Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award

Darnell Stenson was a Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect who was playing for the Scottsdale Scorpions when he was killed in a carjacking on November 5, 2003. Because Stenson was known among friends and teammates for his work ethic and character, the Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award (aka the Stenson Award) was created in 2004 and is given to the player who best exemplifies unselfishness, hard work and leadership.

"It's a huge honor, not only to be honored in the name of what a great person Dernell Stenson was but to be in the company of the guys who won it previously means a lot to me. Ithink everyone is so concerned with numbers, but I think it's unappreciated sometimes, what it means to have a good work ethic." - Chicago Cubs outfield prospect Sam Fuld on MLB.com (Lisa Winston, 11/14/2007)
Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award

In Chronological Order | Darnell Stenson Stats

Year

Stenson Award Winner (Qty)

Pos

AFL Team (Qty)

Player Affiliation (Qty)

2004

Mark Teahen (1)

3B

Phoenix Desert Dogs (1)

Kansas City Royals (1)

2005

Andre Ethier (1)

OF

Phoenix Desert Dogs (2)

Oakland Athletics (1)

2006

Kevin Frandsen (1)

IF

Scottsdale Scorpions (1)

San Francisco Giants (1)

2007

Sam Fuld (1)

OF

Mesa Solar Sox (1)

Chicago Cubs (1)

2008

Jason Donald (1)

IF

Mesa Solar Sox (2)

Philadelphia Phillies (1)

2009

Russ Mitchell (1)

1B

Peoria Javelins (1)

Los Angeles Dodgers (1)

2010 Steve Lombardozzi (1) 2B Scottsdale Scorpions (2) Washington Nationals (1)
2011 Kevin Mattison (1) OF Surprise Saguaros (1) Florida Marlins (1)
2012 Cole Kimball (1) RHP Salt River Rafters (1) Washington Nationals (2)

2013

Not Yet Announced (11-2013)

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Year

Stenson Award Winner (Qty)

Pos

AFL Team (Qty)

Player Affiliation (Qty)

Darnell Stenson Sportsmanship Award



Sam Fuld has participated in MANY baseball camps for diabetic children hoping he can inspire them as he was inspired himself — at the age of 12 Fuld himself was in one of those same camps and met Bill Gullickson. Fuld remembers the day, "I got the chance to meet Bill Gullickson and even though I just talked to him for two minutes, it was enough to inspire me. So anytime I can talk to young diabetic kids, I look forward to that."

Kevin Frandsen lost his brother, D.J., to cancer and not a day went by where Frandsen didn't use how his brother and parents handled all of it as inspiration. Frandsen recalled, "He always fought through it. Every week, every day, he never complained and he just kept going after it. My parents, they're teachers, doing everything they love to do. They've never complained. When my brother got sick, they kept teaching, taking turns. I learned a lot from them."

The Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award is determined (voted upon) by the managing and coaching staff from each of the six Arizona Fall League teams.

     

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