2011 COL Rockies Minor League Awards
Winning the Doug Million Award - which recognizes the organization's most outstanding minor league performer - is LHP Edwar Cabrera. Cabrera, started the 2011 season with the Rockies Low-A affiliate in Asheville and finished out the season with the Advanced High-A Modesto Nuts. The left-hander finished his season 8-3 with a 3.34 ERA in Modesto.
Chad Bettis isn't only the California League Pitcher of the Year, he is also the COL Rockies minor League pitcher of the Year. The right-hander was 12-5 with a 3.34 ERA for Modesto. He represented the team during the mid-season All-Star game and led the league in strikeouts.
Being awarded the COL Rockies Minor League Player of the Year is third baseman Nolan Arenado who finished the season with a batting average of .298 with 20 home runs and 122 RBI. Arenado's stellar season included leading all of Minor League Baseball in RBI, an appearance in the Futures Game and being named to the California League's post-season All-Star team.
Rounding out the awards is Kent Matthes. Not only is Matthes the California League's Most Valuable Player, he is also the Modesto Nuts Team MVP as named by the Colorado Rockies. Despite missing the final month of the season, Matthes put up some of the best numbers in Modesto Nuts history. The outfielder completed his shortened season with a .334 batting average, 23 home runs and 95 RBI in 93 games.