HURON — Recognition for ones accomplishments is always enjoyable and refreshing, but to have your work recognized by peers in your field stands out as something especially gratifying.

Benjamin Chase of Huron is nominated by members and contributors to the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America, in the category of “Writer of the Year” for Prospects/Minors/College and Amatuer baseball players.

Chase, who is also a staff writer, photographer and columnist for the Huron Plainsman is nominated for his work on four fronts - the baseball newsletter “Here’s the Pitch,” his work on the website “Rotoballer” his website “Video Baseball Scout” and as co-host of the Pallazzo Podcast prospect show.

“To nominate someone, you must be an IBWAA member,” Chase noted, “so while I do not know who nominated me, it is nice to receive recognition from others in this field.” He added that he also nominated several individuals in the various categories.

Chase writes and edits the IBWAA newsletter two days per week, highlighting top prospects in the baseball world in his articles. “For ‘Rotoballer,’ I write a weekly piece that is entirely about prospects and their ranking for fantasy baseball purposes,” Chase added.

Chase says that throughout the season, he highlights 12 players each week in his Rotoballer article - six hitters and six pitchers - and strives to not duplicate through the year. “I often try to find a theme - perhaps stats or something else that they may have in common - and work from there.”

Chase has been a member of IBWAA since 2014 and has seen a large change in minor league baseball, mostly brought on in 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic. “COVID eliminated 45 teams across minor league baseball,” he said. “Right now, there are 120 Minor League teams; from Low-A ball, to High-A, AA and AAA. Those are the players I track and write about.”

Other awards that will be presented on Oct. 1 include MLB (Major League Baseball) Writer of the Year, Team Coverage Writer of the Year and Podcast/Video Host of the Year.

Chase co-hosts a video podcast, Pallazzo Podcast Fantasy Sports, with Michael Govier. Govier is nominated in the podcasting category.

In addition to the responsibilities already mentioned, Chase maintains his own website - videobaseballscout.com - which he has had for five years after leaving full-time baseball writing in 2019. “Each year I rank the top 100 Atlanta Braves prospects,” Chase said. “This is the ninth year that I have done the listing.”

Nationwide voting for this year’s awards has closed. The awards will be presented in a live show streaming on the Sideline Sports YouTube channel at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1.