ALTOONA, Pa – The Altoona Curve has announced their season-ending awards for the 2009 season.  Pedro Alvarez has been named the Curve’s Most Valuable Player and RHP Yoslan Herrera has been named the Pitcher of the Year, while Miguel Perez has been presented with the “Unsung Hero Award.”

Votes were compiled by a collection of players, coaches, media members, and front office staff.  For the first time, online voting at AltoonaCurve.com was conducted, which allowed fans to voice their opinion to vote on the M.V.P. 

For the Most Valuable Player award online voting, Alvarez took home 37% of the vote (128 total votes), Jonel Pacheco took home 31% of the votes (108 total votes), Herrera garnered 15% of the vote (50 total votes), Jason Delaney had 13% (43 votes) while Jose Tabata (eight votes) and Brian Friday (seven votes) each shared 2% of the balloting. 

Alvarez joined the Altoona Curve on June 23 and made his debut on June 24 against the Erie SeaWolves at Jerry Uht Park.  While with Altoona, Alvarez was able to finish second on the team with 13 home runs and drove in 38 RBIs in just 60 games played while hitting .333.  In August, Alvarez led the Eastern League in home runs with seven and ranked fifth in batting average (.368) while drawing an E.L. high 26 walks for an OBP (on-base percentage) of .485.  In games in which did not Alvarez play, the Altoona Curve are 26-51 and games in which Alvarez did play, the Curve sported a record of 34-26.  

Alvarez was the Pirates’ first round selection (second overall) in the June 2008 draft out of Vanderbilt University.  Prior to his arrival in Altoona, Alvarez hit .247 belting 14 home runs and 55 RBIs with the Lynchburg Hillcats (Advanced – A). 

Herrera recently earned a late-season promotion to Indianapolis earlier this week after he compiled one of the best seasons by a pitcher in Altoona Curve history.  The Pinar del Rio, Cuba native went an astounding 11-1 with a 3.23 ERA with Altoona in 23 appearances (15 starts).  Herrera, who played in his third season with the Curve came one game shy of moving into a four-way tie for third place on the organization’s all-time win list.  Herrera has a career record of 23-19 with the Curve.

Herrera enjoyed a 9-0 start before suffering his first and only loss to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on August 15.  The 9-0 start is the best in franchise history and he currently holds the highest winning percentage by a pitcher in a single-season in Altoona Curve history (.917).

Perez was named the Unsung Hero for the Altoona Curve this season for his “contributions beyond the box score.”  Perez was originally signed as a minor league free agent by Pittsburgh on December 17, 2007.  A former Cincinnati farm hand, who made his major league debut with the Reds in 2005 has been a mentor for many young players in the Curve locker room along with being a consummate professional serving as the team’s solid backup catcher. 

Pacheco, Altoona’s 2008 Most Valuable Player again turned in another solid season for the Curve in his second season with the team.  Pacheco currently has belted 14 home runs, which will lead the team for the second consecutive season joining Adam Hyzdu (1999-2000) as the only player in franchise history to lead the team in home runs in back-to-back seasons.  For his accomplishment, Pacheco has been named the Bud Select “King of Swing.” 

ALL-TIME LISTING OF ALTOONA CURVE MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS:

1999 – Adam Hyzdu (OF)

2000 – Adam Hyzdu (OF) *

2001 – Shaun Skrehot (SS)

2002 – Carlos Rivera (1B)

2003 – Sean Burnett (LHP) +

2004 – Chris Duffy (OF)

2005 – Jose Bautista (3B)

2006 – Brett Roneberg (1B/OF)

2007 – Steve Pearce (1B)
2008 – Jonel Pacheco (OF)

2009 – Pedro Alvarez (3B)

*Named Eastern League M.V.P. the same season

+ Named Eastern League Pitcher of the Year the same season

-Altoona Curve