Yankees name RHP Michael King and INF Brandon Wagner winners of the 2018 Kevin Lawn “Pitcher of the Year” and “Player of the Year” awards

March 16th, 2019

The New York Yankees announced today that right-handed pitcher Michael King and infielder Brandon Wagner were named winners of the 2018 Kevin Lawn Award as the Yankees’ minor league “Pitcher of the Year” and “Player of the Year,” respectively. The two players received their awards prior to today's Yankees game vs. the Toronto Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

The annual awards are dedicated to Kevin O’Brien Lawn—the son of longtime Yankees Vice President and Chief of Operations Jack Lawn—who passed away in 1999.

King, 23, combined to go 11-5 with two complete games and a 1.79 ERA (161.1IP, 118H, 43R/32ER, 29BB, 152K, 8HR) in 25 games (24 starts) with Single-A Tampa, Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In addition to ranking second among all minor leaguers in ERA (min. 100.0IP), the Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star led Yankees farmhands in strikeouts and ERA and was second in wins. In his first month at the Triple-A level, the Rochester, N.Y., native earned International League August “Pitcher of the Month” honors after going 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA (33.0IP, 4ER) in five starts. Following the season, he was named to _Baseball America_’s Minor League All-Star Second Team and was ranked the No. 5 prospect in the Yankees organization by the same publication.

Wagner, 23, hit .267/.380/.461 (116-for-434) with 68R, 21 doubles, 21HR, 67RBI and 70BB in 124 games between Single-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton. Among Yankees minor leaguers, the left-handed hitter ranked second in home runs and fourth in RBI en route to MiLB.com Organization All-Star accolades. He was named a Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star and finished tied for second in the league with 20HR. The Princeton, N.J., native made multiple starts at first, second and third base.

Each player was presented with a trophy designed by C&C Awards, as well as a designer watch, courtesy of Betteridge Jewelers.

NEW YORK YANKEES KEVIN LAWN AWARD WINNERS

**                   Player of the Year                                              Pitcher of the Year**

2018          INF Brandon Wagner (TAM/TRE)                           RHP Michael King (TAM/TRE/SWB)

2017          3B Miguel Andújar (TRE/SWB)                               RHP Domingo Acevedo (TAM/TRE/SWB)

2016          OF Aaron Judge (SWB)                                           RHP Chance Adams (TAM/TRE)

2015          C Gary Sánchez (TRE/SWB)                                    RHP Luis Severino (TRE/SWB)

2014          INF Rob Refsnyder (TRE/SWB)                               RHP Luis Severino (CHA/TAM/TRE)

2013          1B Greg Bird (CHA)                                                 RHP Shane Greene (TAM/TRE)

2012          OF Tyler Austin (GCL/CHA/TAM/TRE)                   RHP Mark Montgomery (TAM/TRE)

2011          C Austin Romine (TRE/SWB)                                  RHP D. J. Mitchell (SWB)

2010          SS Eduardo Nuñez (SWB)                                       RHP David Phelps (TRE/SWB)

2009          C Austin Romine (TAM)                                         RHP Zach McAllister (TRE)

2008          OF Brett Gardner (SWB)                                         LHP Phil Coke (TRE/SWB)

2007         OF Austin Jackson (CHA/TAM/SWB)                    RHP Ian Kennedy (TAM/TRE/SWB)

2006         1B Cody Ehlers (TAM)                                            RHP Phil Hughes (TRE)

2005         OF Kevin Thompson (COL/TRE)                            RHP Matt DeSalvo (TRE)

2004         1B Andy Phillips (COL/TRE)                                   RHP Chien-Ming Wang (TRE/COL)

2003         C Dioner Navarro (TAM/TRE)                                RHP Jorge DePaula (COL)

2002         2B Andy Phillips (COL/NOR)                                LHP Danny Borrell (NOR/TAM)

                                                                                       RHP Jorge DePaula (NOR)

2001          OF Juan Rivera (COL/NOR)                                   LHP Brandon Claussen (NOR/TAM)

                   OF Marcus Thames (NOR)

2000         3B Scott Seabol (NOR)                                           LHP Randy Keisler (COL)

1999         2B D’Angelo Jimenez (COL)                                LHP Ed Yarnall (COL)

                   1B Nick Johnson (NOR)                                         

1998         1B Nick Johnson (TAM)                                          RHP Ryan Bradley (TAM/NOR/COL)

1997         3B Mike Lowell (COL/NOR)                                  LHP Eric Milton (NOR/TAM)

1996         OF Ricky Ledee (COL/NOR)                                 RHP Jay Tessmer (TAM)

1995         SS Derek Jeter (COL)                                             RHP Matt Drews (TAM)

1994         SS Derek Jeter (TAM/ALB/COL)                           LHP Andy Pettitte (COL/ALB)

1993         OF Billy Masse (COL)                                             LHP Ryan Karp (ALB/PRW/GBO)

1992         1B J.T. Snow (COL)                                                RHP Sam Militello (COL)

1991         C Kiki Hernandez (GBO/PW)                                RHP Ed Martel (ALB/COL)

                   SS Dave Silvestri (ALB)                                          RHP Sam Militello (PW/ALB)

1990         OF Hensley Meulens (COL)                                  RHP Dave Eiland (COL)

1989         1B Hal Morris (COL)                                               LHP Steve Adkins (FTL/ALB)

1988         1B Kevin Maas (PRW/ALB)                                    RHP Todd Malone (SAR)

1987         OF Darren Reed (COL)                                          RHP Dana Ridenour (FTL)

1986         3B Chris Alvarez (FTL)                                           RHP Logan Easley (ALB)

1985         OF Dan Pasqua (COL)                                            RHP Brad Arnsberg (ALB)

1984         C/OF Scott Bradley (COL)                                     LHP Jim Deshaies (COL)

1983         OF Brian Dayett (COL)                                            RHP Jose Rijo (FTL/NSH)

1982         OF Matt Winters (GBO/NSH)                                 RHP Bob Tewksbury (FTL)

1981         1B Don Mattingly (COL)                                        LHP Pete Filson (FTL/NSH)

1980         1B Steve Balboni (NSH)                                         RHP Gene Nelson (FTL)