Ex-RiverDogs win 2011 Lawn awards
Right-handed pitcher D.J. Mitchell and catcher Austin Romine received their awards prior to Friday's Yankees-Twins game at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
The annual awards are dedicated to Kevin O'Brien Lawn -- the son of longtime Yankees vice president and chief of operations Jack Lawn -- who passed away in 1999.
Mitchell, 24, who went 13-9 with a 3.18 ERA in 28 games (24 starts) with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2011. He led all Yankees farmhands in wins and ranked third in ERA. Among International League hurlers, he ranked second in both wins and innings pitched (161.1IP). As a starter, Mitchell went 12-9 with a 3.40 ERA, allowing three earned runs or fewer in 18 of his 24 starts. He tossed a league-high-tying three complete games, including back-to-back shutouts on July 2 at Pawtucket and July 9 vs. Rochester. In four relief appearances, he went 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA, holding his opponents to just one earned run in 13.0 innings pitched.
Romine, 23, spent the majority of the 2011 season with Double-A Trenton, batting .286 (96-for-336) with 43 runs, 13 doubles, six home runs and 47 RBIs in 85 games, earning a spot on the Eastern League's midseason All-Star team. He caught 23.9 percent (27-for-113) of potential base stealers with the Thunder, ranking seventh in the league in caught stealing percentage. Romine was selected to the Yankees' active roster from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sept. 11 and made his Major League debut that same day at the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In nine games (four starts at the catcher position) at the Major League level, he hit .158 (3-for-19) with two runs. Following the season, he was tabbed by Baseball America as the Yankees' eighth-best prospect and as the organization's "Best Defensive Catcher."
Each player will be presented with a trophy designed by C & C Awards, as well as a designer watch, courtesy of Manfredi Jewels.