Twins phenom Byron Buxton, as expected, won Baseball America’s Minor League PLayer of the Year, it was announced Wednesay morning.
The 19-year-old center fielder was ranked as the No. 1 prospect in baseball at midseason, won Midwest League MVP and ended up ranking as the top prospect in both Class A leagues he played in this season.
As Baseball America notes, in stops at low Class A Cedar Rapids and—following a late-June promotion—high Class A Fort Myers, Buxton hit a cumulative .334/.424/.520 with 49 extra-base hits, 55 stolen bases and a sparkling 76-to-105 walk-to-strikeout ratio in 125 games. He led the minors with 18 triples, finished second with 109 runs scored and 12th in stolen bases.
More impressively, Buxton ranked sixth in the minor league batting race, 10th in hits (163) and seventh in on-base percentage, despite being a full year younger than any other member of those top-10 lists.
The Pioneer Press adds that this marks just the second time in the 33-year history of the award that a Twins prospect has been honored. Mauer was selected in 2003, his third professional season.
This was the first full pro season for Buxton, 19, who will head to the Arizona Fall League next month.
Other finalists included Twins Double-A third baseman Miguel Sano, Triple-A outfielder George Springer (Houston Astros), Double-A right-hander Archie Bradley (Arizona Diamondbacks), Class A third baseman Joey Gallo (Texas Rangers), Double-A shortstop Javier Baez (Chicago Cubs) and Class A right-hander C.J. Edwards (Cubs).
