SAN JOSE, Calif.– The San Jose Earthquakes today announced their 2023 club award winners, which includes Cristian Espinoza as Offensive Player of the Year; Daniel as Defensive Player of the Year; Niko Tsakiris as Young Player of the Year; Jackson Yueill as the Media Good Guy; and JT Marcinkowski for the Player’s Player of the Year and the Andrew Bedard Spirit of the Game Award/Humanitarian of the Year.
Espinoza finished the 2023 MLS regular season leading the team with 13 goals and 13 assists across 34 starts. His 26 goal contributions accounted for 66.7% of the Quakes’ total goals this season (39 goals), with that percentage ranking first in club history. Espinoza broke the All-Time club assist after tallying his 57th career assist, passing the previous record set by Shea Salinas (50).
Daniel is named the club’s Defensive Player of the Year. He made 84 saves in 22 starts in his first year with the Quakes, averaging 3.88 saves per 90 minutes. That average ranked second in the league among players with at least 1800 minutes played (equivalent to 20 complete games).
Tsakiris earns the club’s Young Player of the Year award, given to the most impactful player 23 years of age or younger on matchday one. In his second professional season, Tsakiris set new career highs in appearances (15), starts (7), and minutes (607).
Yueill is named the Media Good Guy Award winner, as voted on by members of the club’s local media and broadcast teams. The award recognizes the player that’s deemed most open and welcoming to media requests.
Marcinkowski earns the Players’ Player of the Year. The honor recognizes the best teammate and locker room presence, as voted on by players.
Marcinkowski is also named to the club’s Andrew Bedard Spirit of the Game/Humanitarian of the Year Award. His involvement within the community demonstrates his passion for philanthropy. Whether in partnership with Special Olympics Northern California, the Quakes’ Unified Team, or San Jose Steamrollers (the Premier Power Soccer Team in San Jose), JT’s support of “Soccer For All” is both inspiring and impactful. He has also been a strong voice for the club’s Get EQ Fit program, encouraging 3rd and 4th graders to be healthy and active. As a Homegrown player for the San Jose Earthquakes, JT has an unwavering commitment to give back to the community that he was raised in.
The award is named for Andrew Bedard, a young Earthquakes fan who passed away at eight years old in 2004. The Andrew Bedard Spirit of the Game Award will be presented annually to the Earthquakes player that works hard in the community and best embodies Andrew’s positive attitude both on and off the field. For more information on the Andrew Bedard Spirit of the Game Award, please visit https://www.sjearthquakes.com/community/andrew-bedard-spirit-of-the-game.
