51s Announce Season Awards For 2015 Campaign
LAS VEGAS: The Las Vegas 51s professional baseball team, the 2013 & 2014 Pacific Conference Southern Division Champions, and Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, announced today the 2015 season awards for the players. The Las Vegas franchise has been a member of the Pacific Coast League for 33 seasons.
51s President/COO Don Logan announced the following awards: Mayor's Trophy: Outfielder Travis Taijeron; Most Valuable Player: Infielder/Outfielder Brandon Allen; Most Valuable Pitcher: Left-hander Steven Matz; Community Service Award: Infielder/Outfielder Brandon Allen & right-handed pitcher Chasen Bradford.
The Mayor's Trophy has been given annually since 1983 and is voted on by the fans. The previous winners of the Mayor's Trophy:
1983: Harry Dunlop, manager 1999: Rico Rossy, INF
1984: Rick Lancellotti, OF 2000: Greg LaRocca, INF
1985: John Kruk, 1B/OF - PCL batting champion 2001: Chris Prieto, OF
1986: Tim Pyznarksi, INF 2002: Luke Allen, OF
1987: Steve Garcia, INF 2003: Joe Thurston, 2B
1988: Joey Cora, INF 2004: Rick Bell, 3B
1989: Jerald Clark, OF 2005: Cody Ross, OF
1990: Joey Cora, INF 2006: Delwyn Young, OF
1991: Jose Mota, INF 2007: John Lindsey, INF
1992: Jim Vatcher, OF 2008: John Lindsey, INF
1993: Brian Johnson, C 2009: Randy Ruiz, INF
1994: Luis Lopez, INF 2010: J.P. Arencibia, C
1995: Ira Smith, OF 2011: David Cooper, INF
1996: Rico Rossy, INF 2012: Adeiny Hechavarria, SS
1997: Doug Dascenzo, OF 2013: Wilmer Flores, INF
1998: George Arias, INF 2014: Matt den Dekker, OF
Travis Taijeron (Mayor's Trophy): The outfielder leads the team in games played (123), home runs (25, career-high, 2nd in PCL), RBI (70), walks (63), HBP (13) and ranks tied/3rd in the PCL in on-base percentage (.396). He was named to the PCL All-Star Team on July 1.
Taijeron belted a season-high three home runs (4 RBI) vs. Omaha on August 17; was 2-for-4, two home runs, 5 RBI at El Paso on August 12 and 2-for-5, HR, 5 RBI at Salt Lake on June 25.
He has hit two home runs in a game four times and compiled 26 multiple-hit games and hit safely in 73 games. He compiled a season-high 7-game hitting streak twice: (July 24-30) and batted .455 (10-for-22) over that stretch and (May 16-24) and batted .385 (10-for-26) over that stretch.
Brandon Allen (Most Valuable Player): The infielder/outfielder has appeared in 121 games for Triple-A Las Vegas and is batting .272 (107-for-394) and is among the team leaders in doubles (27), home runs (16), walks (51) and second on the team with 66 RBI. He hit safely in a season-high nine straight games (July 20-28) and batted .364 (12-for-33) over that stretch and has compiled 33 multiple-hit games (25 two-hit games; 6 three-hit games; 1 five-hit game) and has hit safely in 65 games.
Allen had a team-high 5-for-6 performance with two doubles, 2 RBI at Salt Lake on June 25. Other top performances include: 3-for-4, two doubles, 3 RBI vs. Salt Lake on June 15; 2-for-4, triple, HR, 3 RBI vs. Tacoma on August 4; 2-for-3, two walks, HR, 2 RBI at Fresno on April 11; 3-for-4, double, three-run HR at El Paso on May 9; 2-for-3, walk, double, SB, 2 RBI vs. Colo. Springs on May 26.
Steven Matz (Most Valuable Pitcher): Matz dominated the PCL and was leading the league in ERA (2.19) and strikeouts (94) and second with seven victories. He appeared in 15 games (14 starts) and posted a 7-4 record in 90.1 innings pitched when he was promoted to the New York Mets on June 28.
He defeated Cincinnati in his Major League debut on June 28 at Citi Field. He pitched 7.2 innings, allowed five hits, two runs and struck out 6. In addition, he was 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, 4 RBI. Matz set a Mets team record as the first player at any position to have 4 RBI in his MLB debut and tied team records for hits in a game and RBI in a game by a pitcher. He also became the 11th player in the last 100 years with three hits and 4 RBI in his MLB debut, and was the only one of those 11 to go 3-for-3.
Matz Las Vegas' top performances: defeated Reno (April 24, 7 shutout innings, two-hitter/1 BB/5 SO); defeated Reno (April 30, 7 IP/5 H/2 BB, season-high 12 SO); no decision vs El Paso (May 10, 7 shutout innings, 4 H/ 2 BB/7 SO); defeated Colorado Springs (May 26, 7 shutouts innings, 3 H/1 BB/7 SO); defeated Salt Lake (June 17, 7 shutout innings, 4 H/1 BB/5 SO).
Brandon Allen & Chasen Bradford (Community Service Award): Allen is the recipient of the community service award for the second consecutive season and Bradford, the Henderson native, is also the recipient in 2015. Both players participated in various charity functions, autograph sessions and pre-game events throughout the season.
Bradford, in his second season with Triple-A Las Vegas, has appeared in 51 games and has posted a 5-4 record with a 4.33 ERA and leads the staff with 7 saves in 60.1 innings pitched.
The most valuable player and most valuable pitcher were chosen by the 51s coaching staff and the community service award was chosen by the 51s front office.
The 51s, under manager Wally Backman, will conclude the 2015 regular season at Cashman Field with a four-game series over the Labor Day Weekend against the Tacoma Rainiers, Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, from Friday-Monday, September 4-7 (Labor Day).
The PCL Playoffs will begin with the Conference Championship Series on Wednesday, September 9 at Fresno, Calif. (Fresno Grizzlies, Pacific Conference Northern Division Winner) and the 51s or El Paso (Pacific Conference Southern Division Winner).
PCL Playoff Tickets for the Conference Championship Series are on sale now at the America First Credit Union Box Office at Cashman Field. The box office is open Monday-Friday (non-game days) from Noon to 4:30 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased through Ticketmaster (1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com). Ticketmaster outlets are located at selected Smith's Food & Drug.