ARLINGTON -- Rangers pitcher Jake Diekman has been selected as the recipient of the 53rd Hutch Award and will be honored on Jan. 24 in Seattle. Diekman is the first Rangers player to receive the honor.
The award is presented annually by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. It honors the Major League player who "best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire" of former Major League pitcher and manager Fred Hutchinson, who passed away from cancer at age 45 in 1964 while managing the Cincinnati Reds.
Diekman has been dealing with ulcerative colitis for much of his life and underwent three operations in the past year to remove his colon and replace it with a reservoir. Following the surgeries on Jan. 25, April 12, and June 9, Diekman made a remarkable recovery and returned to the Rangers in September. He ended up with a 2.53 ERA in 11 appearances.
In August 2017, Jake and his fiancé, Amanda Soltero, announced the creation of the Gut It Out Foundation to further raise awareness and funding. Diekman will be honored at the 2018 Hutch Award Luncheon presented by Premera Blue Cross on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at Seattle's Safeco Field. Hutchinson was a native of Seattle.