Sam Bernabe Named Baseball America MiLB Exec of Year

Des Moines, IA - Baseball America named Iowa Cubs President/General Manager Sam Bernabe as their Minor League Executive of the Year today. Bernabe will be presented with this award during a special awards ceremony hosted by Baseball America during the Baseball Winter Meetings in San Diego on Tuesday, December 9.

Bernabe has worked for the Iowa Cubs for 31 seasons and became President and part-owner of the club in 1999. In addition to his duties overseeing the day-to-day operations of the ball club, Bernabe is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Minor League Baseball as the Pacific Coast League representative. He also serves on the joint Triple-A Marketing Committee, the National Association of Professional Baseball Marketing Committee, and the Professional Baseball Playing Rules Committee. Bernabe was named the American Association Executive of the Year in 1993, the PCL Executive of the Year in 2008, and the John H. Johnson President's Award winner from Minor League Baseball in 2002. The Johnson Trophy is presented annually to honor the most complete franchise in minor league baseball based on franchise stability, contributions to league stability, contributions to baseball in the community, and promotion of the baseball industry.

"I'm very honored and humbled to receive this award," Bernabe said. "With the Iowa Cubs, I have great partners and appreciate the hard work of my staff over the years to build and maintain the great relationships we have with the City of Des Moines, our business community, our great fans, and the Chicago Cubs. I also really enjoy being part of minor league baseball on a national level. It's a role that has allowed me to work along side some terrific people and contribute to growing and promoting the great game of baseball."

During the ceremony on December 9, Baseball America will also present their Minor League Player of the Year Award to Kris Bryant of the Cubs. Bryant played his final 70 games of the 2014 season with Iowa and hit 21 of his minor-league best 43 home runs in an Iowa uniform.