2010 Award Winners Announced

Post date: Sep 9, 2010 2:44:53 PM

Closer Joakim Soria and 3rd baseman Evan Longoria take home the 2010 team hardware

The A's organization has announced the winners of the club's two Majors awards for the 2010 season. Closer Joakim Soria was named as the winner of the Lefty Grove Award for the team's top pitcher and 3rd baseman Evan Longoria was named the winner of the Jimmy Foxx Award as the club's top hitter in voting by the team coaching staff.

It is the first time that either player has won the respective awards. Soria's honor makes him the 4th closer in team history to win the Grove Award, and the 2nd in 3 years. Longoria was one of only two regulars in the offensive lineup to avoid either the DL or the trade blocks, but his numbers would be worthy in any case. Longoria's selection was unanimous, while Soria beat out starting pitchers Tim Lincecum and Cole Hamels for the honors.

Soria saved 37 games and won another. The righty yielded just 48 hits in 58 innings pitched while striking out 63 hitters. He had an outstanding 1.71 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP in his 58 appearances, which led all club pitchers. Longoria hit .295 with a .373 on-base percentage, slugging 20 homers and knocking in 92 runs while scoring 86 and stealing 15 bases. His 586 plate appearances were far and away tops on the club.

Soria came to the A's in a trade deadline deal with Alabama in August of 2008, while Longoria came to the club the following January in a trade with the then-Alexandria franchise (now Brantford). Both players are expected to remain long term contributors to the club as it attempts to rebound from a disappointing 2010 regular season.

Previous honorees for the Grove Award: Tim Lincecum (09), Francisco Rodriguez (08), Brad Penny (07), Roy Halladay (06), Roy Oswalt (05), Armando Benitez (04), Mark Prior (03), Bartolo Colon (02), Freddy Garcia (01), Mike Hampton (00), Billy Wagner (99), John Smoltz (98).

Previous honorees for the Foxx Award: Chase Utley (06-07 & 09), Mark Teixeira (08), Ken Griffey (05), JD Drew (04), Edgar Renteria (03),

Jeff Kent/Alfonso Soriano (02), Bobby Abreu (01), Carlos Delgado (00), Derek Jeter (99), Albert Belle (98).