Davis, Armenteros Return for Banquet
CORPUS CHRISTI - Third baseman J.D. Davis and right-handed pitcher Rogelio Armenteros will be honored as the 2017 Hooks Player and Pitcher of the Year at the 14th South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet.The event is Thursday night at the Solomon P. Ortiz Center. Doors open at 6:15. To purchase tickets,
CORPUS CHRISTI - Third baseman
The event is Thursday night at the Solomon P. Ortiz Center. Doors open at 6:15. To purchase tickets, call 361-561-HOOK (4665) or stop by the Whataburger Field Box Office.
Due to inclement weather, the Hooks Front Office will close Tuesday at 1 p.m., and reopen Wednesday morning at 9.
Joining Davis and Armenteros at Thursday's banquet is Astros broadcaster and former Major League pitcher Steve Sparks. Texas Ranger broadcaster Matt Hicks, the original "Voice of the Hooks," will once again serve as banquet emcee. Veteran journalist George Vondracek has been chosen as the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner.
Davis was Corpus Christi's lone representative on the Texas League Postseason All-Star Team, batting .279 with 21 home runs and 60 RBIs in 87 games for the Hooks.
At the time of his Triple-A promotion in late July, the Cal State Fullerton product ranked among Texas League leaders in home runs (1st), total bases (179, 1st), extra-base hits (39, 1st), slugging percentage (.510, 3rd) and RBIs (4th).
Davis, tabbed Texas League Player of the Month for June, belted five dingers and drove in 18 runs over a 16-game stint with Fresno before making his Major League debut August 5 at Minute Maid Park. Corpus Christi's career home run leader (44) cracked four long balls in 24 assignments with the World Series champion Astros.
Armenteros, a Texas League South Midseason All-Star, went 2-3 with a 1.93 ERA in 14 games (10 starts) for the Hooks. He struck out 74 and walked 19 in 65 1/3 innings, holding the opposition to a .207 batting average.
At the time of Armenteros' July 3 promotion to Triple-A Fresno, he ranked second in the Texas League in ERA, and third in opponent batting average and WHIP (1.04).
The Cuban right-hander posted an 8-1 record and 2.16 ERA in 10 Pacific Coast League starts. Combining his time with the Hooks and Grizzlies, Armenteros won 10 of his 14 decisions, and averaged 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings.
The Hooks will also honor 55 student-athletes as part of the 2018 South Texas Preseason High School All-Star Teams: Small School Softball | Big School Softball | Small School Baseball | Big School Baseball
Lifetime Achievement Award George Vondracek
Hooks Player of the Year
Hooks Pitcher of the Year
Mike Adams South Texas Pro Player of the Year
Matt Beveridge Award Noah Rodriguez, Victoria West
Small School Softball Coach of the Year Thomas De Los Santos, Santa Gertrudis Academy
Large School Softball Coach of the Year Sally DeLeon, Tuloso-Midway
Small School Baseball Coach of the Year Adrian Alaniz, Sinton
Large School Baseball Coach of the Year Joe Curiel, Moody
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Player of the Year Dalton Stark
Texas A&M-Kingsville Player of the Year Christian Caudle