Durham Bulls manager Charlie Montoyo has won the Mike Coolbaugh Award, given to an individual who has "shown outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game and skill in mentoring young players on the field."

Montoyo will be honored, along with Minor League Baseball's four other major award winners during the Winter Meetings Dec 7-10 in Indianapolis. Montoyo, a manager in the Tampa Bay Rays minor league system for the past 13 seasons, led the Bulls to their third straight Southern Division crown on their way to the International League title. Durham also won the Triple-A National Championship.

“I am very humbled and honored to win this award because of what he represents,” Montoyo said.

“Charlie has been a hard working, loyal staff member for the Rays since 1996,” said Rays Director of Minor League Operations Mitch Lukevics. “He is a dedicated teacher of our game with a
passion to help players both on and off the field. Charlie exemplifies everything that the Mike Coolbaugh
Award stands for. We are proud and thrilled that he is receiving this award.”

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com