Cleveland BBWAA Chapter Honors Three Guardians For 2023 Season
Over a month into their offseason, the Cleveland Guardians continue to receive accolades for their 2023 campaign.
According to Cleveland.com Guardians beat writer Paul Hoynes, three Guardians were recently honored by Cleveland’s chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
Josh Naylor was named the 2023 Bob Feller Man of the Year and Tanner Bibee received the 2023 Frank Gibbons-Steve Olin Good Guy Award.
Former longtime manager Terry Francona also received special recognition for his distinguished managerial career with Cleveland.
For Naylor, the annual Bob Feller Man of the Year Award recognizes the Guardians’ best player each season.
He had his best Major League season this year, recording career-highs in batting average (.308), hits (139), doubles (31), RBI (97), stolen bases (10), on-base percentage (.354), slugging percentage (.489), and OPS (.843) in 121 games.
Naylor also became the fourth player in franchise history to hit at least .305 with at least 95 RBI in 125 or fewer games played.
Jun 25, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor (22) celebrates after hitting a home run during the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Progressive Field.
© Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
The other nominees for the award were Bibee, Andrés Giménez, and three-time winner José Ramírez.
For Bibee, the annual Frank Gibbons-Steve Olin Good Guy Award, “is awarded to a member of the Guardians’ organization who not only understands the media’s job but also does his or her part to cooperate,” per Hoynes.
The right-hander had a remarkable rookie season, finishing runner-up for the 2023 American League Rookie of the Year Award.
Additional nominees for Cleveland’s Good Guy award were Xazvion Curry, Myles Straw, and former longtime third base coach Mike Sarbaugh.
Lastly, Francona was recognized for stepping down as arguably the best manager in franchise history.
In a club-record 11 seasons as manager, he accumulated a club-records of 921 wins and nine winning seasons, while leading Cleveland to four AL Central titles and the 2016 AL pennant.
