Padres INF Yangervis Solarte wins Tony Conigliaro Award

BOSTON -- San Diego Padres infielder Yangervis Solarte is the winner of the 2016 Tony Conigliaro Award.

The annual honor goes to a baseball player who overcomes adversity through "spirit, determination and courage." Solarte's wife, Yuliett Pimentel Solarte, died of cancer in September at the age of 31.

Despite missing time to be with his wife and take care of his three daughters after she died, Solarte played in 109 games, batting .286 and setting career highs with 15 home runs and 71 RBIs.

Conigliaro was the youngest player to lead his league in home runs. But he was never the same after he was beaned by Angels pitcher Jack Hamilton in 1967. Conigliaro died in 1990 at the age of 45, eight years after a massive heart attack.

The award will be presented at the 78th Boston Baseball Writers' dinner on Jan. 19.