(PR) MARCH 4, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
YANKEES NAME C AUSTIN ROMINE AND RHP ZACH McALLISTER WINNERS OF THE
2009 KEVIN LAWN “PLAYER OF THE YEAR” AND “PITCHER OF THE YEAR” AWARDS
The New York Yankees today announced that catcher Austin Romine and right-handed pitcher Zach McAllister were named winners of the Yankees’ 2009 Kevin Lawn Award as the Yankees’ minor league “Player of the Year” and “Pitcher of the Year.” The two players will receive their awards prior to the Yankees’ game vs. the Minnesota Twins on March 31 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.
The annual awards are dedicated to Kevin O’Brien Lawn, the son of longtime Yankees Vice President and Chief of Operations Jack Lawn, who passed away in 1999.
Romine, 21, appeared in 118 games with Single-A Tampa in 2009, batting .276 (122-for-442) with 61 runs scored, 28 doubles, three triples, 13 home runs and 32 RBI. He received the Topps Florida State League “Player of the Year” award and was named to both the midseason and postseason FSL All-Star teams. The California native tied his career high in hits and established career highs in doubles and RBI. He led the team in hits and doubles, tied for the team lead in home runs, and ranked second in games played, runs scored and RBI. Following the season, Romine was named by Baseball America as the fourth-best prospect in the Yankees organization.
McAllister, 22, made 22 starts with Double-A Trenton, going 7-5 with a league-leading 2.23 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 121.0 innings pitched in 2009. The right-hander held opponents to a league-best .220 batting average (98-for-446) with four home runs. He ranked first among all Yankees full-season minor leaguers in ERA and ranked fifth in the Eastern League with a 7.14 strikeouts/innings pitched ratio. Following the season, he was named by Baseball America as the fifth-best prospect in the Yankees organization and as having the organization’s “Best Control.”
Each player will be presented with a trophy designed by C & C Awards as well as a Raymond Weil watch, courtesy of William Barthman Jewelers.
