Giants pitcher Barry Zito named 48th Hutch Award winner

Major League Baseball's Barry Zito, star pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, will receive the 48th annual Hutch Award at the annual luncheon Wednesday, Jan. 30 at Safeco Field. Legendary MLB coach Lou Piniella will deliver the keynote address. Register for the luncheon online; guests are asked to make a minimum $150 donation to benefit early cancer detection research at Fred Hutch.

While in Seattle, Zito and his wife, Amber, plan to visit scientists and labs, as well as children and families at the Hutch School.

Zito, a 34-year-old native of Las Vegas, made his Major League debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2000. In 2002 he was named to his first All-Star team, became the first pitcher in the American League to win 20 games, and went on to win the American League Cy Young award with a 23-5 record.

Following his seventh season with the Athletics, Zito signed a seven-year deal with the San Francisco Giants. After sitting out part of the 2011 season with a foot-and-ankle injury, he came back this year to earn his 150th career win, finishing the season with an illustrious 15-8 record. In October, Zito pitched his first World Series game, helping the Giants sweep the Detroit Tigers to win their seventh World Series title.

Off the field, Zito founded the Strikeouts for Troops Foundation, supported by MLB players and fans to lift the morale and spirits of wounded U.S. troops and their families undergoing treatment at military hospitals. Zito and his wife also boost the St. Anthony Foundation, which provides thousands of meals every year to San Francisco's hungry and homeless.

The Hutch Award is given each year to a player exemplifies the honor, courage, and dedication of baseball great Fred Hutchinson, for whom the Center is named. For more information about the Hutch Award, including a list of past recipients, visit www.fhcrc.org/hutchaward.