St. Louis Cardinals Manager Mike Shildt was named this evening as the recipient of the 2019 National League Manager of the Year Award as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA).
Shildt, who this season guided the Cardinals to their first N.L. Central title since 2015, joins Hall of Fame managers Whitey Herzog (1985) and Tony La Russa (2002) as Cardinals recipients of the BBWAA award.
Shildt guided the Cardinals to a share of their 12th N.L. Central title in his first full season at the helm, overseeing a transformation of the team's defense with record-setting performances, as the Cardinals became the first Major League team in history to go from worst to first in errors in back-to-back seasons. The Cardinals went 91-71 in 2019 while advancing to the N.L. Championship Series, and are 132-99 (.571 winning pct.) under Shildt since he was named interim manager on July 15, 2018.
"We are extremely happy for 'Shildty' for having been voted the recipient of this well-deserved honor," stated Cardinals' President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak. "Mike and his staff are extremely committed to providing Cardinals fans with a winning style of play that is focused on all facets of the game, and it showed through this past season."
Having first joined the Cardinals organization in 2004 as an Area Scout, Shildt advanced through the team's player development system, and managed his teams to minor league championships in 2010 and 2011 at rookie-level Johnson City and in 2012 at Springfield of the Texas League (AA). Shildt was named the Appalachian League Manager of the Year in 2010, the same year he was honored as the recipient of the Cardinals George Kissell Award for excellence in player development.
Shildt, 51, was signed last week to a new three-year contract that extends through the 2022 season.
No comments:
Post a Comment