12/10/09 11:50 AM EST
INDIANAPOLIS -- Baseball America has named Triple-A Durham skipper Charlie Montoyo as the Minor League Manager of the Year.
"I think it's an awesome honor just to know there are so many Minor League teams and managers, and I got picked," Montoyo said. "It's just a great honor. I found out through Gerry Hunsicker [the Rays' senior vice president of baseball operations]. He sent me an e-mail, because I didn't know. I said, 'You mean the whole Minor Leagues?'"
Under Montoyo's guidance, Durham swept defending International League champion Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (New York Yankees) to win its third Governor's Cup in 12 years. Following the win, the Bulls made a trip to Oklahoma City and defeated Memphis (St. Louis), 5-4, in 11 innings to win their first Triple-A championship.
"When we won the league, what I get from my wife is, 'Great job, babe, we've got insurance for next year,'" said Montoyo with a chuckle.
Throughout the season, Montoyo had to juggle his lineup due to the many roster moves that were made.
"[The] last two years in Durham has been awesome, because our big league club is competing," Montoyo said. "[We're] also trying to make it to the playoffs and we're winning at the same time. It's great. If we can do that at the same time, it's great."
Montoyo smiled when telling reporters how much he loved his job.
"I love telling anybody they're going to the big leagues," Montoyo said. "That's just a great job. Even somebody who has been there before, it's the same expression: 'Really? Bye, see you at Spring Training.'
