Jackson, Hernandez win top NWL honors

MISSOULA, Mont. - The Everett AquaSox's shortstop Drew Jackson and the Hillsboro Hops' pitcher Carlos Hernandez have been awarded the Northwest League's Most Valuable Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively. The NWL also released its 2015 Year-End All-Star Team, featuring the league's top players at each position.

Rob Mummau of Everett has been named Manager of the Year after guiding the Seattle Mariners' affiliate to a postseason berth, posting a record of 42-32. This is Mummau's third season at the helm of Everett, and first back after a one-year hiatus in 2014.

Jackson, the Seattle Mariners' fifth-round draft choice in 2015, burst out onto the Northwest League scene by leading all hitters with a .362 batting average and 47 stolen bases.

Hernandez led all pitchers with 93 strikeouts and has posted a 2.32 ERA. The right-hander has held opposing hitters to a miniscule .193 average against, and is second in the league with six wins.

Rounding the diamond, Miguel Gomez (Salem-Keizer, catcher), Brian Mundell (Boise, first baseman), Frandy Delarosa (Eugene, second baseman) and Kevin Padlo (Boise, third baseman) were all honored to the Year-End All-Star Team. The outfield is held down by LeDarious Clark (Spokane), Braden Bishop (Everett) and Jose Carlos Urena (Tri-City). Sean Hurley (Vancouver) is the designated hitter.

The team is anchored by a pitching staff of Oscar De La Cruz (Eugene), Andrew Leenhouts (Salem-Keizer), Walker Lockett (Tri-City) and Jared Miller (Hillsboro).

Gomez is finding success in his first stateside appearance, posting a second-best average of .323. The catcher leads the league with 87 total hits and 121 total bases.

Mundell, the 2015 seventh-round pick by Colorado, is hitting .278 with an impressive on-base percentage of .356.

Delarosa is just as solid at the plate as he is in the field. The Dominican Republic native is hitting .273 and has a fielding percentage of .943.

Padlo is listed as the Rockies' No. 14 overall prospect. The third baseman led the league in doubles (21), slugging (.488) and walks (43).

Clark began the season with an impressive 19-game on-base streak to kick-start his career. The Rangers' 12th-round pick leads the league in triples with six.

Seattle's third-round selection, Bishop, is third in the league with an average of .319. He has only committed two errors during the season.

Urena is sporting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage this season, obviously tops in the NWL.

Hurley finished third in the league with nine home runs, and has a slugging percentage of .448.

De La Cruz is second with 73 strikeouts, and has allowed just 17 walks in 73 total innings.

Leenhouts, in his third NWL season, is having the best season of his young career. He is tied for the league lead with seven wins.

Lockett was san Diego's fourth-round choice in 2012, and has posted three wins this season. He leads the Dust Devils with a 2.83 ERA.

Miller sports the league's best record at 7-2. He has struck out 52 batters in 59.2 innings while maintaining the league-best 1.81 ERA. 

*All stats and records as of Friday, September 4th.