Gonzalez wins Oscar Padron Award

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. -- The Greeneville Astros named catcher Pedro Gonzalez as the recipient of the fourth annual Oscar Padron Award. The award is given to an Astros player who not only excelled on the field but more importantly is considered to be a leader in the clubhouse and an outstanding all-around person with great character off the field.

The award is named in honor of 2004 Greeneville Astros pitching coach Oscar Padron, who died in a car accident while on his way home from a scouting trip in Venezuela in April 2005. A statement from the Houston Astros said of Padron, "Oscar was the type of high-character individual we look for in this organization, and we were proud to have him as a part of the Astros."

Gonzalez is the perfect choice for this award in 2008. He is a natural leader and always has a positive attitude on the field and around his teammates, seemingly making their jobs a little easier. He interacts with fans at games and is always happy to sign an autograph or smile for a picture. Gonzalez attended player appearance functions throughout the season, was always willing to go the extra mile to make someone else feel better and was respectful of each individual he came into contact with.

"This award is a tribute to the type of individual Oscar was, but it also helps our players to realize that it matters what you do off the field," said Greeneville Astros general manager David Lane. "Pedro helped us out tremendously in the community and also showed great leadership in the clubhouse with all of his teammates. He truly represents the meaning of this award."