Goedert, Stainback named 2015 team award winners
GREENEVILLE, TN - The Greeneville Astros announced their 2015 team award winners in a pregame, on-field ceremony prior to their final regular season game on Tuesday night. First baseman Connor Goedert was selected as the team's Most Valuable Player and second baseman Ford Stainback was the recipient of the Oscar Padron Award for character and leadership.
Goedert was originally drafted out of Neosho County Community College (KS) by the Houston Astros in the 15th round of the June 2014 draft. After splitting time between Greeneville and the GCL Astros in 2014, he returned to Greeneville this season to lead the team in several offensive categories including games played (65), at-bats (245), hits (70), doubles (20), home runs (6), RBI (43), and total bases (110). His 20 doubles tied a team record previously held by two other Greeneville team MVPs, Jose Altuve (2009) and Ronald Ramirez (2006).
Goedert was also among the team leaders in batting average (.286), runs scored (37), on-base percentage (.349), and slugging percentage (.449). The team MVP honors for Goedert come after already receiving an Appalachian League Player of the Week (June 29-July 5) award and being named to the Appalachian League All-Star Team.
Stainback, who signed with the Astros as a non-drafted free agent out of Rice University at the beginning of the season, was selected as the recipient of the Oscar Padron Award for excelling both on the field and in the clubhouse. His character and leadership helped inspire the team on their way to clinching a playoff berth.
The award is named in honor of the 2004 Greeneville Astros pitching coach, Oscar Padron, who died in a car wreck while on his way home from a scouting trip in Venezuela in April 2005. Padron was widely recognized as an outstanding all-around person with great character, and Stainback has displayed those same qualities.
In addition to his off-the-field characteristics, Stainback also produced on the field for the Astros. He finished the season fourth on the team in runs scored (22) and walks (22), and also put together a 12-game hit streak and 23-game on-base streak. Both streaks were team highs, and the on-base streak was the third longest in the league this season.
The Greeneville Astros are the Appalachian League affiliate of the Houston Astros. For more information, call (423) 638-0411.