Ralph Santana named Manager of the Year

MAHOMET, Ill. - The Prospect League is proud to announce the 2023 Season Individual Awards. The awards are voted on by the league's 17 field managers and will be announced throughout this week.

The next award to be announced is the Manager of the Year, given to the league's top Field Manager, voted on by their peers. 

This year's recipient is Thrillville Thrillbillies Manager Ralph Santana.

The first-year Prospect League manager led the Thrillbillies in their inaugural season to a 34-21 regular-season record, a Praire Land Division second-half Championship, the Prairie Land Division Championship with a win over the Catfish in the first round of the playoffs, and a Western Conference Championship appearance.

Santana led the Thrilbillies to 4th in the Prospect League in batting average (.288), 3rd in on-base percentage (.411), 5th in slugging percentage (.432), 5th in runs scored (410), and 3rd in walks (338). On the mound, the Thrillbillies had the 6th-best ERA (5.89) and the 2nd-least walks allowed (236). 

Santana joins Sebastian Gonzalez as a 2023 Prospect League Award recipient. Stay tuned as the Prospect League will announce the Roland Hemond Pro Prospect of the Year, the Mike Schmidt Player of the Year, the ArmCare.com Pitcher of the Year, the Eastern Conference All-Stars, and Western Conference All-Stars throughout the rest of the week.