It's a tradition they've carried over from the team's days in Rockville, except the food wasn't nearly as good back then. Who can forget the incident where Alex Payne dropped and broke his Pitcher of the Year trophy because his fingers were coated in all-you-can-eat crab juice?
But these days, it's a down-home southern style cookout. Upwards of 200 players relish the end of the baseball season with a feast of Pulled Pork BBQ (with vinegar-based sauce, of course), hush puppies, slaw and potato salad, while cheering on teammates who are up for awards. It's about camaraderie, sportsmanship, and enjoying the fruits of a season's worth of hard work.
Many have achieved their first taste of fame here. Many have also fallen into a sweet-tea-induced coma and needed medical attention. But a good time is always had by all.
Here's a rundown of the awards presented this year:
Most Valuable Fox Award (Top position player, BBA level)
Butler's contributions go beyond his batting stats — as the team's starting catcher, he is also tasked with handling the entire pitching staff. In addition to Butler's .844 OPS as a hitter, he also managed 5.9 Framing Runs, and was adept at blocking balls in the dirt, allowing only 3 passed balls all season. All of which contributed to a team-leading 4.6 WAR. He will also win his second Puckett Golden Bat award in a Cape Fear uniform, the fifth in his career.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
| YEAR | MOST VALUABLE FOX |
|---|---|
| 2063 | Joshua Ackland |
| 2062 | Octávio Martínez |
Apex Pitcher Award (Top pitcher, BBA level)
While Barrera's win-loss record doesn't look impressive, he was the Swamp Foxes' most consistent starter by a long shot. Among his 33 starts, he achieved 17 Quality Starts, 2 Complete Games, and a 3.87 FIP. And he was a workhorse, with the most innings pitched (212.1) by a Swamp Fox since the great Danny Leach in 2048.
This marks the first time since the team moved to Wilmington that a starting pitcher has won this award, and it's not for lack of eligible competition, as relievers Moananani Nana and Kalaila Cobar had a decent case this year as well.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
| YEAR | APEX PITCHER |
|---|---|
| 2063 | Dave Ferrell |
| 2062 | Kalaila Cobar |
Most Valuable Silver Fox Award (Top-performing player 35 or older, BBA level)
40-year-old Nathaniel Davis still technically qualifies for this award, but his bid to win three straight was cut short by the fact that Ferrell, who contributed much more to the team this season, is now of "silver fox" age. Cape Fear traded him to Twin Cities in August, but before he departed, he spent the year as the Swamp Foxes' closer, saving 26 games and earning 1.5 pitching WAR for his efforts.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
| YEAR | SILVER FOX | AGE |
|---|---|---|
| 2063 | Nathaniel Davis | 39 |
| 2062 | Nathaniel Davis | 38 |
Top Kit Fox Award (Minor League player of the year)
Tovar was drafted in the third round in this year's amateur draft, and the kid who was pitching in high school just a few months earlier immediately made a strong impact as a pro. He made 13 starts in the Rookie ball season, winning 7 games and notching a 1.51 ERA. At the end of the Rookie ball season, he was promoted to Short Season A, where he held his own against tougher competition. The standout performance earned him recognition from the league, who awarded him the FL Puckett Pitcher Award.
This marks the second straight year a Rookie Leaguer has won this award, which is quite unusual. With the shorter season, Rookie ball players are generally held to a higher standard, and must really be exceptional. In this case, Tovar certainly was.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
| YEAR | KIT FOX | MiL LEVEL(S) |
|---|---|---|
| 2063 | Ángel Barrera | R / S-A / A |
| 2062 | Faddei Popleteev | AAA |
"Heyyy, this stuff hits!" he slurred, holding up a 2-liter bottle, while clutching his Kit Fox trophy in the other hand. "How many bottles do you think I can smuggle out of here in my suitcase?"
