Toronto - The TORONTO BLUE JAYS are pleased to announce the following players have been selected as this year's recipients of the R. HOWARD WEBSTER AWARDS, recognizing the most valuable players at each of the Club's minor league affiliated teams: RHP JOSH BANKS, OF DAVID SMITH, 1B JOSH KREUZER, OF TRAVIS SNIDER, LHP BRETT CECIL, OF JOHERMYN CHAVEZ, OF WELINTON RAMIREZ and OF YENSY PEREZ.

SNIDER (Pulaski - 2006, Lansing - 2007) and BANKS (New Hampshire - 2005, Syracuse - 2007) become the 22nd and 23rd players in the history of the organization to win two or more WEBSTER AWARDS. The rest are all first-time winners.

KREUZER, 24, was selected as the Florida State League Most Valuable Player for 2007. The San Jose, California resident batted .309 with 20 home runs and 71 RBI in 117 games. The 24-year-old first baseman was also selected to the post-season All-Star squad after leading the Florida State League in On-Base Pct (.431), Slugging Pct. (.542) and Runs Scored (92).

JOSH BANKS - 12-10, 4.63 ERA
6-3, 215, Age-25. Born-Baltimore, MD
Syracuse Chiefs - International League (AAA)
  • Selected as organizational Pitcher of the Month for June (2-3, 3.78 ERA).
  • Led the club with 27 starts.
  • Allowed only 24 walks over 169 innings pitched.
  • Second round selection of the 2003 draft.
DAVID SMITH - .276, 24 HR & 70 RBI
6-1, 205, Age-26, Born-Charleston, WV
New Hampshire Fisher Cats - Eastern League (AA)
  • Selected as Eastern League Player of the Week ending August 19.
  • New Hampshire's Player of the Month for August (.309, 8 HR, 20 RBI).
  • Led the club in home runs (8), slugging (.512) and extra base hits (84).
  • 15th round selection of the 2002 draft.
JOSH KREUZER - .309, 20 HR & 71 RBI
6-5, 240, Age-24, Born-Mountain View, CA
Dunedin Blue Jays - Florida State League (A Advanced)
  • Named MVP of the Florida State League.
  • Led the Florida State League in On-Base Pct. (.431), Slugging Pct. (.542) and Runs (92).
  • Selected as organizational Player of the Month for May (.347, 8 HR, 17 RBI).
  • 16th round selection in 2002 draft.
TRAVIS SNIDER - .313, 16 HR, 93 RBI
6-0, 230, Age-19, Born-Kirkland, WA
Lansing Lugnuts - Midwest League (A)
  • Webster award winner for the 2nd consecutive season.
  • Led the Midwest League in RBI (93), Doubles (35) and Slugging Pct. (.525).
  • Midwest League Player of the Week twice (weeks ending Apr 29/May 20).
  • Selected to the Midwest League post-season All-Star team.
  • Selected as organizational Player of the Month for April (.405, 1 HR, 13 RBI).
  • Selected in the 1st round (14th overall) in the 2006 draft.
BRETT CECIL - 1-0, 1.27 ERA
6-3, 220, Age-20, Born-Dunkirk, MD
Auburn Doubledays - New York-Penn League (SA)
  • Made his professional debut in 2007, selected in Round 1A (compensation round).
  • Allowed only 36 hits and 11 walks in 49.2 IP.
  • Pitched seven innings to clinch the NY Penn-League title for Auburn.
JOHERMYN CHAVEZ - .301, 6 HR & 21 RBI
6-3, 180, Age-18, Born-Turmero Aragua, Venezuela
Gulf Coast Blue Jays - Rookie League
  • Signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2006.
  • Batted .326 over July/August with all six of his home runs.
WELINTON RAMIREZ - .270, 3 HR, 30 RBI
6-2, 175, Age-20, Born-Azua, Dominican Republic
Dominican Summer League Team #1
  • Signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2003.
  • T-1st on the club with three home runs.
YENSY PEREZ - .298, 0 HR, 27 RBI
5-11, 160, Age-20, Born-Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic
Dominican Summer League Team #2
  • Signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2004.
  • Led the club with .298 average, 14 doubles, four triples and 28 stolen bases.
Other Webster winners on Toronto's current Major League roster include ROY HALLADAY (Dunedin - 1996), GUSTAVO CHACIN (Medicine Hat - 1999), REED JOHNSON (Hagerstown - 2000), ALEX RIOS (New Haven - 2003), AARON HILL (New Hampshire, 2004) and ADAM LIND (Auburn - 2004, Dunedin - 2005 and New Hampshire - 2006).