Gene Bennett honored as top Midwest scout

[OnBaseMachine]

Bennett honored as top Midwest scout
Earns award during his 58th year with Reds organization
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com

12/10/09 8:55 PM EST

INDIANAPOLIS -- There are few in the Reds organization with as much tenure and respect as Gene Bennett.

And that respect extends throughout the game of baseball. It was underscored during the Winter Meetings, when Bennett was presented with the Midwest Scout of the Year honors as part of the Scout of the Year Awards.

Bennett is in his 58th year in the Reds organization, the only team he's ever been with since 1952.

"That's a long time. I've signed a lot of good players," said Bennett, who received his award on Wednesday. "It's about the only award I haven't won yet. You're always excited to get them. It came from all the people in the country that you work with. It's all about what you've done and the players you've signed."

Reds general manager Walt Jocketty introduced and presented the award to Bennett.

The winner of the East Coast Scout of the Year was Alex Cosmidis of the White Sox and the West Coast recipient was the Cubs' Gary Hughes. Both Cosmidis and Hughes have previously worked for the Reds.

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/...=.jsp&c_id=cin

[reds1869]

Congratulations to Mr. Bennett. a 58 year tenure with a major league organization--heck, with any employer--is quite an accomplishment.

[princeton]

being a top midwest scout is like being a great defensive left fielder.