Sahuaro grad Verdugo awarded as Dodgers' top minor-leaguer
The Los Angeles Dodgers last week named former Sahuaro outfielder Alex Verdugo their 2015 Branch Rickey Award winner for position players. It is the Dodgers’ annual award for their top minor-league player. Verdugo hit .356 from June through August in Class A. It is the fourth consecutive year a Tucson player has won an organization’s minor-league player of the year award. In 2014, ex-UA outfielder Johnny Field was honored by the Tampa Bay Rays; in 2013, former UA and Cienega High third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean was similarly honored by the Cincinnati Reds; and in 2012, ex-Sunnyside/Pima College outfielder Stefen Romero was the Seattle Mariners’ top prospect.
