Not to be confused with the Texas League Mike Coolbaugh Memorial Coach of the Year Award.
Mike Coolbaugh Award
SportBaseball
LeagueMinor League Baseball
GivenforOutstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game, and skill in mentoring young players on the field
CountryUnited States
Canada
PresenterMinor League Baseball
FirstwinnerBobby Jones (2008)
MostrecentPat Kelly (2025)

The Mike Coolbaugh Award is presented annually by Minor League Baseball to recognize "an individual who has shown an outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game, and skill in mentoring young players on the field."[1] It is usually awarded during baseball's Winter Meetings.[2] The award, first issued in 2008, is named in honor of Mike Coolbaugh, who died when he was struck by a line drive while coaching at first base during a Tulsa Drillers game in July 2007.[3][4]

Two personnel from the Nashville Sounds have won the Mike Coolbaugh Award, more than any other team. Two members of the Cleveland Guardians, Kansas City Royals, and Milwaukee Brewers Major League Baseball (MLB) organizations have each won the award, more than any others.

Winners

Winners
YearWinnerTeamOrganizationPositionRef(s).
2008Bobby JonesOklahoma City RedHawksTexas RangersManager[5]
2009Charlie MontoyoDurham BullsTampa Bay RaysManager[6]
2010Woody HuykeGulf Coast League PiratesPittsburgh PiratesCoach[7]
2011Mike JirscheleOmaha Storm ChasersKansas City RoyalsManager[8]
2012Johnny Goryl—Cleveland IndiansAdvisor to Player Development[9]
2013Mike GuerreroNashville SoundsMilwaukee BrewersManager[10]
2014Tom Wiedenbauer—Cleveland IndiansMinor League Field Coordinator[11]
2015John ShoemakerOgden RaptorsLos Angeles DodgersManager[12]
2016Spin Williams—Washington NationalsSenior Advisor of Player Development[13]
2017Dennis HolmbergBluefield Blue JaysToronto Blue JaysManager[14]
2018Steve Turco—St. Louis CardinalsRoving instructor[15]
2019Glenn Gregson—Boston Red SoxLatin American Pitching Advisor[16]
2020None selected (season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic)[17]
2021Roly de ArmasFlorida Complex League PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesManager[18]
2022Rick SweetNashville SoundsMilwaukee BrewersManager[2]
2023Bobby Cuellar—Los Angeles DodgersSpecial Assistant to Player Development[19]
2024Chino Cadahia—Kansas City RoyalsSpecial Assistant to General Manager/Player Development[20]
2025Pat KellyLouisville BatsCincinnati RedsManager[21]

References

Specific

  1. ^ "Minor League Baseball Award Winners". Minor League Baseball. Archived December 6, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  2. ^ "Sweet, LaRocque Win Coolbaugh, Bender Awards". Minor League Baseball. December 6, 2022. Archived December 7, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  3. ^ Zolecki, Todd (December 6, 2021). "Roly de Armas Receives Coolbaugh Award". Major League Baseball. Archived December 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  4. ^ "Coolbaugh, 35, Dies After Being Struck by Ball". ESPN. July 23, 2007. Archived December 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  5. ^ "Jones Receives Coolbaugh Award". Minor League Baseball. November 17, 2008. Archived December 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  6. ^ "Lieppman, Montoyo Honored by MiLB". Minor League Baseball. November 17, 2009. Archived December 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  7. ^ "Newman, Huyke Win Top MiLB Awards". Minor League Baseball. November 15, 2010. Archived December 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  8. ^ "Gebhard, Jirschele Earn MiLB Honors". Minor League Baseball. November 14, 2011. Archived December 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  9. ^ "Lukevics, Goryl Honored by MiLB". Minor League Baseball. October 22, 2012. Archived December 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  10. ^ "Guerrero Earns Coolbaugh Honors". Minor League Baseball. November 13, 2013. Archived December 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  11. ^ "Wiedenbauer to Get Mike Coolbaugh Award". Minor League Baseball. November 17, 2014. Archived July 18, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  12. ^ "Raptors' Shoemaker Wins Coolbaugh Award". Minor League Baseball. November 17, 2015. Archived December 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  13. ^ "Nats' Williams Wins Coolbaugh Award". Minor League Baseball. November 14, 2016. Archived December 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  14. ^ "Coolbaugh Award Goes to Jays' Holmberg". Minor League Baseball. November 9, 2017. Archived December 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  15. ^ "Cardinals' Turco Named Coolbaugh Award Winner". Minor League Baseball. November 7, 2018. Archived December 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  16. ^ "Red Sox's Gregson Wins 2019 Coolbaugh Award". Minor League Baseball. November 6, 2019. Archived December 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  17. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Archived December 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  18. ^ "De Armas, Bell Win Coolbaugh, Bender Awards". Minor League Baseball. December 6, 2021. Archived December 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  19. ^ "Cuellar, McDaniel win Coolbaugh, Bender Awards". Minor League Baseball. December 6, 2023. Archived December 7, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  20. ^ "2024 Bender, Coolbaugh Award Winners". Minor League Baseball. December 10, 2024. Archived December 16, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  21. ^ "Mets' Dick Scott, Reds' Pat Kelly Win Bender, Coolbaugh Awards for Player Development Service". Minor League Baseball. December 8, 2025. Archived December 10, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2025.

General