Although
Rawlings Sporting Goods manufactures and retails just about every
piece of baseball equipment on the market, the pace-setting company
may be best known for the big, gold trophies that feature a sculpted
fielder’s glove.
Each
year, Rawlings hands out the Rawlings Gold Glove Award to the 18
major-leaguers – nine in both the American and National leagues –
who are deemed the best defensive player at their respective
position. It is one of the most coveted individual awards in Major
League Baseball.
It
is against that backdrop that the company became the title sponsor of
the 2011 Rawlings Defensive Player of the Year Award, which was
presented at the Perfect Game All-American Classic presented by
Rawlings Awards Banquet in San Diego Aug. 13.
The
winner of the award was Puerto Rican standout Carlos Correa, Perfect
Game’s top-ranked shortstop prospect in the nation and the No. 11
top prospect overall (class of 2012).
While
presenting the award at the banquet, Rawlings Sports Marketing and
Licensing Manager Mark Kraemer explained the significance of having
the Rawlings name associated with it. He called the award “an honor
given out to one individual who exemplifies all the star qualities
that are often held by those in the ranks of the major leagues.”
“Rawlings
sets a high standard for defense – one that we believe has helped
shape most major league players into the athletes they are today,”
Kraemer continued. “Our hope is that the Rawlings Defensive Player
of the Year Award at the high school level will serve as a reminder
that hard work pays off for those of you wanting to continue your
baseball careers.”
He
then introduced Correa.
“This
year’s winner is among the cream of the crop. He is a shortstop
with great range, soft hands and a rocket arm; he earns this title
for demonstrating the sportsmanship, leadership and ability of a true
player.”
Correa
is starting his senior year at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, but
is young for his class – he won’t celebrate his 17th
birthday until September. He is already 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, and
his ceiling is obviously high. He has verbally committed to
Vanderbilt and seems certain to be a first round selection in the
2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
“I’ve
been doing this for 14 years, and Carlos is a special kid with a ton
of talent,” Team Mizuno of Puerto Rico coach/director Edwin
Rodriguez told Perfect Game in June. “He’s shown that he has some
tools, and in my opinion and the opinion of some of the scouts, he’s
going to be the best player coming out of Puerto Rico in (pause)
well, we don’t know how long.”
Later
in the summer, Rodriguez continued his assessment of Correa’s
development.
“He
has the tools and now he needs to showcase those tools in terms of
the mental aspect of the game and the knowledge of the game,”
Rodriguez said. “Not only does he have those tools but he can bring
other things like leadership to the game and knowledge of what’s
going on out on the field.”
Correa
was one of six players honored at the All-American Classic Awards
Banquet. Other winners were:
Lance
McCullers, Jackie Robinson Player of the Year; Joey Giolito, Baseball
America Pitching Prospect of the Year; Joey Gallo, Reebok Offensive
Player of the Year; Clate Schmidt, Perfect Game Nick Adenhart Award,
and Alex Bregman, Evoshield SWAG Award.
“With
more than 450,000 high school players in the nation, know that being
part of the All-American Classic roster is quite an accomplishment
for any player,” Rawlings’ Kraemer told the prospects. “Because
we know that being one of the best requires hard work, perseverance
and dedication, Rawlings applauds the effort you’ve put forth thus
far.”