Kansas City Royals announce 2023 organizational awards. Here are the recipients

The Kansas City Royals recognized a few individuals for their 2023 contributions on Monday.

The Royals announced their annual organizational superlatives that included the George Brett Hitter of the Year and the Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year, among other honors.

Royals outfielder Dairon Blanco was selected Willie Wilson Baserunner of the Year for his work on the basepaths. He has recorded 71 combined steals (minor and major leagues) this season.

“He’s a difference maker on the bases,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “The numbers are staggering. His stolen base numbers combining the minor leagues and the big leagues, they are really impressive.”

The 2023 award winners will be honored on Friday, Sept. 29, against the New York Yankees. The players will also participate in an autograph session for fans and make community visits earlier in the day.

The Royals plan to hold a special ceremony prior to first pitch. Here are the winners of the Royals organizational awards:

George Brett Hitter of the Year: Tyler Tolbert

Tyler Tolbert had a productive 2023 campaign. He recorded solid numbers in multiple categories with Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

Tolbert, 25, hit .276 with 10 home runs, 24 doubles, 10 triples and 50 RBIs. He also added 50 stolen bases and turned in a .755 OPS (on-base plus slugging). He led the Texas League in triples and collected 217 total bases.

The Royals drafted Tolbert in the 13th round of the 2019 MLB Draft. He starred at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) and can play multiple positions.

Tolbert posted high marks in July. He hit .302 with 29 hits and a .458 slugging percentage during the month.

Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year: Mason Barnett

Mason Barnett took a step forward this season. The young hurler posted a 3.30 ERA across two minor-league levels. He demonstrated better control and vaulted up several prospect rankings as the Royals No. 12 prospect.

As a result, the Royals named him the Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year. The award recognizes the top pitcher in the organization.

Barnett, 22, features a solid fastball and slider. He also mixes in a changeup and curveball that continues to get better. In his last start, Barnett allowed three earned runs and recorded eight strikeouts in five innings.

The Royals drafted Barnett in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft. He starred at Auburn and led the Royals’ minor-league organization with 137 strikeouts.

Frank White Defensive Player of the Year: Daniel Vázquez

There is an old saying about defense — it wins games. The Royals value defensive versatility and Daniel Vázquez has that in spades.

Vázquez, 19, shined at Single-A Columbia with a .963 fielding percentage. He thrilled fans with dazzling defense from his shortstop position. This season, Vázquez had 146 putouts and 247 assists across 916 innings. He also committed 15 errors.

The Royals signed Vázquez as an international free agent in 2021. He spent a season in the Dominican Summer League (DSL) before spending two seasons in Single-A.

Willie Wilson Baserunner of the Year: Dairon Blanco

Blanco, 30, has made an impact since joining the Royals this season. He has 22 steals at the major-league level since being called up on June 12.

However, Blanco has wreaked havoc on the basepaths all season. Blanco recorded 47 steals in 49 games with Triple-A Omaha. He broke his own record that he set in 2022.

“Beyond the numbers, when you watch how he goes about it, his fearlessness and his ability to get a stolen base when everybody knows that’s what he is trying to do, that’s special,” Quatraro said.

The Royals have benefited from his speed. Blanco holds an important role as a reserve outfielder and key late-innings pinch runner.

This season, Blanco is hitting .226 with two home runs and 17 RBIs in 115 at-bats.

Mike Sweeney Community Service Award: Austin Charles

Austin Charles made a difference in multiple ways this season. He volunteered with local youth at baseball clinics in Surprise, Arizona, and with local food banks as well.

Charles, 19, hit .230 with three home runs, 31 RBIs and 12 steals with Single-A Columbia. He was selected in the 20th round of the 2022 MLB Draft.

The Mike Sweeney Community Service Award is given to a player that best represents the Royals organization on and off the field.

Alex Gordon Heart & Hustle Award: Javier Vaz

Javier Vaz showed his dedication in multiple ways this season. He shined as the ultimate teammate during his time across two minor-league levels.

The Royals selected him as the Alex Gordon Heart & Hustle recipient due to how much his game resembled the former Royals star.

Vaz is the inaugural recipient of the award. He is also the Royals No. 13 prospect and hit .279 this season.

The Royals drafted Vaz in the 15th round of the 2022 MLB Draft.

Art Stewart Scout of the Year: Richard Castro

Richard Castro was recognized as the Royals’ most-outstanding scout. He is in his second season as the Royals’ Latin America coordinator.

In his career, Castro has helped sign several major-league players including Freddy Fermin, Carlos Hernandez, Maikel Garcia and Angel Zerpa.