The Eastern League Top MLB Prospect Award is an annual award given to the best rookie player in Minor League Baseball's Eastern League based on their regular-season performance as voted on by league managers.[1] Broadcasters, Minor League Baseball executives, and members of the media have previously voted as well.[2] Though the league was established in 1938,[3] the award was not created until 1993 as the Rookie of the Year Award.[4] After the cancellation of the 2020 season,[5] the league was known as the Double-A Northeast in 2021 before reverting to the Eastern League name in 2022.[6][7] The Top MLB Prospect Award began to be issued instead of the Rookie of the Year Award in 2021.[8]
Sport | Baseball |
---|---|
League | Eastern League |
Awarded for | Best regular-season rookie in the Eastern League |
Country | United States |
Presented by | Eastern League |
History | |
First award | Cliff Floyd (1993) |
Most recent | Samuel Basallo (2024) |
Fourteen outfielders have won the award, the most of any position. First basemen, with seven winners, have won the most among infielders, followed by third basemen and shortstops (3) and second basemen (1). Three catchers and one pitcher have won the award.
Eleven players who have won the Top MLB Prospect Award also won the Eastern League Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) in the same season: Cliff Floyd (1993), Mark Grudzielanek (1994), Jay Payton (1995), Vladimir Guerrero (1996), Calvin Pickering (1998), Marlon Byrd (2001), Ryan Howard (2004), Jordan Brown (2007), Brandon Laird (2010), Darin Ruf (2012), and Cavan Biggio (2018).[4] The only pitcher to win the award, Juan Acevedo (1994), also won the Pitcher of the Year Award in the same season.[4]
Seven players from the Reading Fightin Phils have been selected for the Top MLB Prospect Award, more than any other team in the league, followed by the Harrisburg Senators (5); the Akron RubberDucks and Binghamton Rumble Ponies (4); the Altoona Curve, Chesapeake Baysox, and New Haven Ravens (2); and the Erie SeaWolves, Hartford Yard Goats, New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Portland Sea Dogs, Somerset Patriots, and Trenton Thunder (1).
Seven players from the Philadelphia Phillies Major League Baseball (MLB) organization have won the award, more than any other, followed by the Washington Nationals organization (5); the Cleveland Guardians and New York Mets organizations (4); the Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and New York Yankees organizations (2); and the Detroit Tigers, Miami Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, and Toronto Blue Jays organizations (1).
Winners
editPosition | Indicates the player's primary position |
---|---|
^ | Indicates multiple award winners in the same year |
Wins by team
editActive Eastern League teams appear in bold.
Team | Award(s) | Year(s) |
---|---|---|
Reading Fightin Phils (Reading Phillies) | 7 | 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2016 |
Harrisburg Senators | 5 | 1993, 1994, 1996, 2006, 2014 |
Akron RubberDucks (Akron Aeros) | 4 | 2003, 2007, 2008, 2017 |
Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Binghamton Mets) | 3 | 1995, 2000, 2015 |
Chesapeake Baysox (Bowie Baysox) | 1998, 2021, 2024 | |
Altoona Curve | 2 | 2011, 2013 |
New Haven Ravens | 1994, 2002 | |
Erie SeaWolves | 1 | 2019 |
Hartford Yard Goats | 2022 | |
New Hampshire Fisher Cats | 2018 | |
Portland Sea Dogs | 1997 | |
Somerset Patriots | 2023 | |
Trenton Thunder | 2010 |
Wins by organization
editActive Eastern League–Major League Baseball affiliations appear in bold.
Organization | Award(s) | Year(s) |
---|---|---|
Philadelphia Phillies | 7 | 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2016 |
Washington Nationals (Montreal Expos) | 5 | 1993, 1994, 1996, 2006, 2014 |
Cleveland Guardians (Cleveland Indians) | 4 | 2003, 2007, 2008, 2017 |
Baltimore Orioles | 3 | 1998, 2021, 2024 |
New York Mets | 1995, 2000, 2015 | |
Colorado Rockies | 2 | 1994, 2002 |
New York Yankees | 2010, 2023 | |
Pittsburgh Pirates | 2011, 2013 | |
Detroit Tigers | 1 | 2019 |
Miami Marlins (Florida Marlins) | 1997 | |
St. Louis Cardinals | 2002 | |
Toronto Blue Jays | 2018 |
References
editSpecific
- ^ a b Terranova, Rob (November 8, 2022). "Double-A Award Winners and All-Stars". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
- ^ Jackson, Josh (October 6, 2021). "MiLB's Double-A Award Winners and All-Stars". Major League Baseball. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
- ^ "Eastern League (AA) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Season-Ending Awards". Eastern League. Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ a b "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (February 12, 2021). "Minor League Baseball Overhaul Unveiled". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ a b "Postseason All-Stars". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Grady Sizemore Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "Ryan Howard Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "Cliff Floyd Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Juan Acevedo Minor, Mexican & Winter Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Mark Grudzielanek Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Jay Payton Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Vladimir Guerrero Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Mark Kotsay Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Calvin Pickering Minor, Mexican, Winter, Korean & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Pat Burrell Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Alex Escobar Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Marlon Byrd Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Dee Haynes Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Grady Sizemore Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Ryan Howard Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Chris Roberson Minor, Fall, Winter, Mexican & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Kory Casto Minor, Fall & Winter Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Jordan Brown Minor, Winter & Mexican Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Wes Hodges Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Michael Taylor Minor, Winter & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Brandon Laird Minor, Fall & Japanese Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Starling Marte Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Darin Ruf Minor, Fall, Winter & Korean Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Alex Dickerson Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Michael A. Taylor Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Gavin Cecchini Minor, Fall & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Rhys Hoskins College, Amateur, Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Francisco Mejia Minor, Winter & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Cavan Biggio Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Jose Azocar Minor, Fall & Winter Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Adley Rutschman Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Ezequiel Tovar Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ Trezza, Joe. "The 2023 Double-A All-Stars and Award Winners". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
- ^ "Jasson Domínguez Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
- ^ "Minor League Postseason All-Stars". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ "Samuel Basallo Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
General
- "Season-Ending Awards". Eastern League. Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.