Tuesday, August 27, 2013

International honors for Bulls' Montoyo, Martin

Charlie Montoyo, whose Durham Bulls are tied for the most wins in professional baseball and who have won a division title six times in his seven years, has won his second International League manager of the year award.

Pitcher J.D. Martin was named the league's most valuable pitcher.

The Bulls, who are 83-53, have the best record in Triple-A and are six wins from tying the franchise's all-time best record. In 1962, Class A Durham was 89-51 in the Carolina League.

Montoyo also was the manager of the year in 2010 when the Bulls finished 88-55, their best mark as a Triple-A team. He's in his 17th season as a minor league manager and was with the Biscuits from 2004-06.

Martin is 15-4 with a 2.84 ERA and ranks in the league's Top 10 with his 15 wins, a 2.84 ERA and 111 strikeouts. He's never been an end-of-season All-Star in his nine-year career.

Though Durham has had five most valuable players since 1999, Martin is just the second from the Bulls named most valuable pitcher. Jeremy Hellickson took honors in 2010.

Vince Belnome was named the league's top utility player. Belnome, who has seen significant playing time at first base, second base, third base and designated hitter, has a .298 batting average.

He's second in the league with a .604 on-base percentage and 73 runs scored and is seventh in batting.

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