Yankees name RHP D.J. Mitchell and C Austin Romine winners of the 2011 Kevin Lawn “Pitcher of the Year” and “Player of the Year” awards

The New York Yankees today announced that

right-handed pitcher D.J. Mitchell

and catcher Austin Romine were named winners of the Yankees' 2011 Kevin Lawn Award as the Yankees' minor league "Pitcher of the Year" and "Player of the Year," respectively. The two players will receive their awards prior to today's Yankees-Twins game at George M. Steinbrenner Field, scheduled to begin at 1:05 p.m.

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.

Mitchell, 24, went 13-9 with a 3.18 ERA in 28 games (24 starts) with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2011. He led all Yankees farmhands in wins and ranked third in ERA. Among International League hurlers, he ranked second in both wins and innings pitched (161.1IP). As a starter, Mitchell went 12-9 with a 3.40 ERA, allowing 3ER or less in 18 of his 24 starts. He tossed a league-high-tying three complete games, including back-to-back shutouts on July 2 at Pawtucket and July 9 vs. Rochester. In four relief appearances, he went 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA, holding his opponents to just 1ER in 13.0IP.

Romine, 23, spent the majority of the 2011 season with Double-A Trenton, batting .286 (96-for-336) with 43 runs, 13 doubles, six home runs and 47 RBI in 85 games, earning a spot on the Eastern League's midseason All-Star team. He caught 23.9% (27-for-113) of potential base stealers with the Thunder, ranking seventh in the league in caught stealing percentage. Romine was selected to the Yankees' active roster from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on September 11, and made his Major League debut that same day at Los-Angeles-AL. In nine games (four starts at the catcher position) at the Major League level, he hit .158 (3-for-19) with two runs. Following the season, he was tabbed by Baseball America as the Yankees' eighth-best prospect and as the organization's "Best Defensive Catcher."

Each player will be presented with a trophy designed by C & C Awards, as well as a designer watch, courtesy of Manfredi Jewels.

NEW YORK YANKEES KEVIN LAWN AWARD WINNERS