The Dodgers on Thursday announced that John Ely and Joc Pederson are the 2012 Branch Rickey minor league pitcher and player of the year, respectively. The awards will be presented to both before Friday's game at Dodger Stadium against the Rockies.
Ely was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year after winning the league's pitching triple crown. Ely led the league in wins (14), ERA (3.20) and strikeouts (165) for Triple A Albuquerque. He was called up to the Dodgers on September 1, and was thus unable to pitch for the Isotopes in their first-round playoff series, which Albuquerque lost in five games.
Pederson had a breakout season for Class A Rancho Cucamonga at age 20, hit .313/.396/.526 with 48 extra-base hits and 26 steals in 110 games. He was on fire in the final two months of the year, hitting .345/.431/.637 with 19 doubles, 15 home runs, 57 runs, and 52 RBI in 57 games after July 1. Pederson, whom the Dodgers drafted in the 10th round in 2011, played for Team Israel in World Baseball Classic qualifying and will play in the Arizona Fall League net month as a member of the Mesa Solar Sox.