Garkow, Miyoshi win Pacific Association honors

Miyoshi wins co-manager of the year|

Sonoma Stompers right-hander Tyler Garkow was named the Pacific Association’s 2017 Pitcher of the Year.

And Stompers Manager Takashi Miyoshi, who set a league record for wins in a season, and Vallejo Admirals skipper PJ Phillips, who led his team to their first-ever Pacific Association championship, tied for the league’s 2017 Manager of the Year award.

Garkow, the league leader in strikeouts (97) and ERA (2.56), received 25 more votes than the next-closest contender. In August, he left the Pacific Association to be called up to the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League.

“We’re all doing the best we can and we’re still fighting and scratching and clawing for that dream. I’m just fortunate enough to be one step closer,” Garkow said after his last start as a Stomper. “It doesn’t mean I’m more deserving than anybody else, I just got the opportunity. I just have to make the most of it.”

Garkow’s nearly-100 strikeouts came in just 13 starts for Sonoma. In that span, Garkow did not pitch less than five innings in a start. He recorded 10 or more strikeouts three times.

“The voters got this one right. Tyler was a tremendous asset for us, and a big reason for so much of our success this season. I’m thrilled we were able to have him as long as we did, and I’m even more proud of what he accomplished, and what is in store for him in the future,” said Theo Fightmaster, Stompers president and general manager.

When he was promoted in 2015, Miyoshi became the first Japanese-born manager in American professional baseball. He notched his 100th managerial win in July.

“Yoshi is an enormous asset to our organization and to this league. He’s poured his heart and soul into this organization, and the return on that has been great success for our ball club and the players who’ve gone on to higher levels,” Fightmaster said. “Additionally, you won’t find a single manager in this league more professional, harder working and more respectful of the game.”

Also on Friday, the Pacific Association named Vallejo Admirals outfielder Tillman Pugh as the league’s Most Valuable Player award winner.

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