MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - OAKLAND , Calif. – Right-handed pitcher Trevor Cahill and first baseman Chris Carter have been named the Oakland Athletics Organizational Pitcher and Player of the Year, respectively, in recognition for their outstanding achievements in the A’s minor league system this past season. Cahill is a repeat winner, having also received the award in 2007.

The A’s second round selection in the 2006 First Year Player Draft, Cahill pitched for both Single-A Stockton and Double-A Midland this season, fashioning a combined record of 11-5 and 2.61 ERA in 21 games and 19 starts. The 20-year-old Olympian struck out 136 batters in 124.1 innings pitched and limited opponents to a .179 batting average. Baseball America named him the top prospect in the Single-A California League, where he posted a 5-4 mark and 2.78 ERA in 14 appearances before his promotion to Midland at midseason.

The 6-3, 195-pound Oceanside, Calif. native thrived in Double-A competition, reeling off a 6-1 mark and 2.19 ERA in seven outings for the Rockhounds. Cahill was named a California League Mid-Season All-Star and was later selected to both the MLB Futures Game and the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. He threw one scoreless inning in the Futures Game at Yankee Stadium July 13, striking out two and allowing one hit. Equally brilliant at the Beijing Olympic Games, Cahill etched a 2.25 ERA and 0-0 record in two starts for the U.S. Team, allowing only six hits and two earned runs in 8.0 innings of work. He hurled three scoreless, hitless innings in his final Olympic start against Japan in a 4-2 U.S. victory on August 20.

Carter, 21, enjoyed a breakout season at Single-A Stockton, leading the California League with 39 home runs and 104 RBI. He batted .259 with 101 runs scored, a .361 on-base percentage and .569 slugging percentage, playing both first and third base, as well designated hitter. The 6-4, 210-pound slugger also belted five homers and drove in 18 runs in 12 playoff games, propelling Stockton to the California League crown. In the September 14 title game, Carter went three-for-five with a grand slam, solo home run and five RBI in the Ports’ 9-3 win over Lancaster.

Leading the league in homers, RBI, runs scored, slugging percentage and total bases, the Redwood City, Nev. product was named the 2008 California League Rookie of the Year. His 39 regular-season home runs tied for second most in all of minor league baseball this year.

The Oakland Athletics minor league system consists of the Sacramento River Cats (Triple A-Pacific Coast League), the Midland Rockhounds (Double A-Texas League), the Stockton Ports (Single A-California League), the Kane County Cougars (Single A-Midwest League), the Vancouver Canadians (Short A-Northwest League) and the Arizona Athletics (Rookie).

The Sacramento River Cats captured their second consecutive Triple-A and Pacific Coast League championships, beating Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (New York Yankees affiliate) in the Triple-A Championship Game September 16. Sacramento has claimed four of the last six PCL titles, clinching the championship against Oklahoma City this year.

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