Winners
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| League | Minor League Baseball |
| Awarded for | Outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game, and skill in mentoring young players on the field |
| Country | United States Canada |
| Presented by | Minor League Baseball |
| History | |
| First winner | Bobby Jones (2008) |
| Most recent | Rick Sweet (2022) |
The Mike Coolbaugh Award is presented annually by Minor League Baseball to recognize "an individual who has shown an outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game, and skill in mentoring young players on the field." [1] It is usually awarded during baseball's Winter Meetings. [2] The award, first issued in 2008, is named in honor of Mike Coolbaugh, who died when he was struck by a line drive while coaching at first base during a Tulsa Drillers game in July 2007. [3] [4]
Two personnel from the Nashville Sounds have won the Mike Coolbaugh Award, more than any other team. Two members of the Cleveland Guardians and Milwaukee Brewers Major League Baseball (MLB) organizations have each won the award, more than any others.
The South Bend Cubs are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. They are located in South Bend, Indiana, and play their home games at Four Winds Field at Coveleski Stadium.
The Hagerstown Suns were a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland. They were a member of the South Atlantic League and, from 2007 through 2020, were the Class A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They played their home games at Municipal Stadium which was opened in 1930 and seats 4,600 people. The team mascot was Woolie, a giant woolly bear caterpillar.
Dennis Nels Holmberg is an American minor league baseball manager for the Bluefield Blue Jays, and was a professional baseball player for eight seasons in the minor leagues.
Michael Robert Coolbaugh was an American baseball player and coach. Born in Binghamton, New York, he was the brother of major leaguer Scott Coolbaugh. Coolbaugh died after being hit by a line drive while working as a first-base coach in a minor league game.
Scott Robert Coolbaugh is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) third baseman who played for the Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, and St. Louis Cardinals between 1989 and 1994. He was most recently the hitting coach for the Detroit Tigers.
The Gwinnett Stripers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. They play their home games at Coolray Field in unincorporated Gwinnett County, Georgia in suburban Atlanta, Georgia. They are named for striped bass in reference to the popularity of fishing in the region.
Ricky Joe Sweet is an American former professional baseball catcher and current manager of the Milwaukee Brewers' Triple-A affiliate, the Nashville Sounds. He played three seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1978 and 1983 for the San Diego Padres, New York Mets, and Seattle Mariners. Sweet became a major league coach in 1984 and spent two years as a scout before beginning his minor league managerial career in 1987.
José Carlos Montoyo Díaz is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball second baseman and coach. He is currently the bench coach of the Chicago White Sox, and was previously the manager of the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Rolando Jesús de Armas is an American professional baseball manager for the FCL Phillies of Minor League Baseball. A former catcher in the minor leagues, he spent all of his playing career and most of his managing career as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies' organization. He has also been a coach in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox (1995–1996) and Toronto Blue Jays (2000), and was interim bullpen coach for the 2008 Phillies championship team.
King of Baseball is a ceremonial title awarded by Minor League Baseball to one person each year in recognition of their longtime dedication and service to professional baseball. The title was first awarded in 1951. The winner is announced at the annual Winter Meetings awards banquet and is typically presented with an inscribed bat, as well as a crown and robe symbolizing the winner's "king" status.
The Biloxi Shuckers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Biloxi, Mississippi, and are named in reference to the city's oyster industry and seafood heritage. The Shuckers play their home games at MGM Park.
Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is professional baseball below Major League Baseball (MLB), including teams affiliated with MLB clubs and independent baseball leagues consisting of unaffiliated teams.
The Minor League Baseball Organization of the Year Award, formerly known as the John H. Johnson President's Award or simply the President's Award, is presented annually by Minor League Baseball (MiLB) to recognize "a 'complete' baseball franchise that has demonstrated franchise stability and significant contributions to its community, league, and the baseball industry." It is considered MiLB's top honor and is usually awarded during baseball's Winter Meetings. The award, first issued in 1974, was created by MiLB president Hank Peters as the President's Award. It was renamed in 1988 in honor of John H. Johnson, who served as the president of Minor League Baseball from 1979 until his death in January 1988. It became known as the MiLB Organization of the Year Award in 2021 after Major League Baseball assumed control of the minor leagues.
Corbin Brian Burnes is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the Brewers in the fourth round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, and made his MLB debut in 2018. He won the National League Cy Young Award in 2021.
The Worcester Red Sox are a professional minor league baseball team based in Worcester, Massachusetts. Beginning play in 2021, the team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, succeeding the Pawtucket Red Sox. The team competes in the International League, known as the Triple-A East for the 2021 season, and plays home games at the purpose-built Polar Park in Worcester.
Luis Sangel Arráez is a Venezuelan professional baseball utility player for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). Arráez signed with the Twins as an international free agent in 2013, and made his MLB debut in 2019. He won the American League batting title in 2022.
William Corey Ragsdale is an American professional baseball former player and current coach. He is the first base coach and major league field coordinator for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB).
The Topps Minor League Player of the Year Award was presented by The Topps Company in conjunction with Minor League Baseball to a minor-league player deemed to have had the most outstanding season. It was awarded annually beginning in 1960, but does not appear to have been issued since 2013. A newspaper report of the 1972 result, the first tie in the award's history, noted that winners were selected via a poll of minor league baseball writers.
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