2009 Blue Jays Award winners

TORONTO , Dec. 1 /CNW/ - TORONTO BLUE JAYS 2B AARON HILL highlights the list of 2009 award winners as selected by the Toronto chapter of the BBWAA. HILL earned Player of the Year honours, as well as being honoured as the recipient of the John Cerutti Award. RHP ROY HALLADAY was named the Pitcher of the Year; LHP RICKY ROMERO captured Rookie of the Year honours, while OF ADAM LIND was selected as Most Improved for the second consecutive season.

HILL, 27, received the Neil MacCarl award, named after the longtime baseball writer from the Toronto Star, representing the Player of the Year. The Palm Harbor, Florida resident led all Major League second basemen with 36 home runs and 108 RBI, earning him his first Silver Slugger Award. HILL also was this season's recipient of the John Cerutti Award given annually to the person associated with day-to-day workings of Blue Jays baseball who displays goodwill, cooperation and character as exemplified by the late John Cerutti .

HALLADAY, 32, led the club in wins (17), games started (32), innings pitched (239), strikeouts (208) & ERA (2.79). The Denver , Colorado native led the AL with nine complete games and posted 200+ innings for the 4th consecutive season and 6th time in his career. HALLADAY has now been selected seven times for the award and in seven of the last eight seasons.

ROMERO, 25, posted a 13-9 record with a 4.30 ERA in 29 games this past season. The Los Angeles , California native led the AL with 16 starts quality starts by a rookie, while his 30 ground ball double plays led all of Major League Baseball. His 13 victories are tied for second most all time by a Blue Jays rookie.

LIND, 26, picked up the award for Most Improved Player for the second consecutive season. The Muncie, Indiana native ranked 5th in the AL in total bases (330), 5th in doubles (46), 2nd in extra-base hits (81), 3rd in RBI (114) & 5th in home runs (35), propelling him to his first Silver Slugger Award as a DH.

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