NewsRays' Montoyo wins Coolbaugh Award
Triple-A Durham manager honored for mentoring skills
By Bill Chastain / MLB.com
11/17/09 2:59 PM EST
ST. PETERSBURG -- Triple-A Durham manager Charlie Montoyo has been named the 2009 winner of the Mike Coolbaugh Award.The Coolbaugh Award is presented to an individual who has shown an outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game and skill in mentoring young players on the field.
"I am very humbled and honored to win this award because of what [Coolbaugh] represents," said Montoyo.
Mike Coolbaugh was a Major League player and Minor League coach. Sadly, in his first season as the hitting coach for the Tulsa Drillers, he was struck in the neck by a foul ball while coaching first base on July 22, 2007, and was killed, making him the only coach to die on the field in the history of baseball. He died at age 35, leaving behind two sons and a pregnant wife.
Montoyo has been a manager in the Rays' Minor League system for the past 13 seasons, the past three with Durham. This year, he led the Bulls to their third successive South Division crown on their way to the International League title. Durham then defeated Pacific Coast League champion Memphis, 5-4, in 11 innings in the Triple-A National Championship game.
Montoyo will be honored along with Minor League Baseball's other major award winners during the Dec. 7-10 Baseball Winter Meetings in Indianapolis, Ind.
"Charlie has been a hard working, loyal staff member for the Rays since 1996," said Rays director of Minor League operations Mitch Lukevics. "He is a dedicated teacher of our game with a passion to help players both on and off the field. Charlie exemplifies everything that the Mike Coolbaugh Award stands for. We are proud and thrilled that he is receiving this award."
Since Montoyo began his managerial career with Princeton in the Appalachian League in 1997, he has led six clubs to playoff berths, including all three of his Durham squads. He piloted the 2006 Montgomery Biscuits to the Southern League title. The Bakersfield Blaze (2001) and Hudson Valley Renegades (1998) are the other clubs Montoyo has guided to postseason play.
The list of current Major Leaguers who have played for Montoyo include: Carl Crawford, Josh Hamilton, Evan Longoria, Jeff Niemann, David Price, James Shields, B.J. Upton, Delmon Young and Ben Zobrist.
Montoyo played 10 seasons as a Minor League infielder from 1987-1996. He appeared in four games with the Montreal Expos in '93, hitting .400 with three RBIs.
Oklahoma City manager Bobby Jones received the inaugural Coolbaugh Award last year. Other 2009 Minor League Baseball Major Award Winners:
• John H. Johnson President's Trophy (outstanding club operation) -- San Jose Giants
• Larry MacPhail Trophy (outstanding club promotion) -- Chattanooga Lookouts
• Warren Giles Award (outstanding league president) -- Ben Hayes
• New York-Penn League Rawlings Woman Executive of the Year (outstanding female executive) -- Katie Dannemiller, Greensboro Grasshoppers
Bill Chastain is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
