DAVENPORT, Iowa (November 11, 2015) - Modern Woodmen Park's amusements lineup is unprecedented, and in 2015 every ride made a difference for the Quad Cities community. The Quad Cities River Bandits give 50 cents from each ride to the Genesis Health Services Foundation to help fund local Neonatal Intensive Care Units, Camp Genesis and Flu-Free Quad Cities. In 2015, the rides helped finance a $50,000 donation for the second straight year, a campaign that gained national recognition on Wednesday from Ballpark Digest as 2015's Best Charity Event or Campaign in baseball.

During a press conference Wednesday at Modern Woodmen Park, Ballpark Digest publisher Kevin Reichard presented the River Bandits as the first-ever winner of Best Charity Event or Campaign in the publication's annual awards. River Bandits owner Dave Heller and Ken Croken, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Marketing and Advocacy for Genesis Health System, were on hand to receive the award.

"The financial contributions from the Quad Cities River Bandits ownership, both in this year and in 2014, are a model for the rest of the industry - and a clear sign of the team's commitment to the community." said Ballpark Digest publisher Kevin Reichard. "Making a difference in the community is the goal of every great pro baseball team, and the River Bandits put that into practice every day of the year."

The River Bandits' second $50,000 donation in as many years came with a portion of each this season's 84,000 rides on Modern Woodmen Park's amusements this season at Modern Woodmen Park - including the 105-foot Ferris wheel atop the berm in left field, the dual zip line that operates outside the ballpark on game days, the Mediacom Drop'N Twist, Space Camp gyroscope and the new Spin Zone Bumper Cars. In the past two seasons, a total of 152,000 amusement riders - during River Bandits games, special events and weekend Ferris wheel openings - contributed to the sum of $100,000 given by the River Bandits to the Genesis Health Services Foundation.

"The impact of the Quad Cities River Bandits as a charitable partner benefits our patients every day,'' said Ken Croken, vice president of corporate communications, Genesis Health System. "The tiniest and sickest babies we take care of in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) benefit from the great partnership with the River Bandits.

"Children in elementary schools...somewhere in the Quad Cities today actually...benefit from free seasonal influenza vaccinations partly because of the partnership with the River Bandits.

"The River Bandits are being recognized by Ballpark Digest today, but we've known about the organization's commitment to the community and to Genesis for years.''

The latest $50,000 donation is among more than 700 donations - for a total of more than $300,000 - throughout the Quad Cities this year by the River Bandits organization, which has donated more than $1.2 million over the last six years. Included in that figure is more than $60,000 each year towards funding tuition for three area young people attending college, through the Bandit Scholars Program. In addition, River Bandits staff members logged over 1,000 hours in community activities this year.

"Our charitable giving and deep-seated community involvement help define who we are as an organization," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "A big part of our mission is to give back to this community that we love so much, and we are tremendously grateful to work with such great partners as Genesis Health System and Augustana College to make our charitable dollars have as big an impact here in the Quad Cities as possible. For our charitable works to be so recognized by Ballpark Digest, the most well-read and most often cited publication in our industry, is extremely humbling. This is a great honor that we share with everyone across the Quad Cities!"

The award comes one year after the Ferris wheel was named by Ballpark Digest as the Best Ballpark Improvement - the fourth time in seven seasons Modern Woodmen Park has won the award. Since then, readers of Ballpark Digest voted Modern Woodmen Park as the Class-A Best of the Ballparks, The Sports Business Journal named the Quad Cities the No. 1 minor league market, SmartAsset Magazine named Davenport the No. 3 minor league town, and readers of The Quad-City Times voted the River Bandits the region's "Best Family Entertainment" and "Best Place for a Kid's Birthday Party."

"We are always thrilled for the Quad Cities to receive recognition, but when our success can make as big a positive impact as our work with the Genesis Health Services Foundation, it is that much more gratifying," said River Bandits General Manager Andrew Chesser. "Our organization remains committed to returning the amazing support of our fans by going beyond the ballpark to make a lasting impact for those in need throughout the Quad Cities community."

UP NEXT: Get the best price now on registration for the annual Bandits Race to Home 5K and Kids Fun Run, set for Saturday, April 23, 2016. Registration includes a T-shirt, and prices are $25 for the 5K and $10 for the Kids Fun Run. All proceeds benefit the Bandit Scholars Program. Visit riverbandits.com for the link to register.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: With the installation of the Ferris Wheel, the River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931, and in 2015 the club matched that effort by opening three new areas. A two-tiered special group deck immediately behind and overlooking the corn field opened in June. A new expanded the children's play area with additional bounce houses and the newest ride, Spin Zone Bumper Cars, opened in July. And a new 11,000-square-foot concourse expansion down the third-base line opened in late August. More improvements are planned for 2016!

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Award voted on by American League players

HOUSTON, TX - Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa has been named the Sporting News American League Rookie of the Year, an award which is voted on by American League players.

Correa starred for the Midwest League champion Quad Cities River Bandits in 2013.

Correa, who debuted on June 8 and was the youngest position player in the Majors this season, hit .279 (108x387) with 22 doubles, 22 home runs, 68 RBI, 14 stolen bases and an .857 OPS in his 99 games in 2015. Among AL rookies, Correa ranked first in home runs, slugging (.512) and OPS, while ranking second in RBI and on-base percentage (.345), and third in batting average (min. 400 PA). With 22 home runs this season, Correa set both the franchise rookie record for home runs and the franchise record for home runs by a shortstop.

His success continued into October, as he became the youngest player in American League history to record a multi-homer game in the postseason, which he did in Game 4 of the ALDS. He also joined Joe DiMaggio (1936) and Mickey Mantle (1952) as just the third player in Major League history age 21 or younger to hit third in the starting lineup of a postseason game.

Correa becomes the ninth player in franchise history to win the Sporting News Rookie of the Year and the first since outfielder Willy Taveras won the National League Award in 2005. In addition to Correa and Taveras, four other Astros position players have won the Sporting News NL Rookie Player of the Year: Jeff Bagwell (1991), Jeffrey Leonard (1979), Greg Gross (1974) and Joe Morgan (1965). The Astros have had three pitchers win the NL Rookie Pitcher of the Year in Roy Oswalt (2001), Al Osuna (1991) and Tom Griffin (1969).

This announcement kicks off what could be a busy award season for Correa, as he's a strong candidate for the Players Choice Most Outstanding Rookie of the Year Award, announced on Nov. 9, and the AL Rookie of the Year Award as voted on by the BBWAA, announced on Nov. 16.

Club returns 45 staff members from the 2015 season

HOUSTON, TX – The Houston Astros announced today their minor league staff for the 2016 season. The Astros coordinators will be Paul Runge (field coordinator), Jeff Albert (hitting coordinator), Doug White (pitching coordinator), Mark Bailey (catching coordinator), Adam Everett (infield coordinator), Morgan Ensberg (mindset coach), Leon Roberts (roving outfield instructor), Josh Miller (complex coordinator-pitching), Brendan Verner (strength and conditioning coordinator) and Daniel Roberts (rehab coordinator).

The managers from the Astros top four minor league affiliates in 2015 will all return to their posts next season, as Tony DeFrancesco (Triple A Fresno), Rodney Linares (Double A Corpus Christi), Omar Lopez (Class A Advanced Lancaster) and Josh Bonifay (Class A Quad Cities) will be back for 2016. Lamarr Rogers, manager of the 2015 Appalachian League Champion Greeneville Astros, will move up to Class A Short Season Tri-City to be the club's manager for the 2016 season. In the Rookie Level Gulf Coast League, Marty Malloy will return for his third consecutive season as manager of the GCL Astros.

The Astros are returning 45 staff members from the 2015 season. The club will announce the managers and coaches for the Dominican Summer League Astros clubs at a later date.

COORDINATORS AND ROVERS

Paul Runge returns for his sixth season as the Astros minor league field coordinator. Prior to joining the Astros in 2011, Runge compiled 14 years of minor league managerial experience in the Braves system. A veteran of eight Major League seasons as an infielder, Runge managed the Rookie Level Danville Braves to four first place finishes and two league titles prior to joining Houston.

Jeff Albert will enter his third season as Houston's hitting coordinator after joining the organization in 2013 as roving hitting instructor. Prior to joining the Astros, Albert spent five seasons as a coach in the Cardinals minor league system. A graduate of Butler University, Albert played professionally in the independent leagues and also received his Master's degree in Exercise Science at Louisiana Tech University.

Doug White has been promoted to pitching coordinator after spending the last two seasons as Houston's roving pitching instructor. The 2016 season will be his fourth campaign with the Astros, as he joined the organization in 2013 as pitching coach for the New York-Penn League Champion Tri-City ValleyCats. Before joining the Astros, White spent five seasons as a pitching coach in the Cardinals minor league system.

Former Astros catcher and Major League bullpen coach Mark Bailey will enter his 18th year as a coach or instructor in the Astros organization, and his first as catching coordinator. Bailey spent the 2015 season as the club's roving catching instructor, following two seasons as a developmental specialist with a focus on catching for Double A Corpus Christi.

Adam Everett will return to the Astros in 2016 as the organization's infield coordinator. The former Houston shortstop of seven seasons has spent the last three years as the Astros infield instructor.

Morgan Ensberg is set to return to the organization for his first season as mindset coach, in what will be his fourth consecutive year working in Houston's minor league system. In his newly created role, Ensberg will travel throughout the Astros system to help develop the mental skills of the Astros players while implementing organizational initiatives. The former eight-year Major League third baseman spent the last two seasons as the Astros minor league special assignment coach, which followed his professional coaching debut as an infield coach with Class A Advanced Lancaster in 2013.

After spending the last four seasons as the Astros hitting coach at the Triple A level, Leon Roberts will serve as the organization's roving outfield instructor in 2016. Roberts played outfield in the Major Leagues for 11 seasons, and the 2016 season will be his 39th working in baseball as either a player, coach, manager or coordinator.

Josh Miller will enter a new role as complex coordinator (pitching) following three seasons as Greeneville's pitching coach and two as a pro scout for the Astros. In his new role, Miller will oversee the Astros pitching programs at their complex in Kissimmee, Fla., which will include the extended Spring Training and rehab pitching programs.

Brendan Verner will serve as Houston's strength and conditioning coordinator for the fourth consecutive season in 2016. Prior to joining the Astros in 2013, Verner spent six seasons working in the Cleveland, Pittsburgh and San Diego minor league systems, in addition to spending two seasons on Cleveland's Major League staff as an assistant strength and conditioning coach.

Daniel Roberts will return to his role as rehab coordinator for the sixth season. Roberts is based out of the Astros Spring Training complex in Kissimmee, FL, where he assists injured and recovering Major and minor league players with the medical rehabilitation process. Prior to joining the Astros in 2011, Roberts served as an assistant athletic trainer at Charleston Southern University.

TRIPLE A FRESNO GRIZZLIES

After leading the Fresno Grizzlies to the Pacific Coast League and Triple A Championships in 2015, Tony DeFrancesco will return to the Astros organization for his sixth season as Houston's manager at the Triple A level. Under DeFrancesco's leadership, which began in 2011, the Astros Triple A clubs have gone 347-303 (.534) while posting a winning record in each of the last four seasons. Prior to joining the Astros, DeFrancesco spent seven seasons as manager at Triple A Sacramento in Oakland's organization, where he guided the River Cats to six first-place finishes and three PCL titles.

After spending the last three seasons as the Astros minor league pitching coordinator, Dyar Miller will join the Grizzlies coaching staff as pitching coach for the 2016 season. The former Major Leaguer has spent each of the last 48 years working in professional baseball, including an 18-year stint as a coach in the Cardinals organization from 1995-2012. Ralph Dickenson will also be a new addition to the Grizzlies coaching staff for 2016, as he will serve as hitting coach in what will be his fourth overall season with Houston. During his time with the Astros, Dickenson has been a roving hitting instructor (2015), assistant Major League hitting coach (2014) and hitting coordinator (2013). Bryan Baca will enter his second season as athletic trainer for the Grizzlies and his 10th year overall with the organization, while Trey Wiedman will serve as Fresno's strength and conditioning coach for the second straight year in what will be his fifth campaign with the Astros.

DOUBLE A CORPUS CHRISTI HOOKS

The 2015 Texas League Manager of the Year, Rodney Linares, will return to Corpus Christi for his second season as the Hooks manager in 2016. Linares, who will enter his 19th year with the Astros, guided Corpus Christi to the most wins in all of minor league baseball in 2015 (89), helping the Hooks become the second Texas League team in the last 20 years to reach 89 wins in a single season (also San Antonio in 2011, 94-46). Linares has been a manager in the Astros system in each of the last nine seasons, leading the Class A Advanced JetHawks to two California League Championship titles (2012, 2014) while receiving the California League Manager of the Year honors in 2013.

Doug Brocail will begin his second season as pitching coach at Double A Corpus Christi. A veteran of 16 Major League seasons, Brocail was named Special Assistant to the GM and Senior Pitching Advisor prior to the 2014 season, following a stint as the Astros Major League pitching coach from 2011-13. Dan Radison will be back in Corpus Christi as the club's hitting coach for the second straight season. Radison served as a special assistant in player development in 2014, and was the Astros assistant hitting coach on the Major League staff in 2013. Grant Hufford will be with the Astros for his ninth season in 2016, and his second as Corpus Christi's athletic trainer. Taylor Rhoades will join the Hooks for his first season as strength and conditioning coach, and his third year overall with the Astros.

CLASS A ADVANCED LANCASTER JETHAWKS

Omar Lopez is set to return to the JetHawks for his second season as manager and his 18th overall with the Astros organization. Lopez led Lancaster to their fourth consecutive postseason appearance in 2015, with the club leading all of minor league baseball in runs scored (888), homers (174), batting average (.291) and OPS (.850). A member of the Astros organization since 1999, Lopez has managed seven seasons in Houston's system, and led the 2013 Quad Cities River Bandits to a Midwest League Championship title.

Joining Lopez on the coaching staff will be Michael Burns (pitching coach) and Darryl Robinson (hitting coach). Burns, a former Major League relief pitcher who played for the Astros historic 2005 team, spent the last two seasons as the organization's rehab coach. Robinson has been the JetHawks hitting coach since 2009, and in 2013 was named the California League Coach of the Year after the JetHawks led the minors in runs (976), walks (669), on-base percentage (.384) and OPS (.853). Michael Rendon will enter his second season as the JetHawks trainer and his sixth with the Astros. Dwayne Peterson returns to the Astros organization for his third season, and his first as the JetHawks strength and conditioning coach.

CLASS A QUAD CITIES RIVER BANDITS 

Josh Bonifay will head back to Quad Cities for his second season as manager after receiving 2015 Midwest League Manager of the Year honors and leading the River Bandits to the best winning percentage in all of the minor leagues (88-50, .638) this past season. In his three years as a manager in Houston's system, Bonifay has garnered two Manager of the Year awards, as he was also named the Appalachian League Manager of the Year in 2013 while managing Rookie Level Greeneville. An eight-year minor league veteran, Bonifay began his coaching career as a player/coach in the Pirates organization (2007-09) before joining the Astros in 2011.

Dave Borkowski (pitching coach) and Joel Chimelis (hitting coach) return to the River Bandits in their same roles. Borkowski, a former seven-year Major League pitcher, will be Houston's Class A pitching coaching for the fourth consecutive season, while Chimelis will be returning for his 11th season in the Astros system and his fourth as Quad Cities hitting coach. Wladimir Sutil serve as a coach at Quad Cities in what will be his third season as a coach with the Astros. Corey O'Brien will return to his role as Quad Cities athletic trainer for his second straight year and his fifth overall with the Astros, while Joe Bossard will be returning to the Astros for his second season, and his first as Quad Cities strength and conditioning coach.

CLASS A SHORT SEASON TRI-CITY VALLEYCATS

After leading the Greeneville Astros to the Appalachian League Championship title in his first year as a manager with Houston, Lamarr Rogers will move up to Tri-City to serve as the club's manager for the 2016 season. Rogers has spent 22 years working in professional baseball as a player and coach, and spent 16 seasons with the St. Paul Saints Professional Baseball Club of the Independent Northern League prior to joining the Astros organization in 2014.

Rogers' staff will consist of Ace Adams (pitching coach), Russ Steinhorn (hitting coach), John Gregorich (athletic trainer) and Mark Spadavecchia (strength). Adams returns to the Astros for his second season and his first as ValleyCats pitching coach, while Steinhorn will be the club's hitting coach for the fourth consecutive season. Gregorich enters his second season with the ValleyCats and his third overall with the Astros. Spadavecchia returns to the Astros for his fourth season, and his first as Tri-City's strength and conditioning coach.

ROOKIE LEVEL GREENEVILLE ASTROS

Greeneville's manager is TBD, but Chris Holt (pitching coach), Cesar Cedeno (hitting coach), Elliot Diehl (athletic trainer) and Julio Diaz (strength) will comprise the coaching staff. Holt is returning to the Astros for his third season, and his first as Greeneville's pitching coach. Cedeno returns to Greeneville for his fifth consecutive season, and his 16th as a coach with the Astros. The four-time All-Star played 12 seasons (1970-81) with the Astros and collected five Gold Gloves as an outfielder. Diehl will be entering his second season with the Astros organization, while Diaz will begin his fourth.

ROOKIE LEVEL GULF COAST LEAGUE ASTROS

Marty Malloy returns to the GCL Astros for his fourth season overall and his third as manager. Malloy played 12 seasons (1992-2003) of minor league baseball and appeared in 35 career Major League games while playing for Atlanta (1998) and Florida (2002).

Quad Cities River Bandits are one of two Minor League Baseball teams among StormReady supporters

DAVENPORT, Iowa (October 5, 2015) - The Quad Cities River Bandits have been recognized as a StormReady Supporter by the National Weather Service, making Modern Woodmen Park the first sporting venue in the state of Iowa to achieve such recognition for actively promoting severe weather safety awareness and implementing an effective severe weather strategy.

Nationwide, the River Bandits are currently one of two teams in Minor League Baseball, joining the Class-A Midwest League's Fort Wayne TinCaps, among current StormReady Supporters. Eight major league teams are StormReady Supporters.

"Accolades for Modern Woodman Park and the City of Davenport are almost becoming commonplace.  The first city in the nation with all of its front line departments (police, fire, public works and parks) nationally accredited, the best minor league ballpark in the nation, the best minor league sports market in the nation, and now the first sports venue in the state to be recognized as StormReady by the National Weather Service," said Davenport Alderman At-Large, Jason Gordon.  "The Quad Cities River Bandits run a top-notch, first class operation, so it doesn't surprise me that they have incorporated these principles and guidelines into safety and awareness plans."

According to the National Weather Service website:

StormReady and TsunamiReady Supporters are local entities that promote the principles and guidelines of the StormReady program into their severe weather/tsunami safety and awareness plans. Entities may be eligible as a StormReady/TsunamiReady Supporter based on the bylaws of the local NWS StormReady Advisory Board and the endorsement from local emergency management. Final approval for StormReady Supporter designation is made by local StormReady Advisory Boards.

Previous StormReady® recognition of the county or community in which the applying entity resides is not a requirement to achieve StormReady Supporter designation.

UP NEXT: The Ferris wheel at Modern Woodmen Park is open to the public every Saturday of October, weather permitting. Through Oct. 24, the wheel will operate every Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The wheel's final operation for the season will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 31.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: With the installation of the Ferris Wheel, the River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931, and this year the club is matching that effort by opening three new areas. A two-tiered special group deck immediately behind and overlooking the corn field opened in June. A new 11,000-square-foot concourse expansion down the third-base line will open late August. Finally, the club has expanded the children's play area by an additional 5,500 square feet down the right-field line, with additional bounce houses and the newest ride - Spin Zone Bumper Cars - as the latest attraction.

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