ARLINGTON -- Former Rangers pitcher Matt Harrison will be honored as the 2017 winner of the Mark Holtz Alumni Award at the club's awards banquet on Jan. 20 at Gilley's Dallas.
Harrison, acquired in a 2007 trade with the Braves, was with the Rangers from 2008-15, going 50-35 with a 4.21 ERA in 135 games, including 103 starts.
His first three years with the Rangers were marked by injury, but he flourished as a front-line starter in 2011. In 30 starts and one relief appearance, he was 14-9 with a 3.39 ERA as the Rangers went to the World Series for the second straight season.
Harrison was even better in 2012, going 18-11 with a 3.29 ERA in 32 starts. He pitched for the American League in the All-Star Game and was the Rangers' Pitcher of the Year.
Harrison, signing a five-year contract extension, spent the next three seasons battling a congenital back condition that could not be fixed. He made nine starts in those three seasons before being traded to the Phillies on July 31, 2015, in the Cole Hamels deal as a way of balancing the financial considerations of the deal. He never pitched for the Phillies before retiring because of the back condition.
Minor League Awards announced
The Rangers have announced their 2016 Minor League Awards:
Tom Grieve Player of the Year: C Jose Trevino
In 109 games for Class A Advanced High Desert, Trevino hit .303 with 30 doubles, nine home runs and 69 RBIs. He was also the top defensive catcher in the league, throwing out 48 percent of attempted basestealers, while being named to the California League All-Star Team.
Nolan Ryan Pitcher of the Year: LHP Yohander Mendez 
Pitching at three levels, Mendez was a combined 12-3 with a 2.19 ERA in 21 starts and three relief appearances.
Defender of the Year: 1B Ronald Guzman 
Guzman had the highest fielding percentage at his position in the Texas League. He was a Texas League All-Star and played in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.
Reliever of the Year: RHP John Fasola
Fasola combined to go 5-1 with a 3.18 ERA (18 ER/51.0 IP) over 38 relief appearances with Triple-A Round Rock, Double-A Frisco, and High Desert in 2016. He led the Rangers' farm system with 11 saves.