Jurado & Ragsdale Honored by Rangers

Crawdads duo named to organization's minor league awards list

By Aaron Cox

January 6, 2016

Hickory, NC - The Texas Rangers, parent club of the Hickory Crawdads, have recognized a pair of 'Dads for their success during the 2015 season, with right-handed pitcher Ariel Jurado winning the Nolan Ryan Minor League Pitcher of the Year award while manager Corey Ragsdale is the recipient of the Bobby Jones Player Development Man of the Year award.

Jurado, who turns 20 on January 30, led all Texas farmhands with 12 victories, compiling a 2.45 ERA (27 ER/99.0 IP) with 95 strikeouts against 12 walks in 22 games/15 starts in Hickory. The Panama native was named a Baseball America Low Class A All-Star and South Atlantic League Mid-season All-Star.

Ragsdale was promoted to field coordinator in December after leading the Crawdads to the SAL Championship and an 86-58 overall record this past season. The Arkansas native also won a championship managing the AZL Rangers in 2012 before spending the last three years in Hickory, where he finished his tenure as the winningest manager in club history with a record of 237-179.

Three former 'Dads were honored by the Rangers as well, including Nomar Mazara (2013-'14) winning the Tom Grieve Minor League Player of the Year award, Andrew Faulkner (2012-'13) being named the Minor League Reliever of the Year, and Lewis Brinson (2013-'14) taking home the Minor League Defender of the Year award.

The Rangers also named Rafic Saab the 2015 Don Welke Scout of the Year. The honorees will receive their awards at the 2016 Dr. Pepper Texas Rangers Awards Dinner on Friday, January 22 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine.

###