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| Ben Lively, image- Jay Floyd |
None of the names honored as the 2016 Paul Owens Award winners were a surprise, as each of the men dominated throughout the season. It was announced on Friday that right-hander Ben Lively was named the top pitcher while Dylan Cozens and Rhys Hoskins were co-winners on the offensive side.
Lively, who opened the season at Double-A Reading and helped lead the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs into the postseason following a promotion in May, tallied an 18-5 record along with a 2.69 ERA and a .192 batting average against in 28 combined starts at the two levels. The 24-year-old was acquired from the Reds in the 2014-2015 off-season in the trade for Marlon Byrd, who won the Paul Owens Award in 2000 and 2001.
Cozens, the Eastern League's Most Valuable Player, sported a .276 average with 40 home runs and 125 RBI in 134 games with Reading this season. The lefty batting 22-year-old right fielder was the Phillies' 2nd round draft pick out of high school in 2012.
Hoskins, a 23-year-old righty batting first baseman, posted a .281 batting average with 38 home runs and 116 RBI in 135 games for Reading this year. A Sacramento State product, Hoskins was the Phillies 5th round draft selection in 2014.
Instituted in 1986, the Paul Owens Award is named after the man who spent 48 years in the Phillies organization as a scout, farm director, general manager, manager and senior advisor. It is given to the top performers each season in the Phils' developmental ranks.
Winners of the award last year were catcher Andrew Knapp and pitcher Ricardo Pinto. Other previous winners include Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Ricky Bottalico and Cole Hamels.
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