masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles honored their winners of scouting and player development awards for 2016 before tonight’s game. The honorees were also at a press conference earlier tonight at Camden Yards.
2016 AWARD WINNERS * Brooks Robinson Player of the Year: Chance Sisco ( Triple-A Norfolk/Double-A Bowie) * Jim Palmer Pitcher of the Year: Donnie Hart (Bowie) * Elrod Hendricks Community Service Award: Drew Dosch (Bowie) * Cal Ripken, Sr. Player Development Award: Dave Walker * Jim Russo Scout of the Year…

The Orioles honored their winners of scouting and player development awards for 2016 before tonight’s game. The honorees were also at a press conference earlier tonight at Camden Yards.

2016 AWARD WINNERS
* Brooks Robinson Player of the Year: Chance Sisco ( Triple-A Norfolk/Double-A Bowie)
* Jim Palmer Pitcher of the Year: Donnie Hart (Bowie)
* Elrod Hendricks Community Service Award: Drew Dosch (Bowie)
* Cal Ripken, Sr. Player Development Award: Dave Walker
* Jim Russo Scout of the Year Award: Thom Dreier
* South Atlantic League Batting Champion: Yermin Mercedes (Single-A Frederick/Single-A Delmarva)

The 21-year-old Sisco played in 116 games, mostly at Double-A Bowie, and ended the year with four games with Triple-A Norfolk. Over 112 games with the Baysox, he batted .320/.406/.422 with 28 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 44 RBs and 53 runs.

“I was stoked for him, just because he earned it,” Hart said about Sisco when asked his reaction to winning this award. “It’s a lot of fun to see guys you came up with put in all the hard work and dedication. I noticed after spring training this year when he spent time with Wheaty (Matt Wieters) and Caleb (Joseph), he kind of put together a routine before the game would start. He stuck with his routine and that gave him something that he probably didn’t have before. He’s got the ability to be a big league catcher and he put all the pieces together this year.”

Sisco-Catches-Futures-Game-Sidebar.jpg“I was definitely excited, it’s a huge honor to get this award,” Sisco said. “Like Donnie said, being in spring training with Wheaty and Caleb helped me tremendously. Being around (coach) John Russell really helped me defensively to be able to run the game. Something I didn’t do in the years before was manage the game. But I definitely stepped up with that this year.”

Hart went 3-1 with a 2.72 ERA four saves and a career-high 50 strikeouts over 40 games with Bowie this season. Over 16 games with the Orioles, Hart has thrown 13 2/3 scoreless innings, holding left-handed hitters to a .172 batting average.

Hart was asked about making the majors this season.

“You play to get to the big leagues. That is the ultimate goal,” he said. “Coming into spring this year, I just wanted to get as close as I could to the big leagues, but I didn’t envision getting here. But it happened and I’m very thankful for it. It’s hard to put into words. Being here is a dream come true.”

Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette also spoke at the press conference today.

“This is one of the top days of the year for me when we get to honor future major leaguers and players that have distinguished themselves in the minor leagues,” he said. “At the same time, we get to celebrate the tradition of the Orioles organization with strong scouting and player development that have led to very highly competitive teams for the Orioles over their entire history and their recent history.

“Sisco had a tremendous season and represented us in the Futures Games where he showed outstanding power to left-center field and hit a home run in his hometown of San Diego. What I really like about him is not only is he a good hitter – he had a lifetime average of over .320 – but he also controls the strike zone. He knows what he likes to hit and that has led to an over .400 on-base capability, which is terrific. He plays a premium position, which is catcher, and he continues to improve in that area. He’s on an excellent track to come up and be a good major league player.

“Donnie Hart enjoyed an excellent season in Double-A. I was telling him, when we were deciding if we were going to bring him up, we looked at his walk-strikeout ratio against left-handed hitters. He had walked one and struck out 25. That is a pretty good ratio.

“So we’re very, very proud of these two guys. Of their work and these awards, that Brooks Robinson and Jim Palmer, great Hall of Famers and role models, have lent their names to this process. I congratulate these guys.”