Steldt, Reklaitis, Walker, Krist, Gosse Take Top Honors for A’s

Harry Steldt was chosen by his Sheboygan A’s teammates as their Most Valuable Player for the successful 43-win, 20-loss 2022 season. It was announced at the club’s annual Awards Dinner held at Al & Al’s on Jan. 7 and marked the fifth time Steldt was so honored.

Jared Reklaitis was named Most Valuable Pitcher for the second straight year, Ross Krist won the Sine Qua Non Award, and Cooper Gosse won the Manager’s Award. But it was Gus Walker who stole the show at the dinner. Walker, a Marian University player from Albuquerque, New Mexico, walked off with the Leading Hitter, Most Valuable Defensive Player, and Rookie of the Year awards.

Steldt, who was the MVP in 2012, 2017, 2018, and 2021, hit .379 with 64 hits and 43 runs batted in 57 games. While he dominated MVP voting, so strong and balanced were the A’s this year that the only categories that Steldt led the team in were walks (45), hit by pitch (9), and on-base percentage (.520). He ranked in the top three in just about every other category so his numbers made him a top candidate, but the fact that he has magnetic leadership qualities is no doubt what put him over the top in the players’ vote.

“Harry is quiet and soft-spoken, but he’s the leader on the field and if something needs to be said he says it. He definitely is my go-to guy,” manager Tim Moyer said. His .379 average this season put him at .333 in his 12-year, 593-game career.

Reklaitis posted a 6-1 record with 93 strikeouts in 59⅔ innings and had a record-setting 0.45 earned run average to emerge as the top pitcher in the A’s outstanding stable of arms last summer.

Krist, who played outfield and infield, had a great year offensively and defensively to pull down the General Manager’s Sine Qua Non Award. Krist was among the leaders in a number of offensive categories, including sharing the lead in games played and leading in runs scored and runs batted in. He finished with 25 doubles, just three short of Tim Patzman’s record.

But It was Walker, the rookie outfielder from the Southwest who stole the spotlight. His teammates elected him Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. He also took home the leading hitter award. He finished with a .394 batting average and committed but two errors while making diving catches all over the outfield. The Marian University player racked up 85 hits, the fourth-highest number recorded in the 60-year history of the team.

“Everybody on our roster made a contribution to our winning season,” manager Tim Moyer said, “but one of the biggest contributions was made by Cooper Gosse. Every night before we left the parking lot I asked, is Cooper on the bus? I needed him I wanted him at every game. He did everything I asked of him and he played everywhere I asked him to play. He was a big piece of our success and really exemplifies what this Manager’s Award means.”