The awards keep coming for Greeneville Astros' head groundskeeper Israel Hinojosa III. For the second straight season, Hinojosa has been recognized as Minor League Baseball's Sports Turf Manager of the Year for the short season/rookie classification.

The award is sponsored by the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA). He will be honored at the Baseball Winter Meetings next month in Indianapolis.

"This award means a lot because I learned from the right people starting out at the Major League Level. Once I was given my shot here on my own, I put everything I learned to use, winning not one but two awards," said Hinojosa after the announcement. "However, I couldn't have done it on my own. It was a team effort, and Todd Ireland and Ray Ruggles were a big help along the way."

This most recent honor comes just weeks after being selected, for the second consecutive year, by the Appalachian League umpires and field staffs of each team in the league as the 2009 Appalachian League Sports Turf Manager of the Year.

Hinojosa's work in Greeneville over the past two seasons has been recognized by others as well, and he has recently been given a promotion to become the field superintendent for the Corpus Christi Hooks, the Houston Astros Double-A affiliate, located in Corpus Christi, TX.

"I'm excited about being able to better myself and take on a new challenge with Double-A ball," said Hinojosa of the promotion. "I hope to pick up where Garrett Reddehase left off as he also moves up in the organization from Corpus Christi to Round Rock. He made Whataburger Field the best in the Texas League and I plan on doing the same in the years to come."

Hinojosa, a native Texan, is anxious to begin working with the full season club back in his home state. Meanwhile, Greeneville Astros general manager David Lane is happy for Hinojosa's recognition and believes the Hooks will be pleased with their new addition.

"This is another award that is well deserved for Izzy and a group that works tirelessly to give Pioneer Park the best possible playing field in short-season baseball," said Lane. Then he added, "I'm sure the dedication he showed to Pioneer Park and the Greeneville Astros will carry over to Whataburger Field and the Corpus Christi Hooks."