photo: Fray Peniche (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
In a player orientation session on the first day of Minor League Spring Training Camp, the St. Louis Cardinals announced Fray Peniche as the recipient of the 2025 George Kissell Award for player development excellence. The long-time manager of the Dominican Summer League Cardinals is the 32nd winner of the honors since 1995 and first academy employee ever selected.
Congratulations to Fray Peniche who was presented with the 2025 George Kissell Award for excellence in player development.
Peniche enters his 16th season as a coach in the Cardinals organization (28th overall), all as manager for the DSL Cardinals at the organization's Dominican… pic.twitter.com/KmHnepfif3
— Cardinals Player Development (@CardsPlayerDev) March 4, 2026
The George Kissell Award
The Kissell Award is the top recognition any member of the player development organization could receive and remains an annual reminder of the importance of George Kissell to generations of Cardinals.
Through his teaching, Kissell essentially wrote the book that was later labeled “The Cardinal Way” as a player, manager and teaching leader of the organization from 1940 until he passed away in the fall of 2008 due to injuries suffered in an automobile accident.
The Cardinals recognized Kissell’s importance long before his untimely passing, first establishing the Award in 1995 to recognize a member of the organizational staff for excellence in player development. In the most appropriate nod, Kissell himself received the first Award.
The winner is chosen through voting by the Cardinals minor league field staff, with the peer recognition making it especially meaningful.
More about George
Among Kissell’s many other honors is a plaque outside the Cardinals Jupiter clubhouse highlighting his numerous accomplishments as well as the naming of the team’s minor league quad in his honor.
The inscription on the plaque says it all.
“Every player in the Cardinal organization since 1940 has had contact with George Kissell and they all have been better for it. One of the most respected people in the game of baseball at any level, George has worked in all areas of the Cardinals’ baseball operations. He was a scout, minor league manager, major league coach, and, as senior field coordinator for player development, he has coordinated the team’s minor league affiliates.
“Well known for his emphasis on fundamentals, George taught several generations of Redbirds how to play baseball. In recognition of his teaching excellence and personal example, the George Kissell Award is presented annually to the Cardinals outstanding player development staff person.
“George Kissell is one of the true foundations of the Cardinals tradition.”
Though Kissell was not eligible in the fan voting for Modern Era players to the Cardinals Hall of Fame, he was chosen as an “owner’s selection” and entered the Hall in 2015.
In ongoing honor of his teaching impact of generations of players, the Cardinals dedicated their four primary minor league fields in Jupiter as the George Kissell Quad.
George Kissell Award winners
Two-time Kissell Award honorees include Steve Turco, Chris Maloney and Mark DeJohn, none of whom remain in the organization.
Turco is now retired but was a long-time manager and scout. Maloney was formerly St. Louis’ third-base coach and DeJohn retired six years ago as the organization’s minor league field coordinator.
Six members of the current Cardinals staff are prior Kissell Award winners.
The six are Fundamentals Coordinator Jose Oquendo, FCL bench coach Gary Kendall (2024 winner), St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol, Cardinals first base coach Stubby Clapp, Cards third base coach Ron “Pop” Warner and Minor League Equipment Coordinator Dave Vonderhaar.
| Kissell winners | |||||
| 2025 | Fray Peniche | DSL manager | 2010 | Mike Shildt | Johnson City mgr. |
| 2024 | Gary Kendall | PB manager | 2009 | Chris Maloney | Memphis manager |
| 2023 | Dave Vonderhaar | Minors Equip. Mgr. | 2008 | Mark DeJohn | Batavia manager |
| 2022 | Jose Oquendo | Fundamentals Coord | 2007 | Dan Radison | Minors hitting instr. |
| 2021 | Tim Leveque | Pitching Coord | 2006 | Chris Maloney | Springfield manager |
| Robert Butler | Dir of Performance | 2005 | Ron “Pop” Warner | Palm Beach mgr. | |
| 2020 | no season | 2004 | Blaise Ilsley | Tenn. pitching coach | |
| 2019 | Tony Ferreira | Player Dev. mgr. | 2003 | Mark DeJohn | Tenn. manager |
| 2018 | Gary LaRocque | Player Dev. director | 2002 | Danny Sheaffer | Peoria manager |
| 2017 | Stubby Clapp | Memphis manager | 2001 | Dyar Miller | Mem. pitching coach |
| 2016 | Steve Turco | Gulf Coast Lg. mgr. | 2000 | Gaylen Pitts | Memphis manager |
| 2015 | Randy Niemann | PB pitching coach | 1999 | Mark Riggins | Minors pitching coord. |
| 2014 | Derrick May | Minors hitting coord. | 1998 | Joe Pettini | Minors field coord. |
| 2013 | Oliver Marmol | State College mgr. | 1997 | Mark O’Neal | Mem. athletic trainer |
| 2012 | Bryan Eversgerd | Sgf. pitching coach | 1996 | Bo Milliken | Minors pitching instr. |
| 2011 | Steve Turco | Gulf Coast Lg. mgr. | 1995 | George Kissell | Senior field coord. |
| Bold: currently in org. |
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