Cubs Name Hendricks Minor League Pitcher of the Year

Des Moines, IA - The Chicago Cubs named RH Kyle Hendricks the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year today. SS Javier Baez was named as the organization's top position player. Both players will be honored on the field prior to the Cubs' game against the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field on September 21.

Hendricks began the season at double-A Tennessee, but finished the year with the Iowa Cubs, going 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA (11ER/40.0IP) in six triple-A starts. Overall, Hendricks combined to go 13-4 with a 2.00 ERA (37ER/166.1IP) in 27 starts between the two stops. Hendricks' overall ERA ranked seventh in all of minor league baseball and he was tied for sixth in wins. Hendricks had enough innings with Tennessee to earn the Southern League ERA crown with a 1.85 (26ER/126.1IP) mark in his 21 starts with the Smokies. Hendricks was also named a Southern League All-Star at mid-season.

The Cubs acquired Hendricks, along with IF Christian Villanueva, from the Texas Rangers in exchange for RHP Ryan Dempster on July 31, 2012. The Rangers selected Hendricks in the eighth round of the 2011 draft out of Dartmouth College.

Baez combined to hit .282 (146-for-517) with 34 doubles, four triples, 37 home runs, and 111 RBI in 130 games combined between high-A Daytona and Tennessee. His 111 RBI and 75 extra-base hits led all of minor league baseball and he ranked second in home runs. He is the first minor league player since D.T. Cromer with Modesto in 1996 to reach 30 doubles, 30 homers, 100 RBI, and 20 stolen bases in the same season. The Cubs drafted Baez in the first round (ninth overall) of the 2011 draft.