USA Today Minor League Player of the Year Award

The USA Today Minor League Player of the Year Award is considered the most prestigious honor given to a minor league player. It began in 1988 and has been awarded annually by USA Today who uses baseball experts to judge the player with the most outstanding season in the minor leagues.

"I don't think it has changed as much as it has started to evolve. Guys are bigger, stronger and faster now. The strike zone has also changed. When you think of baseball, you think of a game of adjustments. I think the game has had to adjust to the type of hitters and pitchers we have today." - 1988 USA Today Minor League Player of the Year Mike Harkey on Scout.com (Steve Holley, 'Mobile pitching coach Mike Harkey', 07/29/2005, Source)
Minor League Player of the Year Award

In Chronological Order / By USA Today

Year

Player Name (Quantity)

Position

Minor League Team (Affiliate Of)

1988

Mike Harkey (1)

RHP

Pittsfield / Iowa (Cubs)

1989

Todd Zeile (1)

C

Louisville (Cardinals)

1990

Tino Martinez (1)

3B

Calgary (Mariners)

1991

Mark Wohlers (1)

RHP

Greenville / Richmond (Braves)

1992

Carlos Delgado (1)

1B

Myrtle Beach / Syracuse (Blue Jays)

1993

Cliff Floyd (1)

OF

Harrisburg / Ottawa (Expos)

1994

Billy Ashley (1)

OF

Albuquerque (Dodgers)

1995

Andruw Jones (1)

OF

Macon (Braves)

1996

Andruw Jones (2)

OF

Durham / Greenville / Richmond (Braves)

1997

Ben Grieve (1)

OF

Huntsville / Edmonton (Athletics)

1998

Gabe Kapler (1)

OF

Jacksonville (Tigers)

1999

Rick Ankiel (1)

LHP

Arkansas / Memphis (Cardinals)

2000

Josh Hamilton (1)

OF

Charleston (Devil Rays)

2001

Josh Beckett (1)

RHP

Portland / Brevard (Marlins)

2002

Jose Reyes (1)

SS

St. Lucie / Binghamton (Mets)

2003

Prince Fielder (1)

1B

Beloit (Brewers)

2004

Jeff Francis (1)

LHP

Tulsa / Colorado Springs (Rockies)

2005

Francisco Liriano (1)

LHP

New Britain / Rochester (Twins)

2006

Matt Garza (1)

RHP

Rochester (Twins)

2007

Justin Upton (1)

OF

Visalia / Mobile Bay (Diamondbacks)

2008

David Price (1)

LHP

Vero Beach / Montgomery / Durham (Rays)

2009

Jason Heyward (1)

OF

Myrtle Beach / Rome (Braves)

2010 Jeremy Hellickson (1) RHP Charlotte / Durham (Rays)
2011 Paul Goldschmidt (1) 1B Mobile (Diamondbacks)

2012

Not Yet Announced (09-2012)

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Year

Player Name (Quantity)

Position

Minor League Team (Affiliate Of)

USA Today Minor League Player of the Year Award



In 1995 Andruw Jones won the USA Today Minor League Player of the Year Award. The following year (1996) he won the award again. A unique honor not equaled yet in Minor League history.

A breakdown by positions: nine outfielders, nine pitchers, two first basemen, one catchers, one shortstops, and one third baseman.

Do you agree with the choices? If you were a writer at "USA Today" would you have chosen a different player from ANY of the seasons above? Share your opinions on Baseball Fever.

     

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