The Twins announced Gophers baseball coach John Anderson will get the Herb Carneal Lifetime Achievement Award during the team's Diamond Awards banquet.
Anderson has been head coach of the Gophers since 1981, has won Big Ten coach of the year eight times and has a career record of 1,317-887-3. He has 11 Big Ten titles and 19 NCAA appearances.
Joe Kreger of Green Isle will get the team's Terry Ryan Play Ball! Minnesota Award. Kreger played, managed and umpired youth and amateur baseball from 1966-2014 after graduating from Arlington-Green Isle High School.
The Diamond Awards banquet begins at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 23 at the Depot.
Twins and Upper Midwest award winners are honored that night. The team awards, which came after voting from the Twin Cities chapter of the BWAA, were announced in October.
NelÂson Cruz was choÂsen the Twins most valuÂable playÂer for 2019, and also won the team's Bob Allison Award for leadÂerÂship. TayÂlor RogÂers won the team's top pitchÂer aÂward, and Luis Arraez was named the rookÂie of the year. CatchÂer Mitch GarvÂer was named most improved, cenÂter fieldÂer Byron BuxÂton was choÂsen deÂfenÂsive playÂer of the year, and pitchÂer Kyle GibÂson won the meÂdiÂa's Good Guy Award.
The Upper Midwest playÂer of the year is Nick Anderson, who was born in CrosÂby and grew up in BraiÂnerd.
FormÂer Twin JusÂtin Morneau will get the KirÂby PuckÂett Award that day for Twins alumÂni comÂmuniÂty servÂice, and the team's miÂnor league playÂers of the year — outÂfieldÂer TrevÂor Larnach and pitchÂer Randy Dobnak — also will be recÂogÂnized.
Star Tribune photo of Paul Molitor and John Anderson by Jeff Wheeler, 2015