The A’s Are Serving Up Some Youth

December 7th, 2009 | by jrussell |

A few days ago, the Oakland A’s announced their minor league organizational player of the year and pitcher of the year. And, based on previous winners, it would behoove us all to keep a close eye on these two.

Chris Carter, first baseman, received the A’s Organizational Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. In 138 games with Double-A Midland and Triple-A Sacramento, Carter batted .329 with 28 home runs and 115 RBI. He led all of Minor League Baseball with 179 hits, tied for the lead in total bases with 310, ranked second in RBI and tied for second in extra base hits with 73 and third place with 115 runs scored.

He is only the second organizational player to win this award in consecutive seasons (Graham Koonce in 2002 and 2003). Other notable former players of the year include Andre Ethier, Eric Chavez, Daric Barton, and former AL Rookie of the Year, Ben Grieve. The A’s obtained Carter from the Diamondbacks as part of the Dan Haren trade.

Left-handed pitcher Pedro Figueroa wins the Pitcher of the Year for the first time. Figueroa posted a 13-6 record and a 3.38 ERA in 27 starts for Single-A Kane County and Single-A Stockton. He ranked second in the A’s farm system in wins, third in strikeouts with 145, tied for third with 152 innings pitched, and fourth in ERA.

He joins an exclusive list of former pitchers of the year that includes Trevor Cahill (won back-to-back in 2007-8), Dallas Braden, two-time winner Rich Harden, Tim Hudson, and former AL Cy Young winner, Barry Zito.