Brandon Woodruff named Brewers Minor League Pitcher of the Year
BILOXI, MS. - The Milwaukee Brewers have announced the recipients of the 2016 Robin Yount Performance Awards, presented annually to the organization's top Minor League performers. Shuckers' right-handed pitcher Brandon Woodruff was named Brewers Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Woodruff began the season with Class-A Brevard County and finished with the Double-A Shuckers. Infielder Isan Diaz was named Brewers Minor League Player of the Year. Diaz spent the entire year with Class-A Wisconsin.
"Brandon and Isan have made significant strides this season which resulted in outstanding results on the field, and we're very pleased to recognize their hard work with this honor," said Brewers Farm Director Tom Flanagan. "Their success is not only a credit to their efforts and dedication, but to the coaches and peers who helped them along the way. We congratulate both Brandon and Isan and look forward to their continued growth and development."
Woodruff went 14-9 with a 2.68 ERA (158ip, 47er) in 28 starts combined between Class-A Brevard County of the Florida State League and Biloxi of the Southern League. The 23-year-old struck out 173 batters, which not only led the Brewers farm system, but all of Minor League Baseball. Joining the Shuckers on May 16, Woodruff led the Southern League in WHIP (1.04), opposing batting average (.211), highest strikeout rate per nine innings pitched (9.82), fewest base runners per nine innings pitched (9.66) and was among the leaders in ERA (3rd, 3.01) and strikeouts (4th, 124). He led the organization in starts and innings pitched, which were career-highs as well.
The Brewers 11th-round selection in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Mississippi State University, Woodruff was a midseason All-Star in the Florida State League and was named Southern League Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks during the 2016 season (July 11-17 and July 18-24). In addition, Woodruff was awarded Brewers Minor League Pitcher of the Month honors after going 3-1 with a 0.29 ERA (30.2ip, 1er), 5 walks and 42 strikeouts in July. Woodruff was signed by scout Scott Nichols.
This is the third Robin Yount Performance Award, presented to a Biloxi Shuckers player in the first two seasons. The Shuckers swept the year-end awards in 2015 with current Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia winning Player of the Year and right-hander Jorge Lopez being chosen as Pitcher of the Year.
Woodruff was also selected as a post-season Double-A All-Star by Baseball America. According to to MLBPipeline, Woodruff ranks as the 25th-best prospect for the Brewers. The Brewers farm system was recently named the top-ranked system among all 30 Major League clubs by Jim Callis of MLB.com.
Woodruff and Diaz will be presented with their awards in a pre-game ceremony on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at Miller Park.
About the Biloxi Shuckers:
The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers and a member of the Southern League. The 2017 home opener is set for Wednesday, April 12 against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos at MGM Park. For up-to-date news and notes throughout the offseason, visit biloxishuckers.com, follow the club on Twitter (@biloxishuckers), Instagram (@officialbiloxishuckers) or like the team on Facebook (facebook.com/biloxishuckers).