The Kingsport Mets have announced 2B Luis Santana was named as the team’s Sterling Award Winner.  Considering the number of candidates for this award and the special season Kingsport just had, Santana winning the award speaks to just how good a season he had.

In 53 games, Santana hit .348/.446/.471 with 13 doubles, four homers, and 35 RBI with eight stolen bases.  With those stats, he found himself among the Appalachian League leaders in several offensive categories.  He was ranked third in OPB, fifth in hits (71) and batting average, seventh in OPS, and eighth in doubles.  Those numbers are all the more remarkable when you consider he missed the end of the season due to an injury.

Arguably, Santana was the best second baseman in the Appalachian League as evidenced by his leading all second baseman in OPS.  In fact, his .917 OPS was 65 points higher than the second best second baseman in the league (Jose Marquez).  It should then come as no surprise Santana was named as an Appalachian League Postseason All-Star.

Santana and the other Sterling Award winners will received their awards and be honored during a pregame ceremony at Citi Field on Wednesday, September 12.