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ANAHEIM, CA – The Angels Saturday announced their minor league organizational awards for the 2008 season, naming infielder Freddy Sandoval as Player of the Year, right-handed pitcher Anthony Ortega as Pitcher of the Year, and infielder Efren Navarro as Defensive Player of the Year.  This announcement was made by Angels’ Director of Player Development Abe Flores.
Sandoval, 26, spent the 2008 season at triple-A Salt Lake where he batted a Bees’-best .335 (176/525) with 15 home runs and 88 RBI in 131 games (all career-bests).  His average ranked sixth in the Pacific Coast League and he led the league in hits and doubles (45) and ranked fifth in runs scored (92).  Sandoval finished third among all baseball minor leaguers in doubles and fifth in hits.
        

Sandoval was recalled by the Angels, Sept. 8, and made his Major League debut as a pinch-hitter that same night (vs. NYY,

flyout).  He collected his first hit, Sept. 14 against Seattle’s Felix Hernandez.  A native of Tijuana, Mexico, Sandoval attended the Univ. of San Diego before being selected by the Angels in the 8th round of the 2004 free agent draft.  He is the 13th native of Mexico to appear with the Angels.
        Ortega, 23, began the 2008 season at double-A Arkansas, where he posted a 9-7 record with a 3.73 ERA (56 ER – 135 IP) in 22 starts.  He allowed 124 hits and 49 walks while striking out 83 batters.  Ortega, who was selected to the Texas League All-Star Team, led Arkansas in ERA (fifth-best in the league) and tied for the Travelers’ lead in wins.  He was promoted Aug. 1 to triple-A Salt Lake, where he went 5-0 with a 2.52 ERA (11 ER – 39.1 IP) in six starts, posting six walks and 22 strikeouts.  Overall in 2008, Ortega finished with a 14-7 record and 3.46 ERA (67 ER – 174.1 IP) in 28 games with 55 walks and 105 strikeouts.  
        A native of Ocumare del Tuy, Venezuela, Ortega was signed by the Angels as a free agent, Oct. 13, 2003.
        

        Navarro, 23, split the 2008 season between single-A Cedar Rapids and single-A Rancho Cucamonga.  Defensively, he compiled a .992 fielding percentage, with 1,179 putouts and 95 assists in 1283 total chances, committing just nine errors in 123 total games as a first baseman (he was errorless in 34 games with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes).  Navarro also batted .349 (45/129) for the Quakes and .269 (89/331) with Cedar Rapids. A native of Lynwood, CA, he attended the Univ. of Nevada-Las Vegas.  Navarro was originally selected by the Angels in the 50th round of the 2007 free agent draft.    

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