Local BBWAA chapter hands out Reds awards

CINCINNATI -- The Reds announced their 2013 Major League and Minor League award winners for the organization during Redsfest.

The local chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America named center fielder Shin-Soo Choo the Ernie Lombardi Award winner as the team's Most Valuable Player. Choo batted .285 with 21 home runs, 54 RBIs, 20 steals and a .423 on-base percentage last season.

Starting pitcher Mat Latos earned the Johnny Vander Meer Award as most outstanding pitcher. Latos was 14-7 with a 3.16 ERA in 32 starts.

Right fielder Jay Bruce received the Joe Nuxhall Good Guy Award.

On the Minor League side, third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean received the Sheldon "Chief" Bender Award as the organization's Minor League player of the year. Mejias-Brean batted .305 with 11 homers and 82 RBIs for Class A Dayton and Bakersfield.

Dayton outfielder Jesse Winker was named hitter of the year after he batted .281 with 16 homers and 76 RBIs. Right-hander Robert Stephenson was the pitcher of the year after he went 7-7 with a 2.99 ERA in 22 games at Dayton, Bakersfield and Double-A Pensacola. Second baseman Brent Peterson, who reached Pensacola last season, received the Minor League community service award.