As the regular season ends and the post-season gets ready to begin, the Altoona Curve unveiled their 2017 team awards this past weekend.
Five Altoona Curve players wound up taking honors home for their performances over the course of the 2017 season with first baseman Edwin Espinal, since promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis, being named the team’s Most Valuable Player.
Alex McRae and Austin Coley took home Co-Pitchers of the Year after their dominant summers toeing the rubber for Altoona while relief pitcher Tate Scioneaux was named Fireman of the Year for his performance out of the bullpen.
Jerrick Suiter took home the Unsung Hero award for his consistency and ability to produce on both offense and defense for the Curve.
Espinal
Espinal dominated both defensively and offensively this season for Altoona before ultimately being called-up to Indianapolis to help the Indians make the playoffs. The first base prospect had a perfect fielding percentage at first base but lost perfection overall in his last game with Altoona by way of an error at third base.
The right handed slugger hit 15 home runs during his time with the Curve and posted 104 hits and 72 RBIs as well. Espinal’s .283 average was good for second in the Eastern League at the time of his promotion and he was named to both the Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star Team and Post-Season All-Star Team.
McRae and Coley
McRae was the most consistent starter on the Altoona roster throughout the entirety of the season. The right handed starter posted 14 quality starts on the season, while posting 10 wins as well. McRae finished the regular season with a 3.61 ERA in 25 starts this season.
The 2017 season saw McRae being named to the Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star Team, the first such selection of his professional career.
Coley might not have the gaudy win statistic McRae boasts, but the right handed Coley has been a picture of consistency for the Curve this season finishing second on the team in innings behind McRae with 143.2 and third on the team in starts with 23.
Scioneaux
Scioneaux took over the back end of the bullpen role when closer Montana DuRapau was promoted to Indianapolis mid-way through the summer and ever since he’s been the epitome of a fireman, eliminating nearly all fires thrown his way once he enters the game.
The Southeastern Louisiana product pitched more innings than any reliever in the last 12 season notching 83 innings during the regular season. Scioneaux finished the regular season with a 2.39 ERA after pitching in 47 games. The righty finished tied with DuRapau for first on the team in saves with 14.
Suiter
Following Jordan Luplow‘s promotion to Indianapolis, Altoona needed a player who could produce like Luplow did during his short time with the Curve. Enter Jerrick Suiter.
Suiter picked up right where Luplow left off offensively as the Unsung Hero of the Year finished with a .285 average and set a career-high in home runs with 10. The versatile Suiter played three different positions for Altoona this season appearing in left field, right field, and first base.
Suiter notched 58 doubles to go with a .372 on-base percentage for the Curve, tops among active team members.
Altoona and their award winners take on Bowie in game-one of the Eastern League Divisional Series beginning Wednesday in Bowie.
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