Springer: Hooks Player of the Year
CORPUS CHRISTI - Outfielder George Springer has been chosen as the Clear Channel Media + Entertainment Hooks Player of the Year for 2013. Springer's near-historic campaign will be recognized at the 10th South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet on January 29 at the Solomon P. Ortiz Center.
Rated by MLB.com as Houston's No. 3 prospect, Springer hit .303 with 37 home runs, 108 RBIs and a 1.010 OPS between Corpus Christi and Oklahoma City last year. He stole 45 bases in 53 attempts, flirting with the first 40-homer, 40-steal minor league season since 1956.
Springer, 24, was the top Texas League run producer in the first half of 2013. He batted .297 with 19 home runs and 55 RBIs for the Hooks. At the time of his late June promotion to Triple-A, Springer ranked among the TL leaders in hitting (6th), home runs (T-1st), RBIs (T-2nd), stolen bases (23, T-2nd), hits (81, T-4th), doubles (20, 5th) and runs scored (56, 1st).
Springer was selected as the circuit's Player of the Week for May 27 to June 2. He hit .400 (12-for-30) with eight runs scored, four doubles, four home runs and 12 RBIs during that seven-game stretch.
Springer, who was taken by the Astros as the 11th overall pick in the 2011 draft, made his final appearance in a Corpus Christi uniform during the Texas League All-Star Game. He clubbed two home runs and earned game MVP honors as the South blanked the North 6-0.
The New Britain, Conn., native played in 62 games for the RedHawks, batting .311 with 18 home runs and 53 RBIs. Springer hit safely in 15 of his first 16 games with Oklahoma City and was labeled the Pacific Coast League Player of the Week for July 8-15.
During his time as a RedHawk, Springer led the PCL in home runs, RBIs and OPS (1.058), and slotted second in stolen bases (21).
For the season, he authored a trio of five-RBI performances and logged four multi-homer games.
Springer was named Astros Minor League Player of the Year, Texas League Player of the Year and MiLB.com's Offensive Player of the Year.
The South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet is presented by the Corpus Christi Caller-Times and Clear Channel Media + Entertainment. Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan is the featured speaker. Tickets are available at the Whataburger Field Box Office or by phone at 361-561-HOOK (4665).