Slama named Twins' Pitcher of Year
The awards will be given out at the Fourth Annual Diamond Awards Dinner, which will take place on Jan. 24, 2009, at the Marriott City Center in downtown Minneapolis. The event will benefit neuro health research at the University of Minnesota.
Fort Myers Miracle pitcher Anthony Slama has been named the winner of the Jim Rantz Award as the Minnesota Twins' Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
"I was fortunate enough to be on a great team and things fell into place for me. This is a great honor and next year I look forward to continuing to try and get to the big leagues," said Slama.
Slama, 24, was 4-1 with 25 saves and a 1.01 ERA in 51 appearances for the Miracle. In 71 innings, he allowed 43 hits, walked 24 and struck out 110.
The right-hander was a 39th-round pick by the Twins in the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. He was selected to the Florida State League midseason All-Star team and postseason All-Star Team.
The San Diego native is currently playing in the prestigious Arizona Fall League with the Phoenix Desert Dogs. In four innings, he has not allowed an earned run and has struck out five, while compiling one save.