Hartman, Cesar Named Hooks Pitcher & Player of the Year

October 11, 2018

CORPUS CHRISTI - After a pair of memorable 2018 campaigns, the Hooks have named left-hander Ryan Hartman as the organization's Pitcher of the Year and infielder Randy César as Player of the Year.Both will be honored at the annual South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet, set for Thursday, January 24.

CORPUS CHRISTI - After a pair of memorable 2018 campaigns, the Hooks have named left-hander Ryan Hartman as the organization's Pitcher of the Year and infielder Randy César as Player of the Year.
Both will be honored at the annual South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet, set for Thursday, January 24.

Hartman, who was named a Texas League Midseason and Postseason All-Star, orchestrated a sensational season as he went 11-4 with a 2.69 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 120.2 innings. The 24-year-old became just the fourth pitcher in Texas League history to achieve the pitching "triple crown" by leading the circuit in ERA, strikeouts, and tying for most wins.
The Anaheim, Calif. native registered a 1.08 WHIP and .239 opponent batting average, both which ranked second in the Texas League. He averaged 5.5 strikeouts-per-walk and his strikeout total was the second-most by a Corpus Christi pitcher in a single season.
Hartman was named TL Pitcher of the Week after hurling seven innings of one-hit shutout ball on June 20 at San Antonio. A ninth-round pick out of Tennessee Wesleyan in 2016, he struck out a career-best 11 batters twice during this past season.
Cesar, who was also awarded Texas League Midseason and Postseason All-Star honors, established a new league record by hitting safely in 42 consecutive games from May 5 to June 28.
During the historic hit streak, the 23-year-old from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic batted .391 with 12 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, and 30 RBIs. The previous league record for longest hit streak was 37 games, set by El Paso's Bobby Trevino in 1969. Only 13 players in the 151-year history of Minor League Baseball boast a longer hit streak than Cesar.
Cesar finished the season with a .296 batting average, which ranked seventh among Texas League hitters. He belted 10 home runs, 25 doubles, and 62 RBIs.
The two-time Texas League Player of the Week owned the best first-half batting average in the circuit at .349. During the month of May, he hit .385 with six home runs, 24 RBIs, and a 1.027 OPS.