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MLB

Hamilton is Reds Minor League Player of the Year

Josh Smith Picked as Pitcher of the Year
By
December 5, 2011
DRAGONS BILLY HAMILTON CHOSEN AS REDS 2011 MINOR LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

DAYTON, OH -Dayton Dragons 2011 shortstop Billy Hamilton has been selected as the recipient of the Sheldon "Chief" Bender Award as the Cincinnati Reds Minor League Player of the Year. The award was one of several announced by the Reds at RedsFest over the weekend.

Three of the four minor league awards given by the Reds went to 2011 Dragons players. Dragons starting pitcher Josh Smith was selected as the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Outfielder Denis Phipps, a 2007-'08 Dragons player who split the 2011 season between Double-A Carolina and Triple-A Louisville, was chosen as Reds Minor League Batter of the Year. 2011 Dragons relief pitcher Drew Hayes was given the Reds Minor League Community Service Award.

The Reds also announced three major league awards. Former Dragon Joey Votto was given the Ernie Lombardi Award as the Reds Most Valuable Player. Former Dragon Johnny Cueto won the Johnny Vander Meer Award as the Reds Most Outstanding Pitcher. Bronson Arroyo was given the Joe Nuxhall Good Guy Award.

In all, six of the seven Reds award winners were players who spent one or more seasons with the Dragons.

Hamilton becomes only the second player in Dragons history to win the Reds Minor League Player of the Year award for the season in which he played in Dayton. Austin Kearns won the award in 2000 after starring for the Dragons during their inaugural season in Dayton. Of the 12 winners of the award since it was initiated in 2000, 10 played for the Dragons at some point of their careers.

Hamilton set an all-time Reds organizational record with the Dragons in 2011 when he stole 103 bases to lead all of professional baseball. Hamilton scored 99 runs to lead all Reds minor league players, while his 153 base hits ranked third in the organization. He batted .278 for the year and drove in 50 runs as the Dragons lead-off hitter. He improved steadily over the course of the season, batting .318 in the second half. He hit .331 for the year with men in scoring position, and an amazing .398 with men on base and two outs. Hamilton was selected as the shortstop on the Midwest League's full-season all-star team.

Hamilton's biggest impact on the Dragons resulted from the energy he brought to every game with his intense style of play and unmatched base running abilities. He broke the Dragons club record for single-season stolen bases before the end of May and became the first minor league or major league player to reach the 100-steal mark since 2001. Hamilton ignited a Dragons offense that led the league in runs scored on the way to a franchise best-ever record of 83-57.

Josh Smith anchored a Dragons starting pitching rotation as he led the league in both victories and strikeouts. His 14 wins were one short of the Dragons club record while he established a new club milestone with 166 strikeouts. Smith was selected as the starting pitcher for the Eastern Division in the Midwest League All-Star Game. He finished at 14-7 with a 2.97 earned run average. Smith became the second straight Dragons hurler to win the organization's Pitcher of the Year honor. Reliever Donnie Joseph won the award in 2010.

Phipps, who spent two full seasons with the Dragons in 2007-'08 and ranks second in Dragons history in career games played and career base hits, enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2011, batting a combined .346 with 12 home runs and 64 runs batted in with Carolina and Louisville.

Hayes was rewarded with the Reds Community Service Award for his countless hours spent visiting Dayton-area schools and youth organizations. Hayes was highly-involved in the Dragons school MVP program. On the field, Hayes was selected to the league's full-season all-star team as the circuit's top right-handed reliever, posting a league-leading 22 saves to go along with an earned run average of 1.35.

Previous former Dragons who have won the Sheldon "Chief" Bender Award include Devin Mesoraco (2010); Chris Heisey (2009); Chris Valaika (2008); Jay Bruce (2007); Homer Bailey (2006); Chris Denorfia (2005); Stephen Smitherman (2003); Adam Dunn (2001); and Austin Kearns (2000).

The Dragons will open their 13th season in the Midwest League on April 5, 2012 against the West Michigan Whitecaps at Fifth Third Field.