The Braves announced Thursday that Tyrell Jenkins and Mallex Smith earned the organization’s top minor-league awards for 2015. Right-hander Jenkins was named the pitcher of the year and outfielder Smith is the player of the year.
Jenkins, 23, had a 3.19 ERA in 25 starts between Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett. The Cardinals traded Jenkins to the Braves along with right-hander Shelby Miller last November in exchange for outfielder Jason Heyward and relied pitcher Jordan Walden.
Smith, 22, hit .306 with a .373 on-base percentage and 57 stolen bases in 126 combined games with Mississippi and Gwinnett. Smith is one of the players acquired by the Braves in a trade with the Padres before the season.
The Braves also announced award winners for each minor-league level:
- Gwinnett: Manny Banuelos (pitcher), Adonis Garcia (player).
- Mississippi: Victor Mateo (pitcher), Emerson Landoni (player).
- High Single-A Carolina: Brandon Barker (pitcher), Connor Lien (player).
- Single-A Rome: Sean Furney (pitcher), Ozzie Albies (player).
- Rookie Danville: Ryan Clark (pitcher), Austin Riley (player).
- Rookie Gulf Coast: Evertz Orozco (pitcher), Jonathan Morales (player).
- Dominican Summer: Ramon Taveras (pitcher), Randy Ventura (player).
