Vote Hooks in Postseason Balloting!

One of the best (half) seasons in Hooks history and a bizarre one-pitch strikeout headline Corpus Christi's contributions to the 2013 MiLB Postseason Award nominees.

Top Astros position player prospect George Springer and pitcher Nick Tropeano are candidates in fan balloting. Click here to vote

The 24-year-old Springer, up for Offensive Player of the Year, fell three home runs short in his pursuit of the minors' first 40-40 season since 1956. Springer began the summer in Corpus Christi, hitting .297 with 19 home runs, 55 RBIs and 23 stolen bases over 73 games en route to earning Texas League Player of the Year honors.

Promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City after the TL All-Star Game, Springer continued his assault on opposing pitchers with even better numbers: a .311 batting average, 18 long balls, 53 runs driven in and 22 steals. He ended the year with 37 homers and 45 stolen bases.

Springer is also in MiLB's running for Home Run of the Year with his inside-the-parker July 27 at Oklahoma City's Bricktown Ballpark against the Iowa Cubs.

Tropeano struck out 10 Midland RockHounds August 1. One of the punch-outs took just one pitch, resulting in a nomination for Blooper of the Year.

Leading off the top of the sixth against Tropeano, Midland third baseman Vinnie Catricala stepped into the batter's box and took a called strike one. He clearly disagreed with the call of home plate umpire Ron Teague and stepped out of the batter's box to voice his opinion. Teague asked Catricala to get back in the box, and when Vinnie refused Teague called strike two. It happened again, so Tropeano had fanned Catricala with one pitch. Catricala was then ejected.

An Astros fifth-round pick from Stony Brook in 2011, Tropeano went 7-10 with a 4.11 ERA in 28 games for the Hooks.