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LOS ANGELES — A pair of Dodgers sixth-round draft picks were honored for their fine 2016 seasons on Friday, with infielder Edwin Rios and pitcher Brock Stewart named the Branch Rickey minor league player and pitcher of the year, respectively, by the organization.
Both will be presented their award on Saturday at Dodger Stadium before the Dodgers’ game against the Padres.
Stewart has already made an impact this season, making the climb from Class-A Rancho Cucamonga all the way to the majors, including an eight-strikeout performance in five scoreless innings last Sunday against the Cubs.
Stewart, drafted by the Dodgers in the sixth round in 2014, was 9-3 with a 1.68 ERA in 20 minor league starts in 2016 -- nine starts each with Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City, after two starts with the Quakes — with 126 strikeouts and just 18 walks in 118 innings.
He allowed 15 runs in 17 innings in his four major league appearances to date, with 18 strikeouts and nine walks.
Rios, drafted in the sixth round in 2015, like Stewart played at three minor league levels in 2016, starting at Class-A Great Lakes before moving up to Rancho Cucamonga and then Tulsa, starting a total of 64 games at third base and 26 at first base.
He hit .303/.344/.576 with 25 doubles and 27 home runs in 104 games across three levels. His 27 home runs are tied with Tulsa teammate Willie Calhoun and one behind former Quakes teammate Johan Mieses for the organizational lead in home runs, a total even more impressive for Rios after missing the first 2½ weeks of the season on the disabled list.