

Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Haft-Baked Ideas, and follow him on Twitter at @sfgiantsbeat.
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