Justin Dirden, Jose Bravo honored as top Hooks for 2022 season
Following standout 2022 campaigns, outfielder Justin Dirden and right-handed pitcher Jose Bravo were named the Hooks Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, on Wednesday.
Dirden hit .324 with 64 runs, 32 doubles, five triples, 20 home runs and 73 RBI in 92 games with Corpus Christi. Despite earning an early-August promotion to Triple-A Sugar Land, the St. Louis native finished 2022 with a Texas League-best 1.027 OPS and .616 slugging percentage.
Dirden also slotted among league leaders in average (2nd), on-base percentage (.411, 3rd), extra-base hits (57, 2nd), doubles (2nd), triples (3rd), and total bases (215, 10th).
The 25-year-old undrafted free agent was tabbed both the Houston Astros Minor League Player of the Month and Texas League Player of the Month for July, when he batted .412 with 18 runs, 15 extra-base hits, 19 RBI and 10 walks to go along with a 1.241 OPS in 22 games. Dirden forged 11 multi-hit games in July, including a stretch of seven straight from the 10th through the 22nd.
Adding in his 32 games with the Space Cowboys, Dirden finished the year with 40 doubles and 24 home runs. His 69 extra-base hits ranked fifth in Minor League Baseball.
Bravo went 9-4 with a 4.49 ERA over 24 games and 16 starts for the Hooks. He led the team in victories and innings pitched (108.1), while working at least five frames on 11 occasions to pace the pitching staff.
Serving as Corpus Christi’s stopper down the stretch, Bravo busted a pair of three-game Hooks droughts as well as a five-game skid by CC over three outings Aug 20-25.
The 25-year-old from Tijuana went 6-0 with a 3.05 ERA in his final eight Texas League assignments. Bravo wrapped the season by hurling six innings of relief at Arkansas September 16.
Along with recognizing Dirden and Bravo, the South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet agenda includes featured speaker Jose Trevino and Astros coach Dan Firova, who is receiving a lifetime achievement award. Kansas City Royals prospect Nick Loftin will be on hand as the Mike Adams South Texas Pro Player of the Year. The banquet is scheduled for Jan. 26.
Reserved seats, priced at $65, are on sale at the Whataburger Field Box Office and by calling 361-561-HOOK (4665).
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: OF Justin Dirden, P Jose Bravo honored as top Hooks for 2022 season
