Midwest League Most Valuable Player Award
The Midwest League Most Valuable Player Award (MVP ) is an annual award given to the best player in Minor League Baseball 's Midwest League based on their regular-season performance as voted on by league managers .[ 1] League broadcasters, Minor League Baseball executives, and members of the media have previously voted as well.[ 2] Though the league was established in 1947,[ 3] the award was not created until 1956.[ 4] After the cancellation of the 2020 season,[ 5] the league was known as the High-A Central in 2021 before reverting to the Midwest League name in 2022.[ 6] [ 7]
Twenty-four outfielders have won the MVP Award, the most of any position. First basemen , with 11 winners, have won the most among infielders , followed by third basemen (7), shortstops (4), and second basemen (2). Six catchers and three pitchers have also won the award.
Twenty-four players who have won the MVP Award also won the Midwest League Top MLB Prospect Award (formerly the Prospect of the Year Award) in the same season: Willie Wilson (1975), Paul Molitor (1977), Bill Foley (1978), Dave Stockstill (1979), Von Hayes (1980), Luis Medina (1986), Tom Redington (1989), Reggie Sanders (1990), Salomón Torres (1991), Steve Gibralter (1992), Pablo Ozuna (1998), Albert Pujols (2000), Adrián González (2001), Prince Fielder (2003), Brian Dopirak (2004), Carlos González (2005), Ben Revere (2008), Dee Strange-Gordon (2009), Mike Trout (2010), Rymer Liriano (2011), Byron Buxton (2013), Eloy Jiménez (2016), Bo Bichette (2017), and Andy Pages (2021).[ 2] [ 4] From 1956 to 2020, pitchers were eligible to win the MVP Award as no award was designated for pitchers. In 2021, the Midwest League established a Pitcher of the Year Award .[ 2]
Nine players from the Cedar Rapids Kernels have been selected for the MVP Award, more than any other team in the league, followed by the Beloit Sky Carp , Burlington Bees , Kane County Cougars , Lansing Lugnuts , and Waterloo Indians (4); the Dubuque Packers , Great Lakes Loons , Peoria Chiefs , Springfield Cardinals , and West Michigan Whitecaps (3); the South Bend Cubs (2); and the Clinton Giants , Decatur Commodores , Fort Wayne TinCaps , Kenosha Twins , Kokomo Dodgers , Lake County Captains , Madison Muskies , Michigan Battle Cats , Midwest Dodgers , Rockford Royals , and Wausau Timbers (1).
Six players from the St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball (MLB) organization have won the award, more than any other, followed by the Cleveland Guardians , Los Angeles Dodgers , Milwaukee Brewers , and Minnesota Twins organizations (5); the Detroit Tigers organization (4); the Chicago Cubs , Cincinnati Reds , San Francisco Giants , and Toronto Blue Jays organizations (2); the Arizona Diamondbacks , Kansas City Royals , Los Angeles Angels , Miami Marlins , and Oakland Athletics organizations (2); and the Atlanta Braves , Chicago White Sox , Houston Astros , Pittsburgh Pirates , and San Diego Padres organizations (1).
Winners
Deacon Jones won the first Midwest League Most Valuable Player Award in 1956.
Willie Wilson , the 1975 MVP, was selected for the 1982 and 1983 MLB All-Star Games .[ 8]
Paul Molitor , the 1977 winner, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004.[ 9]
Albert Pujols , the 2000 MVP, won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 2001 and the NL MVP Award in 2005, 2008, and 2009.[ 10]
Prince Fielder , the 2000 winner, became a six-time MLB All-Star .[ 11]
Mike Trout , the 2010 MVP, won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2012 and the AL MVP Award in 2014, 2016, and 2019.[ 12]
Wins by team
Active Midwest League teams appear in bold .
Wins by organization
Active Midwest League–Major League Baseball affiliations appear in bold .
Notes
^ Two players from Great Lakes were selected as MVPs in 2009.
^ Two players from the Los Angeles organization were selected as MVPs in 2009.
References
Specific
^ Resnick, Jacob (November 9, 2022). "High-A Award Winners and All-Stars" . Minor League Baseball . Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ a b c Avallone, Michael (October 7, 2021). "MiLB's High-A Award Winners and All-Stars" . Major League Baseball . Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ Sheehan, Stephanie (March 30, 2022). "Then and Now: Midwest League" . Minor League Baseball . Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ a b c d "Midwest League Award Winners" . Midwest League . Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 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 .
^ "Willie Wilson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Paul Molitor Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Albert Pujols Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Mike Trout Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Mike Trout Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Deacon Jones Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Gus Sancimino Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Joel McDaniel Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Thomas Haake Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Hector Cardenas Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Tony Torchia Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Willie Wilson Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Wayne Cato Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Paul Molitor Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Bill Foley Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Dave Stockstill Minor & Mexican Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Von Hayes Minor, Independent & Mexican Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Ed Saavedra Minor & Mexican Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Tom Romano Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Curt Ford Minor, Mexican & Independent Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Joey Meyer Minor & Japanese Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Eddie Williams Minor, Japanese, Mexican, Korean & Independent Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Luis Medina Minor & Japanese Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Greg Vaughn Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Todd Zeile Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Lenny Webster Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Tom Redington Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Reggie Sanders Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Salomon Torres Minor & Korean Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Steve Gibralter Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Joe Biasucci Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Sal Fasano Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Jesse Ibarra Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Larry Barnes Minor, Japanese & Independent Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Robert Fick Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Pablo Ozuna Minor, Winter & Independent Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Aaron McNeal Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Albert Pujols Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Adrián González Minor, Fall, Winter & Mexican Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Jason Stokes Minor, Fall & Independent Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Prince Fielder Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Brian Dopirak Minor, Fall & Winter Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Carlos González Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Jeff Baisley Minor, Fall, Winter, Mexican & Independent Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Gorkys Hernández Winter, Minor & Mexican Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Ben Revere Minor, Fall & Independent Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Dee Strange-Gordon Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Kyle Russell Minor, Fall & Independent Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Mike Trout Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Rymer Liriano Minor, Winter, Fall & Independent Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Kevin Pillar Minor, Fall & Winter Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Byron Buxton Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Wynton Bernard College, Minor, Winter & Independent Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Ryan McBroom College, Amateur, Minor, Fall, Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Eloy Jiménez Minor, Fall & Winter Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Bo Bichette Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Elehuris Montero Minor, Fall & Winter Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Alek Thomas Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Postseason All-Stars" . Minor League Baseball . Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Andy Pages Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Postseason All-Stars" . Minor League Baseball . Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ "Christian Encarnacion-Strand College & Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2022 .
^ Samson, Brendan. "The 2023 High-A All-Stars and Award Winners" . Minor League Baseball . Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023 .
^ "Kala'i Rosario Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved September 20, 2023 .
^ Samson, Brendan (September 19, 2024). "Here are the 2024 High-A All-Stars and Award Winners" . Minor League Baseball . Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024 .
^ "Cooper Ingle Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved September 21, 2024 .
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