Blue Jays Award Winners

Stubby Clapp (Eddie Michels photo)

 Courtesy of the Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays are proud to recognize the achievements of Nate Murrie, Matt Anderson, Richard “Stubby” Clapp and Taylor Cole.

Nate Murrie has been selected as the 2014 recipient of the All Lamacchia Award given annually to the amateur scout that exemplifies the work ethic and perseverance best demonstrated by the longtime Blue Jays executive for whom the award is named. A native of Bowling Green Kentucky, Murrie has served as a Blue Jays Area Scout for five years.  Prior to his scouting career Nate coached for two years at Ohio University and two years at Northwest Florida State College. During his tenure Murrie has scouted and signed Daniel Norris, Clint Hollon and Lane Thomas.

Matt Anderson  has been named the Blue Jays 2014 Pro Scout of the Year.   Matt expanded his coverage in 2014 covering three Major League organizations, his 3^rd year with the Blue Jays. Known for his outstanding work ethic and detail to his craft, the former Assistant Coach at the University of Oklahoma has also served as an Amateur and Pro Scout for the Braves, Expos and Marlins.

Stubby Clapp is being recognized as this year’s recipient of the Bobby Mattick Award  for excellence in Player Development.  Born in Windsor, Ontario, Stubby has spent the last two seasons as the Hitting Coach in Dunedin (High-A). A member of Canada’s 1999 Pan American Games team, 2004 Olympic team and 2006 World Baseball Classic club, Clapp spent 11 seasons playing professionally, including 23 games for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2001. Clapp started his coaching career in 2008 in the Astros system, highlighted by a division crown with Tri City (A) serving as the team’s Manager. Stubby was influential in the development of several key Blue Jays farmhands over the past two seasons, including Dalton Pompey, Dwight Smith Jr., Jon Berti, Andy Burns and Derrick Chung. His preparation and tireless work ethic each and every day makes the award richly deserved.

Toronto Blue Jays Florida Operations Director Shelby Nelson (L) presents RHP Taylor Cole with the team’s 2014 Community Service award. This was done prior to the Dunedin Blue Jays last home game of the regular season on August 27, 2014. (EDDIE MICHELS/PHOTO)

Taylor Cole has been named this year’s winner of the Community Service Award.  The 25 year-old right-hander was exceptionally active with the Blue Jays initiative programs serving youth in the Dunedin, Florida area. Among the programs Taylor participated in were the team’s annual “Bookin’ it to the Ballpark” reading program and summer “Kickball Tour”; a health and wellness initiative promoting an active lifestyle among kids of all ages at various summer camps. Additionally, Taylor led a group of teammates in a “Toys for Tots” shopping spree in support of the non-profit organization. Taylor was promoted to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in early August and on his first day with the team, volunteered to speak with players and coaches of New Hampshire’s state champion, Goffstown Little League. Warm-hearted and selfless in his volunteerism, Taylor was always willing to answer a litany of questions from kids in an earnest manner, and took the extra time to sign last minute autographs in the classroom, at the ballpark and wherever fans could be found. In his words, “It’s our responsibility to give back, as so many have done for us.”

           2014 WEBSTER AWARD WINNERS      

The Blue Jays are also pleased to announce the following players have been selected as this year’s recipients of the R.Howard Webster Awards, recognizing the most valuable players at each of the Club’s minor league affiliated teams: OF KevinPillar  (AAA), 2BJon Berti (AA), OF Dwight Smith (High-A), 3B Mitch Nay (Low-A), SS Franklin Barreto (Short-Season), SS Richard Urena (Rookie Advanced), C/1B Juan Kelly (Rookie) and 1B Enmanuel Moreta (DSL).

Berti, Smith and Barreto have won two or more Webster Awards. Each was honoured last season and are now one of 29 players with multiple selections. The rest are first time winners.

Buffalo Bisons, International League (AAA): Kevin Pillar (6-0, 205 lb.)

Bats: Right; Age: 25; Born: West Hills, CA

OF Kevin Pillar…spent most of 2014 with Buffalo ranking in the top five of many of the lnternational League’s offensive categories at the time of his final promotion (to Toronto), including 1st in doubles (39), 3rd in batting average (.323) and extra-base hits (52), as well as 5th in slugging pct. (.509) and stolen bases (27). The right-handed hitter owned the longest hit streak in the IL this season, hitting in 21 straight games from July 25 to August 14 (.384, 33-86). Pillar also had an 18-game hit streak, April 17 to May 6, and was twice named IL Player-of-the-Week (May 4 and August 3). His efforts this season were rewarded with a place on the International League’s Post-Season All-Star Team.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Eastern League (AA): Jon Berti (5-10, 190 lb.)

Bats: Right; Age: 24; Born: Troy, MI

2B Jon Berti…picked up his 2nd consecutive Webster Award after winning one with Dunedin (High-A) in 2013. This season Berti was a Mid-Season Eastern League All-Star, and finished 2nd in the league with 146 hits and 40 stolen bases, while he also ranked 4th in the league with seven triples. He hit .270 with 21 doubles, seven triples, seven home runs, 50 RBI, 69 runs scored, and 40 stolen bases in 136 games for New Hampshire in 2014. Berti will be headed to the Arizona Fall League on October 1^st.

Dunedin Blue Jays, Florida State League (High-A): Dwight Smith Jr. (5-11, 195 lb.)

Bats: Left; Age: 21; Born: Peachtree City, GA

OF Dwight Smith, Jr….was Dunedin’s most consistent offensive producer in 2014, leading the team in batting average (.284, 11th in FSL), on-base percentage (.363, T-7th), home runs (12), RBIs (60), stolen bases (15), and doubles (28, T-9th). The 21-year-old from Georgia topped the league with 83 runs scored, an .816 OPS, and finished tied for the FSL lead with eight triples. Smith also collected 14 outfield assists this season, second among active players in the FSL at the end of the season. Smith Jr. was named to the Florida State League’s Post-season All-Star Team. (EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO)

Lansing Lugnuts, Midwest League (Low-A): Mitch Nay. (6-3, 225 lb.)

Bats: Right; Age: 21; Born: Chandler, AZ

3B Mitch Nay…was arguably Lansing’s best hitter this season, and was the league’s best fielding 3B according to Baseball America. Nay led the Lugnuts with a .285 batting average, 34 doubles (4th in MWL), 59 RBI, and 135 hits (2nd in TOR MILB org.). He compiled two 11-game hit streaks, and one 14-game hit streak during the season. The right-handed hitter also had 39 multi-hit games this season for Lansing, and was named to the Midwest League’s Post-Season All-Star Team. Nay was last season’s Northwest League Post-Season MVP. The right-handed hitter finished the season in Dunedin after a promotion on August 20 (EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO)

Vancouver Canadians, Northwest League (Short-Season): Franklin Barreto (5-9, 175 lb.)

Bats: Right; Age: 18; Born: Caracas, Venezuela

SS Franklin Barreto…picks up his 2nd consecutive Webster Award after receiving the Award in 2013 for his efforts with the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays. Barreto was among the best hitters in the Northwest League in most categories this season, ranking 1st in runs scored (65), hits (90), RBI (61), total bases (139), and was T-1st with 23 doubles. Barreto also ranked T-4th in triples (4) and 3rd in stolen bases (29), while finishing the season with a .311 batting average, a .384 OBP, .481 SLG, and .865 OPS in 73 games.

Bluefield Blue Jays, Appalachian League (Rookie Advanced): Richard Urena (6-1, 170 lb.)

Bats: Left; Age: 18; Born: San Francisco de Macoris, Duarte, Dominican Republic

SS Richard Urena…was the top hitting shortstop in the Appalachian League. He hit a team-high (among qualifying players) .318 (5th in APP), .363 OBP, .796 OPS, 19 XBH, 15 doubles (T-7th), and was T-1st with 35 runs scored. The left-handed hitter had a 25-game hit streak from July 4 to August 3 and hit safely in 44 of his 53 games, with 21 multi-hit games. Urena was named to the Appalachian League’s Post-Season All Star Team and finished his season with Vancouver, being promoted on August 20. (EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO)

Gulf Coast Blue Jays, Gulf Coast League (Rookie): Juan Kelly (5-11, 190 lb.)

Bats: Switch; Age: 20; Born: Santo Domingo Este, Dominican Republic

C/1B Juan Kelly…impressed this season, hitting .287 in 54 games with a .363 OBP, 10 doubles, four triples, 21 RBI, 22 runs scored, and a .746 OPS. He committed five errors in 54 games, with just one error coming in 101 total chances at catcher. (EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO)

DSL Blue Jays, Dominican Summer League: Enmanuel Moreta (6-3, 215 lb.)

Bats: Right; Age: 19; Born: Haina, Dominican Republic

1B Enmanuel Moreta…was named as the 2014 Webster Award winner for the DSL Blue Jays. Moreta finished T-3rd in the league with 21 doubles, and led the DSL Blue Jays qualified hitters with a .287 average, 73 hits, 37 RBI, seven triples, 29 XBH, 111 total bases, and an .804 OPS.