Double-A is often seen as a crucial stage in professional baseball, where players’ true abilities are put to the test. It serves as a stepping stone for those who have the potential to make it to the Major Leagues. Recently, Minor League Baseball announced its Double-A end-of-season All-Stars and award winners, including the Most Valuable Player and Pitcher of the Year for each league.
The Top MLB Prospect awards were also given out. Samuel Basallo of the Baltimore Orioles (MLB No. 9) received the honor in the Eastern League, Carson Williams of the Tampa Bay Rays (MLB No. 4) was recognized in the Southern League, and Dalton Rushing was chosen in the Texas League.
Let’s take a look at some of this year’s major award winners and All-Star teams from each Double-A league.
In the Eastern League, Kristian Campbell from Portland (Boston Red Sox) was named Most Valuable Player. He outperformed his teammates Marcelo Mayer (MLB No. 3) and Roman Anthony (MLB No. 12). Campbell showcased his versatility by playing multiple positions while hitting .362 with eight home runs, 35 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases.
Brandon Sproat of Binghamton (New York Mets) earned Pitcher of Year honors in impressive fashion during his first Minor League season. He recorded a 2.45 ERA with 77 strikeouts over 62⅓ innings pitched.
Samuel Basallo may not have been an end-of-season All-Star in the Eastern League but still stood out as Top MLB Prospect with his solid performance at Bowie (Baltimore Orioles). He hit .289 with 16 home runs and 55 RBIs while playing both catcher and first base.
Moving on to the Southern League, Matt Shaw from Tennessee (Chicago Cubs) claimed Most Valuable Player recognition after hitting .279 with 14 home runs, along with impressive stolen bases numbers.
Noah Schultz of Birmingham (Chicago White Sox), ranked as baseball’s top left-handed pitching prospect by MLB Pipeline, took home Pitcher of Year honors after posting a remarkable ERA of just 1.48 over sixteen starts.
Carson Williams from Montgomery (Tampa Bay Rays), ranked fourth overall among prospects across all leagues, showcased his power-speed combination throughout his time at Double-A by hitting .256/.352/.469 (.821 OPS), along with contributing twenty homers and thirty-three stolen bases.
Lastly, Jimmy Crooks from Springfield Cardinals stood out as Most Valuable Player in Texas League thanks to his consistent performance behind home plate while also providing offensive firepower.
