Winners
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| League | Minor League Baseball |
| Awarded for | Player of the Year |
| Country | United States, Canada, Mexico |
| Presented by | USA Today |
| History | |
| First award | 1988 |
| First winner | Mike Harkey |
| Most wins | Andruw Jones (1995, 1996) |
| Most recent | Bobby Witt Jr. (2021) |
Listed below in chronological order are the Minor League Baseball players chosen by USA Today as recipients of the USA TodayMinor League Player of the Year Award. Since 1988, the award has been given annually to the minor-league player who is judged by USA Today baseball experts as having had the most outstanding season. Of the 13 votes cast each year, two votes go to the player selected by fans in online voting at USATODAY.com. [1]
Robert Allen Bell is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He made his debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2000.
Jason Alias Heyward, nicknamed "J-Hey" is an American professional baseball right fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs. Originally the Braves' first-round selection in the 2007 MLB draft from Henry County High School in Georgia, he began his minor league career at age 17. Heyward soon became one of the top-rated prospects in all of baseball for batting, speed, and defense, and debuted in MLB as Atlanta's starting right fielder on Opening Day 2010. There, he played until being traded to the Cardinals after the 2014 season. Standing 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) tall and weighing 245 pounds (111 kg), he throws and bats left-handed. He has worn uniform No. 22 throughout his major league career in honor of a high school friend and teammate who died in a traffic collision.
Below are select minor league players and the rosters of the minor league affiliates of the Texas Rangers:
David Stefan "Bud" Norris is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, and St. Louis Cardinals.
Gerrit Alan Cole is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros. Cole played for the baseball team at Orange Lutheran High School, and was selected by the New York Yankees in the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft. Cole opted not to sign, and instead attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he played college baseball for the UCLA Bruins.
Frederick Charles Freeman is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Previously, Freeman played for the Atlanta Braves for 12 seasons. He made his MLB debut in 2010 and is a six-time MLB All-Star. Freeman won a Gold Glove Award in 2018, the Silver Slugger Award in 2019, 2020 and 2021, and the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in 2020. Freeman won the 2021 World Series over the Houston Astros as a member of the Braves. After 12 seasons with the Braves, he entered free agency and then signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the Dodgers.
Joshua Adam Donaldson is an American professional baseball third baseman for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, and Minnesota Twins. He was initially drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 2007 MLB draft after playing college baseball at Auburn University. Donaldson made his MLB debut with the Athletics in 2010 as a catcher, progressing with the team, switching positions to third base, and eventually becoming an All-Star in the 2014 MLB season.
Michael Nelson Trout is an American professional baseball center fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). Trout is a ten-time MLB All-Star, three-time American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP), and is a nine-time winner of the Silver Slugger Award.
Christopher Alan Archer is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays, Pittsburgh Pirates and Minnesota Twins.
Dylan Matthew Bundy is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB)for the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Angels and Minnesota Twins.
Max Dorian Fried , nicknamed "Maximus", is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). Drafted in 2012 by the San Diego Padres in the first round, seventh overall, Fried made his major league debut in 2017. His 17 wins in 2019 were 2nd-most in the National League, and his seven wins in 2020 were again 2nd-most in the NL. Through 2021, Fried was second in win–loss percentage of Braves career leaders, at .690. Fried pitched 6 shut-out innings in the final game of the 2021 World Series against the Houston Astros, helping lead the Braves to their first World Series title in 26 years.
Kristopher Lee Bryant, nicknamed "KB", is an American professional baseball third baseman and outfielder for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants. Prior to playing professionally, Bryant attended the University of San Diego, where he played college baseball for the Toreros.
Ozhaino Jurdy Jiandro "Ozzie" Albies is a Curaçaoan professional baseball second baseman for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). Albies signed with the Braves organization in 2013, and made his MLB debut with the team in 2017. During his first full season, Albies was named to the 2018 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He won the National League Silver Slugger Award for second basemen twice, in 2019 and 2021. In 2021 he won the Heart & Hustle Award.
Ronald José Acuña Blanco Jr. is a Venezuelan professional baseball outfielder for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). After signing with the Braves as an international free agent in 2014, Acuña made his MLB debut in 2018, and won the National League Rookie of the Year Award. The next season, Acuña was named an MLB All-Star, was the NL stolen base leader, and won a Silver Slugger Award.
Corbin Brian Burnes is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the Brewers in the fourth round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, and made his MLB debut in 2018. He won the National League Cy Young Award in 2021.
Scott Carter Stewart is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Shea Ryan Langeliers is an American professional baseball catcher for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022. He played college baseball for the Baylor Bears.
Spencer Robert Strider is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Clemson Tigers, and was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the fourth round of the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his MLB debut in 2021.
The 2022 San Francisco Giants season was the 140th season for the franchise in Major League Baseball, their 65th year in San Francisco, and their 23rd at Oracle Park. This was the third season under manager Gabe Kapler and also the first season since 2008 without longtime catcher Buster Posey, who retired the previous November.
Mike Trout won the fan poll with 46% of the 3,271 votes cast at USATODAY.com.