Six nominated for Stenson Award
11/07/2005
MESA, Ariz. -- The second annual MLB.com AFL Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award will be given out in an on-field ceremony on Wednesday. On Monday, the six finalists were announced.
The manager from each team was asked to nominate one player. The AFL, in conjunction with MLB.com, will select one winner from the six nominees.
This year's finalists are Josh Anderson (Astros), Surprise Scorpions; Chris Denorfia (Reds), Mesa Solar Sox; Andre Ethier (A's), Phoenix Desert Dogs; Brandon Fahey (Orioles), Peoria Javelinas; Garrett Jones (Twins), Grand Canyon Rafters; and Chris Young (White Sox), Peoria Saguaros.
The six were chosen not because of their statistics or on-field performances, but because they best demonstrate the qualities Stenson brought to the ballpark every day: a quiet, hard-nosed attitude, a player who does his job without complaint, who plays the game the way it was meant to be played.
"It's an honor to be put in that category," said Ethier, who won Texas League Player of the Year honors as well as the league's All-Star Game MVP award and Home Run Derby. "A lot of guys here work hard. You kind of have to in order to go here."
"To me, it's one of the greatest honors, greatest compliments you can get, when people appreciate the way you play the game," Denorfia said. "It's the only way I know how to play."
Dernell Stenson played in the AFL as part of the Reds organization in 2003 and was having a terrific season until he was slain in Chandler on Nov. 5, 2003.
"Stenson, I didn't know him very well, but I saw him play a couple of times," Ethier said. "Everything I've heard is that he was climbing up the ladder and was on the doorstep, and he did it the right way the whole time. To be put in those shoes is an honor.
"I'm honored that I was nomininated from our team. We've got a lot of hard workers on the team."
The reasons for choosing the nominees were universally the same -- that these prospects were unselfish, hard-working and that they displayed tremendous leadership, either by example or vocally, or both.
"It's an approach ingrained in me throughout my career, first with my dad and then at Arizona State," Ethier said. "I take pride in it. It's not even something I do consciously. I never want to be complacent.
"Even on a day off, I want to make sure I get my work in and stay sharp. I want to keep that hunger because I don't have the skills some of these other players have. I need to work twice as hard to compete with them."
"Your work ethic always goes back to your father," Denorfria added. "It was reinforced fiercely in college. Then it just continues here. (Getting nominated) is a great compliment to all the guys who have coached me."
The winner will be honored in a special on-field ceremony on Wednesday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. In addition, MLB.com will make a donation to the charity of the winner's choosing.
Funds for the donation, in excess of $500, were raised through an online auction of a Derek Jeter autographed ball. Jeter played in the AFL in 1994 and is enshrined in the Fall League's Hall of Fame.
"Dernell's death was a very difficult situation for the league," said Steve Cobb, AFL executive vice president, at the time of the award's inception. "We suffered a tremendous loss, but we came together as a family (in 2003). At this point, we want to remember the contributions Dernell Stenson made to this league, in his work ethic and his dedication to the game.
"We think this is a fitting way to remember Dernell and we are pleased to work hand-in-hand in MLB.com to make this happen."
Last year, Royals third baseman Mark Teahen became the first recipient of the award as a member of the Phoenix Desert Dogs. The other finalists were Detroit's Curtis Granderson, the Padres' Ben Johnson, the White Sox's Pedro Lopez, Freddy Sanchez of the Pirates and the Brewers' Rickie Weeks. The work ethics and attitudes of those finalists clearly reaped rewards, with all six seeing time in the big leagues during the 2005 season.
"Looking back, the things the managers and coaches noticed in me benefited me," said Teahen, who hit .246 in 447 at-bats as a Royals rookie. "The hard work in the Fall League helped me out in getting to the big leagues and in getting my feet wet.
"I would assume everyone in the Fall League is there for the same prupose, to get better and prepare for a higher level. Whoever wins the award isn't doing it to win an award. They're there to put in that much effort to try to become the best player they can be. When a guy really dedicates himself, sometimes it gets acknowledged."
Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/
MESA, Ariz. -- The second annual MLB.com AFL Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award will be given out in an on-field ceremony on Wednesday. On Monday, the six finalists were announced.
The manager from each team was asked to nominate one player. The AFL, in conjunction with MLB.com, will select one winner from the six nominees.
This year's finalists are Josh Anderson (Astros), Surprise Scorpions; Chris Denorfia (Reds), Mesa Solar Sox; Andre Ethier (A's), Phoenix Desert Dogs; Brandon Fahey (Orioles), Peoria Javelinas; Garrett Jones (Twins), Grand Canyon Rafters; and Chris Young (White Sox), Peoria Saguaros.
The six were chosen not because of their statistics or on-field performances, but because they best demonstrate the qualities Stenson brought to the ballpark every day: a quiet, hard-nosed attitude, a player who does his job without complaint, who plays the game the way it was meant to be played.
"It's an honor to be put in that category," said Ethier, who won Texas League Player of the Year honors as well as the league's All-Star Game MVP award and Home Run Derby. "A lot of guys here work hard. You kind of have to in order to go here."
"To me, it's one of the greatest honors, greatest compliments you can get, when people appreciate the way you play the game," Denorfia said. "It's the only way I know how to play."
Dernell Stenson played in the AFL as part of the Reds organization in 2003 and was having a terrific season until he was slain in Chandler on Nov. 5, 2003.
"Stenson, I didn't know him very well, but I saw him play a couple of times," Ethier said. "Everything I've heard is that he was climbing up the ladder and was on the doorstep, and he did it the right way the whole time. To be put in those shoes is an honor.
"I'm honored that I was nomininated from our team. We've got a lot of hard workers on the team."
The reasons for choosing the nominees were universally the same -- that these prospects were unselfish, hard-working and that they displayed tremendous leadership, either by example or vocally, or both.
"It's an approach ingrained in me throughout my career, first with my dad and then at Arizona State," Ethier said. "I take pride in it. It's not even something I do consciously. I never want to be complacent.
"Even on a day off, I want to make sure I get my work in and stay sharp. I want to keep that hunger because I don't have the skills some of these other players have. I need to work twice as hard to compete with them."
"Your work ethic always goes back to your father," Denorfria added. "It was reinforced fiercely in college. Then it just continues here. (Getting nominated) is a great compliment to all the guys who have coached me."
The winner will be honored in a special on-field ceremony on Wednesday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. In addition, MLB.com will make a donation to the charity of the winner's choosing.
Funds for the donation, in excess of $500, were raised through an online auction of a Derek Jeter autographed ball. Jeter played in the AFL in 1994 and is enshrined in the Fall League's Hall of Fame.
"Dernell's death was a very difficult situation for the league," said Steve Cobb, AFL executive vice president, at the time of the award's inception. "We suffered a tremendous loss, but we came together as a family (in 2003). At this point, we want to remember the contributions Dernell Stenson made to this league, in his work ethic and his dedication to the game.
"We think this is a fitting way to remember Dernell and we are pleased to work hand-in-hand in MLB.com to make this happen."
Last year, Royals third baseman Mark Teahen became the first recipient of the award as a member of the Phoenix Desert Dogs. The other finalists were Detroit's Curtis Granderson, the Padres' Ben Johnson, the White Sox's Pedro Lopez, Freddy Sanchez of the Pirates and the Brewers' Rickie Weeks. The work ethics and attitudes of those finalists clearly reaped rewards, with all six seeing time in the big leagues during the 2005 season.
"Looking back, the things the managers and coaches noticed in me benefited me," said Teahen, who hit .246 in 447 at-bats as a Royals rookie. "The hard work in the Fall League helped me out in getting to the big leagues and in getting my feet wet.
"I would assume everyone in the Fall League is there for the same prupose, to get better and prepare for a higher level. Whoever wins the award isn't doing it to win an award. They're there to put in that much effort to try to become the best player they can be. When a guy really dedicates himself, sometimes it gets acknowledged."
Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/
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