CHICAGO-- The postseason accolades officially began to come in for Esteban Loaiza Wednesday, as the White Sox right-hander was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year in the 2003 Players Choice Awards.
Loaiza edged out Boston’s Bill Mueller and teammate Frank Thomas in secret-ballot voting conducted among their peers on September 16 and 17. Each Players Choice Award winner will designate the child-related charity of his choice to receive a grant from the Players Trust for Children, a not-for-profit foundation created and administered by the players, in an amount ranging from $20,000 to $50,000.
In the American League’s Outstanding Pitcher competition, Loaiza came in behind Toronto’s Roy Halladay but ended up in the top three along with Boston’s Pedro Martinez. Loaiza finished tied for second among all Major League hurlers with 21 victories and topped the American League with 207 strikeouts.
The 31-year-old had never won more than 11 games in eight seasons. Thomas was the last White Sox player to win a Players Choice Award, also being named American League Comeback Player of the Year in 2000.
In other news, the White Sox announced David Wilder has been named special assistant to general manager Ken Williams. Wilder previously has worked with the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers, serving as a special assignment scout for the team this past season.
Wilder held the title of vice president for player personnel under former Brewers general manager Dean Taylor.