Lester gets the honor

A year ago at this time, Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester was undergoing cancer treatmemt. Today, the team announced that the lefty hurler is this year’s recipient of the Tony Conigliaro Award, presented annually to a major league player who has overcome adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage.

Lester, who began the season on an extended rehab minor league assignment, was 4-0 with the Red Sox this past season, and was their Game 4 winner in the World Series sweep of the Rockies. It was almost 15 months ago that he was diagnosed with a rare form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, since making a rapid recovery back to the major leagues.

Lester will be present at an afternoon press conference today at Fenway Park.

Former Red Sox farmhand Freddy Sanchez won the award last season for overcoming childhood foot problems and a diagnosis that he might never walk to make the majors. Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell was the 1999 recipient while with the Florida Marlins for overcoming testicular cancer.