BLUE JAYS AWARD WINNERS – HENDRICKS, CLARK, HOLMBERG, GOSE

By ROCKET SPORTS and ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK on September 16, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE courtesy of the Toronto Blue Jays

TORONTO ON

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

The TORONTO BLUE JAYS are proud to recognize the achievements of JOHN HENDRICKS, TOM CLARK, DENNIS HOLMBERG and ANTHONY GOSE with awards for excellence in Player Development, Amateur Scouting, Professional Scouting, and Community Service, respectively.

HENDRICKS has been selected as the 2011 recipient of the AL 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 was named. The 34-year old is responsible for scouting North and South Carolina. This season, he signed 21st round pick, SS Peter Mooney from the College World Series Champion University of South Carolina Gamecocks. In 2010, he was responsible for signing compensation round pick, RHP Asher Wojciechowski, 4th round pick, RHP Sam Dyson and 34th round pick, RHP Tyler Powell. The Winston-Salem, NC native was also a standout LHP at Wake Forest University where he pitched from 1996-1999. He is Wake Forest’s career leader in wins, innings pitched and strikeouts. He was named an NCAA All-American in 1998. HENDRICKS was drafted by the New York Mets in 1999 and spent two seasons pitching in their minor league system.

CLARK has been named the Blue Jays 2011 PRO SCOUT OF THE YEAR. The Amherst, Wisconsin native served as a college baseball coach from 1988-1994, as well as a coach in the Cape Cod League in 1993. CLARK began his scouting career an amateur scout in the New England area for the Oakland Athletics, before joining the Blue Jays in September 2003 as a National Crosschecker, a position which he held through 2006. In 2007, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point product was named a Professional Scout with the Blue Jays, a position he still holds today. His work in Toronto has contributed toward the draft-selections of Ricky Romero and Travis Snider, as well as the acquisitions involving Edwin Encarnacion and Shawn Camp.

HOLMBERG is being recognized as this year’s recipient of the BOBBY MATTICK AWARD for excellence in Player Development. The Palm Harbor, Florida resident has spent all but one of his 35 seasons in Professional Baseball as a coach or manager in the Blue Jays system, joining the organization in 1978, the first season the Blue Jays fielded minor league clubs. HOLMBERG has now completed his 24^th season as a minor league manager, leading the Bluefield Blue Jays (Rookie) to a playoff berth and an appearance in the Appalachian League Finals. The 60 year-old veteran has recorded 1279 victories as a manager, excelling at getting the most out of his young squads, now reaching the playoffs in seven of his last 10 seasons and 10 overall. The former Brewers farmhand has had an impact on the organization that few are able to claim having played a key role in the development of almost all of the Club’s young prospects. In 1994 and 1995 HOLMBERG spent his only seasons at the Major League level as a Bullpen Coach with Toronto.

GOSE has been named this year’s winner of the COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD. The 21 year-old animated centre fielder quickly became a fan favourite in New Hampshire, putting in as much effort off the field as he did between the lines. GOSE strengthened the partnership developed by the Fisher Cats with the community as the go-to-guy for community appearances and initiatives. Always volunteering to visit with sick children and their families, one of those families, the Arsenaults, was particularly affected by their time with Anthony after they initially met at the ballpark in early June. Anthony developed a relationship with their son, Donnie, who spent the summer enduring grueling rounds of chemotherapy. Later in the season they presented Anthony a green bracelet that read ‘Keep the Faith-Team Donnie’ as a token of their appreciation which Anthony wears proudly each day. The Bellflower, California native was the only player to work all four sessions of the Fisher Cats baseball Camp in addition to offering his services for several other camps and community initiatives.