On the heels of leading the High-A Great Lakes Loons to a first half division title and playoff appearance, Austin Chubb has been the 2022 Midwest League Manager of the year.
Chubb, in his second season at the helm, became only the third Loons manager to win the postseason award, joining Juan Bustabad (2010) and John Shoemaker (2019). Chubb previously earned Manager of the Year honors in 2019 when he was with the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League.
Chubb’s .554 winning percentage is the best in Loons franchise history, slightly edging out Bustabad’s .538 mark from 2008-10. Chubb led the Loons to a 63-57 record during his first season as manager in 2021 and propelled them to a 76-55 showing this year.
Loons infielders Imanol Vargas and Jorbit Vivas were also named to the Midwest League Postseason All-Star Team. Vargas was included on the team as the designated hitter after leading the league in on-base percentage (.404) and finishing tied for the league-lead in on-base plus slugging (.871).
Furthermore, the 24-year-old finished top-10 in batting average (.268), home runs (18), RBI (63), slugging percentage (.467), hits (102), walks (80), total bases (178) and runs scored (65).
Vivas, who is on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 40-man roster, was included on the Midwest League Postseason All-Star Team as the second baseman. The 21-year-old finished in the top-10 in batting average (.269), RBI (66), on-base percentage (.374), hits (129), walks (63), total bases (192) and runs scored (73).
Vargas and Vivas are just the 14th and 15th Loons players to ever be named to a Postseason All-Star Team dating back to the team’s inception in 2007. Other notable All-Stars include Clayton Kershaw (2007), Dee Strange-Gordon (2009), Miguel Vargas (2019) and Andy Pages (2021).
Dodgers prospects Jason Martin & Miguel Vargas honored
In addition to Chubb, Vargas and Vivas being recognized for their achievements, Dodgers prospect Jason Martin was recently selected to the Pacific Coast League All-Star Team as one of three outfielders. Vargas additionally was named the PCL’s top MLB prospect.
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