Pelicans outfielder Trey Martin wins Rawlings Gold Glove Award

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (SEPTEMBER 28, 2015) - Minor League Baseball and Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc., announced on Monday Minor League Baseball's recipients of the 2015 Rawlings Gold Glove Award® for defensive excellence at their positions, and Myrtle Beach Pelicans outfielder Trey Martin was named the winner at center field. Martin, who spent the majority of the season in the Carolina League, did not make an error this season in 105 games and 266 total chances in the outfield and made five assists.

The honorees were selected among qualifying players from the 10 domestic-based, full-season Minor Leagues. Each player will receive his own Rawlings Gold Glove Award, modeled after the iconic award given to Major League Baseball's top defensive players, during the 2016 season.

Martin, 22, began the year in the Midwest League with the South Bend Cubs prior to a promotion to the Pelicans on April 28. After 15 games in the outfield with the Cubs, Martin played in 90 with the Pelicans, 88 of which came in center field with two games in right field. Martin played the entire season without committing an error. Martin's last error came on June 22, 2014 with the Kane County Cougars and has played 160 games in the field without an error since.

The fifth-year pro was originally selected by the Cubs in the 13th round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of Brookwood High School in Snellville, Georgia.

Pelicans shortstop Hanser Alberto won the Gold Glove Award at shortstop in 2014. Alberto made his big league debut this year and is currently with the Texas Rangers.

"Congratulations to the nine outstanding Minor League Baseball players who deservedly won the 2015 Rawlings Gold Glove Award," said Mike Thompson, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Baseball for St. Louis-based Rawlings. "Minor League Baseball is and will always continue to be a great partner of Rawlings, and we knew the Rawlings Gold Glove Award would be a popular goal for many young players when we decided to rekindle this award platform in 2011."

"Each year, it is a privilege to recognize the top defensive players in Minor League Baseball and honor them with a Rawlings Gold Glove Award®," said Pat O'Conner, President & CEO of Minor League Baseball. "All nine of these players displayed extraordinary skills at their positions this season, and on behalf of Minor League Baseball, I congratulate them on this outstanding accomplishment."

The 2015 Minor League Baseball recipients of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award® are as follows:

Position           Player                       Minor League Team(s) Major League Organization

1B                    Dominic Ficociello      Lakeland (A), Erie (AA)            Detroit

2B                    Joey DeMichele           Birmingham (AA)                     Chicago (AL)

SS                    Orlando Arcia             Biloxi (AA)                                Milwaukee

3B                    Matt Dominguez         Fresno (AAA), Columbus (AAA)      Toronto

LF                    Cord Sandberg             Lakewood (A)                         Philadelphia

CF                    Trey Martin                  Myrtle Beach (A)                        Chicago (NL)

RF                    Aaron Altherr             Reading (AA), Lehigh Valley (AAA)     Philadelphia

C                      Carson Kelly                Palm Beach (A)                                    St. Louis

P                      Ty Blach                      Sacramento (AAA)                   San Francisco

           

To be eligible to receive the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, players must have participated in one of the 10 domestic-based, full-season leagues, and shown outstanding defensive skills. The Rawlings Gold Glove Award® was re-introduced to Minor League Baseball in 2011 after an almost 50-year hiatus.   

The 2015 season was the 17th season for the Pelicans franchise and first as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2016, please call (843) 918-6000, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.

About Minor League Baseball

Minor League Baseball, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, is the governing body for all professional baseball teams in the United States, Canada, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic that are affiliated with Major League Baseball clubs through their farm systems. Fans are coming out in unprecedented numbers to this one-of-a-kind experience that can only be found at Minor League Baseball ballparks. In 2015, Minor League Baseball attracted 42.5 million fans to its ballparks to see the future stars of the sport hone their skills. From the electricity in the stands to the excitement on the field, Minor League Baseball has provided affordable family-friendly entertainment to people of all ages since its founding in 1901. For more information about Minor League Baseball, visit www.MiLB.com.

About Rawlings

Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods worldwide. Founded in 1887, Rawlings is an authentic global sports brand, trusted by generations of athletes of all skill levels. Rawlings' unparalleled quality and expert craftsmanship are the fundamental reasons why more professional athletes, national governing bodies and sports leagues choose Rawlings. Rawlings is the Official Ball Supplier and Batting Helmet of Major League Baseball®, the official baseball of Minor League Baseball™ and the NCAA®, and the approved baseball, basketball, football and softball of the National High School Federation®. For more information, please visit Rawlings.com or by phone at (314) 819-2800.

About the Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and play their home games at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The park has ranked in the top four in all of Minor League Baseball by Stadium Journey in each of the last four seasons. The same publication also placed the Pelicans in the Top 100 Stadium Experiences in all of sports in each of the last four years and the best in the Carolina League for four straight seasons as well. In May 2015, TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark won the 2015 TripAdvisor.com Certificate of Excellence award. The Pelicans are the defending Mills Cup Champions, winning the title in 2015 as well as 2000 and co-Mills Cup championship honors in the inaugural 1999 season. The Pelicans have made nine postseason appearances behind 11 half-season Southern Division championships, including the first half of the 2015 season, as well as five Southern Division titles, most recently in 2015. For more information on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, please contact Nathan Barnett by calling (843) 918-6080 or emailing [email protected].