Nimmo named Sterling Award winner for St. Lucie Mets
NEW YORK - The New York Mets announced on Wednesday that center fielder Brandon Nimmo is their selection as the Sterling Award winner for the St. Lucie Mets.
The Sterling Award is given to the Most Valuable Player for each of the organization's nine minor league affiliates.
Nimmo started the 2014 season in St. Lucie and played in 62 of the Mets 69 first half games. He hit .322 with nine doubles, five triples and four home runs. In his 62 games, Nimmo scored 59 runs and walked 50 times. His on-base-percentage was a whopping .448.
Defensively, Nimmo played 56 games in center field and made just one error in 130 chances.
Nimmo was selected to the Florida State League All Star game and started in center field. At the conclusion of the FSL's first half he was promoted to Double-A Binghamton.
Nimmo is the No. 3 prospect in New York's system according to MLB.com. He was picked by the Mets 13th overall in the 2011 draft out of East Cheyenne High School in Wyoming. The state of Wyoming does not have high school baseball so Nimmo grew up playing American Legion baseball.
New York also announced that their Minor League Player of the Year is Dilson Herrera and the Pitcher of the Year is Steven Matz. Both players started their seasons in St. Lucie, and like Nimmo, they were promoted to Binghamton at the half.
Herrera batted .307 in 67 games and knocked 16 doubles and three home runs. He drove in 23 runs and stole a team-high 14 bases.
Herrera later exceled in Binghamton and earned a promotion to New York.
The left-handed Matz went 4-4 with a 2.21 ERA in 12 starts for St. Lucie. He struck out 62 batters in 69 1/3 innings. Matz's best start came April 17 at Fort Myers when he limited the Miracle to two hits over seven shutout innings.
Matz and Herrera were selected to the FSL All Star Game.
Left-handed reliever Dario Alvarez, Class A Savannah's Sterling Award winner, also made a brief stop in St. Lucie this season. After spending the majority of 2014 with the Sand Gnats, Alvarez was promoted to St. Lucie in early August. His stint did not last long. In four games he allowed one single and no runs in 6 1/3 innings while striking out 10. He was promoted to Double-A within two weeks of his arrival and earlier this month he was called up to New York.