The Texas Rangers announced their Minor League award winners last week and we agree each of the winners had excellent- award worthy seasons. But we’re doing our own awards here at The Prospect Times and we think Thomas Saggese and Mason Englert are deserving of some recognition too.
Offensive player of the year: Thomas Saggese
Thomas Saggese had an amazing 2022 season. He spent most of the season with the High-A Hickory Crawdads and hit a line of .308/.359/.487/.846 with 14 home runs and 16 RBI.
Saggese was promoted to Double-A Frisco and played his first game on September 14th going 3-for-4 with 2 RBI. In five regular season he slashed .381/.409/.857/1.266 with a home run (grand slam) and 9 RBI. He was a key piece in helping the RoughRiders get to the post-season and win the Texas League Championship.
In four post-season games he hit .333/.444/.400/.844 with 2 RBI. He had at least one hit in all nine double-a games, including four post-season games.
Starting Pitcher of the Year: Mason Englert
Mason Englert Mason Englert had a solid season with some highlights in 2022. He was primarily with the High-A Hickory Crawdads. He posted a 7-5 win-loss record with a 3.57 earned run average and 0.958 WHIP in 21 starts. He struck out 116 batters in 103.1 innings pitched and allowed just 26 walks. Englert was part of a combined no-hitter and had a hitless streak of 14.1 innings prior to being promoted to Double-A Frisco.
In Frisco, he made 3 starts, posting a 1-1 win-loss record with a 4.11 earned run average and a 1.239 WHIP. He struck out 20 batters in 15.1 innings pitched and issued 5 walks. He was on the mound and earned the win for the RoughRiders in game one of the Texas League Championship pitching 5.1 innings, allowing only one run on three hits, three walks and three strikeouts.
Overall, Englert had a great season and was a key piece in helping the RoughRiders get to the post-season and win the Texas League Championship for the first time since 2004.
Owen White would have been the winner had he not missed time due to being on the IL.
Reliever of the Year: Chase Lee
The Rangers had Lee as the reliever of the year and we’d have to agree. Chase Lee started the year in Frisco where batters in the Texas League struggled to figure him out. He had a 1-1 win-loss record with a 2.25 earned run average in 24 innings. Batters struck out 30 times and worked 8 walks against the side arming Lee.
Once in Triple-A, his earned run average ballooned. He ended the season with a 1-1 win-loss record with a 5.46 earned run average. With Round Rock, he struck out 41 of the 144 batters he faced.
We also considered Blaine Crim and Cody Bradford, both of whom also had solid seasons. Blaine Crim, 25, led the Rangers farm system with 24 home runs. He hit all of them while in Frisco. Cody Bradford had a fantastic 2nd half of the season. He never missed a start. Over his last 7 games, he had a 4-1 win-loss record with a 2.63 earned run average with 48 strikeouts and only 6 walks.
Congratulations to Thomas Saggese, Mason Englert and Chase Lee on their well-deserved awards.
