As the Triple-A season comes to an end, the Milwaukee Brewers‘ Triple-A affiliate Nashville Sounds announced the winners of their team awards ahead of their game on Saturday night.

Nashville Sounds Pitcher of the Year: Robert Gasser

At just 24-years-old, Robert Gasser has made a mark in Nashville. In 26 games with the Sounds, he holds a 9-1 record, 1.28 WHIP, 166 strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.79. Additionally, he’s had eight or more strikeouts in at least 20 of his starts this season.

While he didn’t get a September call-up, seeing Gasser on the 40-man roster next season is definitely a possibility. It’s projected that he could be a backend starter or a reliever when he reaches the big league level, but it’ll all depend on how the status of the Brewers pitching looks going into next season.

Nashville Sounds Fan Favorite: Patrick Dorrian

Patrick Dorrian was a 2014 12th round pick by the Atlanta Braves who’s been with the Nashville Sounds for two seasons now. In 99 games in Triple-A, Dorrian is slashing .241/.315/.471 with an OPS of .786, 21 homers, and 65 driven in. He’s put up excellent numbers, and needs to be talked about more.

Dorrian needs more recognition for his diverse set of skills, being able to play all four positions in the infield and the way he’s able to crush the ball. If he is to receive a major league call up next season, I could definitely see him as a utility player, one that maybe follows behind Andruw Monasterio.

Nashville Sounds Community Player of the Year: Caleb Boushley

A Wisconsin fan through and through, Caleb Boushley is a Hortonville native drafted originally by the San Diego Padres in the 33rd round of the 2017 draft. However, Boushley was selected into the minor league system through the Rule 5 draft in December 2021.

In 29 games with the Sounds this season, 26 of those being starts, Boushley holds an ERA of 5.11, 9-8 record, 110 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.38. In his last start against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, he entered in a relief appearance after Aaron Ashby made his first appearance on rehab assignment with the Sounds and walked in a run and led the bases loaded.

Boushley was put into the game where he gave up a grand slam to Jerar Encarnacion to make it 5-0 Shrimp. He worked 6.1 innings of relief, walking one, striking out four and scattered six hits in Nashville’s longest relief appearance since 2019.

When he’s not on the mound, he’s in the Nashville community, giving back and helping out kids in baseball, attending clinics, public appearances, and even making radio appearances.

Nashville Sounds MVP: Keston Hiura

No, you read that right. The Nashville Sounds MVP this year is Keston Hiura.

A once struggling infielder with the Milwaukee Brewers, Hiura bounced back and forth between the major leagues and Triple-A Nashville before he would be designated for assignment by the Brewers. No organization ended up picking him up, so he would stay within the Brewers organization, going to Nashville to be a permanent member of the Sounds.

It seemed to be a pattern; Hiura would get sent down to the minors when he was struggling, and suddenly would be smashing it, playing baseball like we had never seen before.

In 85 games, Hiura is slashing .308/.395/.565 with an OPS of .960, 23 homers, and 77 driven in. Hitting in the minor league system doesn’t seem to pose a problem to Hiura, but when it translates to major league, it does.

Many thought that Hiura might receive a major-league callup this season, especially when players such as Luke Voit were let go by the Brewers, and when Rowdy Tellez hit the IL with a finger injury. The offense needed the help, and honestly, Hiura was the answer. But, rightfully so, it appears the Brewers were a little hesitant to bring him back up.

But, nonetheless, Keston Hiura has had an amazing year in Nashville and deserves the MVP award from the team. Maybe we’ll see him in the big leagues again next season…

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