Rays’ Johnson, Hellickson, Montoyo collect IL honors

Posted Aug 31, 2010 by Tribune Sports

Updated Aug 31, 2010 at 02:41 PM

By TONY FABRIZIO

Rays designated hitter/infielder Dan Johnson today was named Most Valuable Player of the Triple-A International League today, and his Triple-A Durham Bulls teammate Jeremy Hellickson and manager, Charlie Montoyo, were named Most Valuable Pitcher and Manager of the Year, respectively.

The winners were selected by the league’s managers, coaches, media and club representatives.

Johnson won on the strength of his league-leading 30 home runs and 95 RBI. Hellickson’s 2.45 ERA leads the circuit.

Montoyo’s Bulls have the League’s best record (84-52) and have already clinched their fourth straight IL South Division championship. Durham is the
first franchise to win at least three of the League’s four Special Awards since Norfolk swept the honors
in 1995.

Here is more from the International League’s news release:

Most Valuable Player – Dan Johnson, Durham

Dan Johnson has been named the International League Most Valuable Player for 2010. Though he has
been with the Tampa Bay Rays since the beginning of August, Johnson still leads the IL in home runs
(30), RBI (95), slugging percentage (.624), on-base percentage (.430), and walks (75). The heart of the
League’s highest scoring offense in 2010, Johnson came out of the gate strong this season and never
looked back. In 19 April games, he hit .333 with 8 homers and 23 RBI, igniting a stellar season for
Johnson and the eventual IL South Division champion Bulls. Johnson was elected to his first Triple-A
All-Star Game this July, where he won the Home Run Derby. The versatile 31-year-old has split time
this season as Durham’s first baseman, third baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter. It was third
base, where he has played the most games, that he was elected to the postseason All-Star Team.
Johnson is the fourth Durham Bull since the club joined the League in 1998 to be named Most Valuable
Player, following Steve Cox (1999), Toby Hall (2001), and Kevin Witt (2006).

Most Valuable Pitcher – Jeremy Hellickson, Durham

After a brief stint with the Bulls last season in which he was named MVP of the Triple-A National
Championship Game, Jeremy Hellickson continued his dominance this year, his first full season at the
Triple-A level. Hellickson was on pace to win the League’s Pitching Triple Crown when he was
promoted to Tampa Bay at the beginning of August. His 2.45 ERA still leads the IL, while he remains
near the top in wins (12) and strikeouts (123). Hellickson surrendered just 103 hits and 32 earned runs
in 117.2 innings of work for the Bulls, with opponents hitting .238 against him. The right-hander was
particularly tough on left-handed batters, who hit just .208 off of Hellickson. He made his Major
League debut on August 2 versus Minnesota, and picked up the first of three consecutive wins for the
23-year-old. Hellickson is the first ever member of the Durham Bulls to be named IL Most Valuable
Pitcher.

Manager-of-the-Year – Charlie Montoyo, Durham

Durham skipper Charlie Montoyo is the 2010 IL Manager of the Year. The defending National
Champions have clinched a fourth straight IL South Division title under Montoyo, on the strength of
the League’s best record (84-52) and largest lead (15.0 games over 2nd place Gwinnett). Durham has
the highest scoring offense (720 runs) , the stingiest pitching staff (3.51 ERA), and the top defense
(.984) in the IL this season, as the Bulls prepare to meet the champion of the IL West Division in the
postseason playoffs. In July, Montoyo led the IL All-Stars to a 2-1 victory at the Triple-A All-Star
Game. He is now the first skipper since Durham joined the International League in 1998 to receive
Manager of the Year honors.