News
Weaver honored with first Adenhart Award
Morales named Angels MVP as players hand out hardware
By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com
10/01/09 5:50 PM EST
ANAHEIM -- Angels right-hander Jered Weaver was honored with the first Nick Adenhart Award as the team's best pitcher and first baseman Kendry Morales was voted the team's Most Valuable Player by their teammates on Wednesday. "It's a tremendous honor, not only that the teammates voted on it, but that it was named after Nick," said Weaver, who was very close to Adenhart before the pitcher was tragically killed in a car accident on April 9. "It's something I'll be able to hang up and remember him by. "I'll be able to look at it and remember what a good person, teammate and friend he was." Angels manager Mike Scioscia was also happy to see Weaver win the award, knowing that the righty was a close friend of Adenhart's while also being the most consistent starter this season with a 15-8 record and a 3.84 ERA in 32 starts. "Weav has been the rock of our rotation this year," Scioscia said. "He's made every start and always gives us a chance to win. So Weav getting the Nick Adenhart Award is very special." Meanwhile, Morales was also honored by winning the MVP in just his first season as a regular starter. He's put up huge numbers this season with a .303 batting average, 33 home runs and 105 RBIs. And he beat out Bobby Abreu, Torii Hunter and Chone Figgins, who are all had big years as well. "When you're voted MVP of your club by your peers that means something," Scioscia said. "I think it just underlines the terrific year he's had and what a terrific career he's going to have."Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
