Last October Kelly’s Heroes took advantage of Baby Seals’ decision to rebuilt, and traded away Lucas Giolito, Willy Adames, Manuel Margo, Bradley Zimmer, Brady Aiken, Gilbert Lara, Steven Brault, and two first round picks (turned out to be Lourdes Gurriel and Justin Dunn), to the Seals and in return received Jeff Samardzjia, Aroldis Chapman, and reigning AL Rick Vaughn winner Max Scherzer. Samardzjia had a solid year for the Heroes, throwing close to 200 innings with a WHIP hovering around 1.15. Chapman had a bit of a down year for him, but managed to still post respectable numbers. But the prize piece was Scherzer who followed up a brilliant 2016 with perhaps an even better 2017. Scherzer at this point is 14-5 and has K’d 239 in 178 innings with an ERA under 2.40 and a whip under 0.90.
Scherzer was nearly the consensus choice, receiving 11 of the 12 first place votes and leading the way with 33 voting points. Scherzer also becomes the first player in CPL history to win the Rick Vaughn Award in back-to-back seasons in opposite leagues. And after buying up pitching talent from other teams, Kelly’s Heroes dominated the voting for this award with Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, and Corey Kluber finishing 1-2-3 in the voting. In fact Kelly’s Heroes pitchers received all 12 first place votes, and of the possible 72 voting points cast, Heroes pitchers received 63 of them.
The other pitchers to receive consideration all came from two teams- Danimals and Rollin’ Goats. From the former, Carlos Carrasco and Dallas Keuchel each received 2 points, while from the Goats Gio Gonzalez received 4 points, while stud closer Craig Kimbrel garnered 1 point.
This is Kelly’s Heroes first ever Rick Vaughn award, and the Heroes’ first postseason award since Prince Fielder took home the Jake Taylor award back in 2009. Congratulations to Kelly’s Heroes for this honor.
