Rays pitcher Jeremy Hellickson has been named Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year for 2010. The Rays fourth round pick in the 2005 draft compiled a record of 12-3 with 123 strikeouts, only 35 walks and an International League leading ERA of 2.45 as a starter for the Durham Bulls, the Rays AAA affiliate. Hellickson has made also spot starts for the Rays at the Major League level and is currently working out of the bullpen as a reliever. So far, he has compiled a record of 3-0 with 26 strikeouts, five walks and an ERA of 2.57 in five appearances (four starts).
Hellickson joins Rocco Baldelli and Delmon Young, currently with the Minnesota Twins, as Rays to have won the annual award. The Tampa Bay Rays are the only organization in baseball to have as many players so honored.
The most prestigious award of its kind, it has been handed out since 1981 and features a distinguished list of former winners, including Manny Ramirez, Derek Jeter, Joe Mauer and Jason Heyward.