Triple-A baseball. The ultimate hurdle on the street to the Majors. A mix of up-and-coming prospects and veteran gamers on the lookout for one final shot at glory within the bigs. There is not one other step on the ladder … the subsequent cease is the promised land.
The mix of young and old positively makes for a novel present within the Worldwide League and Pacific Coast League, however the stage of competitors stays elite, evidenced by plenty of standout performances in 2024.
Within the Worldwide League, Johnathan Rodriguez (CLE No. 12) earned Most Worthwhile Participant honors with Columbus whereas Brewers right-hander Chad Patrick nabbed Pitcher of the Yr with Nashville. Coby Mayo (MLB No. 8) was deemed the circuit’s prime MLB Prospect after a one other excellent yr for Norfolk.
Over within the PCL, Adrian Del Castillo (AZ No. 14) was named MVP after a powerful season on the plate and behind it for Reno. Jack Leiter (TEX No. 4) bounced again with a stable marketing campaign for Spherical Rock and Deyvison De Los Santos (MIA No. 4), who was dealt to the Marlins on the Commerce Deadline and in the end led the Minors in homers with 40, was named the High MLB Prospect within the PCL after spending the primary half with the Aces.
Listed here are the key award winners in addition to the complete All-Star groups for every Triple-A league.
Most Worthwhile Participant: Johnathan Rodriguez, Columbus (CLE)One of the prolific slugging prospects within the Minors, Rodriguez reached The Present for the primary time in 2024 however nonetheless mashed 29 MiLB homers, equaling his private greatest from a yr earlier. The 24-year-old drove in a career-high 84 runs, topped .300 for the primary time (.301) and posted a .930 OPS throughout 118 video games for the Clippers. Rodriguez has collected 84 roundtrippers over the previous three years.
Pitcher of the Yr: Chad Patrick, Nashville (MIL)Patrick’s 2024 marketing campaign was an entire reversal of the earlier season. The 26-year-old gained the triple crown for pitching within the IL, main circuit in wins (14), ERA (2.90) and strikeouts (145) in his first yr with the group. Patrick held opponents to a .215 average-against and misplaced only one sport. The precise-hander, who went 4-11 with a 5.59 ERA throughout three ranges in 2023, went 13-0 and posted a 2.66 ERA over his last 21 appearances (19 begins).
High MLB Prospect: Coby Mayo, Norfolk (BAL)There may be little left for Mayo to show on the Minors’ highest stage after bypassing 20 homers for the second consecutive marketing campaign. The highest-ranked Orioles prospect batted .293/.372/.592 with 25 homers and 73 RBIs over the Minors’ prime two ranges regardless of lacking a month with a damaged rib. Mayo additionally made his Main League debut in 2024, showing in 17 video games for Baltimore in August and September.
All-Star Team1B: Kyle Manzardo, Columbus (CLE)2B: x-Connor Norby, Norfolk (BAL)/Jacksonville (MIA)SS: Andrew Navigato, Toledo (DET)3B: Coby Mayo, Norfolk (BAL) (BAL No. 1/MLB No. 8)C: Dillon Dingler, Toledo (DET)OF: Johnathan Rodriguez, Columbus (CLE No. 12)OF: Heston Kjerstad, Norfolk (BAL)OF: Ji Hwan Bae, Indianapolis (PIT)DH: Matt Koperniak, Memphis (STL)UTIL: xx-Nick Yorke, Worcester (BOS)/Indianapolis (PIT No. 6)SP: Chad Patrick, Nashville (MIL)SP: Brandon Younger, Norfolk (BAL)SP: Bryce Elder, Gwinnett (ATL)SP: Cade Povich, Norfolk (BAL)RP: Evan Sisk, Omaha (KC)RP: xxx-Walter Pennington, Omaha (KC)/Spherical Rock (TEX)Supervisor: Mike Jirschele, Omaha (KC)x-Traded to Miami on July 30xx-Traded to Pittsburgh on July 29xxx-Traded to Texas on July 29
Most Worthwhile Participant: Adrian Del Castillo, Reno (AZ)A breakout 2023 marketing campaign for Double-A Amarillo and Reno morphed into elite standing for Del Castillo in 2024. The 25-year-old backstop smashed all of his earlier profession highs offensively en path to a .312/.399/.603 slash line in 105 video games for the Aces. Del Castillo hammered 26 homers, amassed 65 extra-base hits, 90 runs and 73 RBIs regardless of spending greater than a month within the Majors with Arizona (the place he additionally excelled). The Miami native batted .313 with an .893 OPS whereas driving in 19 runs in 25 video games within the bigs.
Pitcher of the Yr: Jack Leiter, Spherical Rock (TEX)The 2021 first-rounder actually started dwelling as much as his promise along with his greatest skilled season throughout his first foray into the PCL, minus a one-start cameo in 2023. The 24-year-old posted a 3.51 ERA within the hitter-friendly PCL and averaged 12.9 Ok/9, fanning 110 in 77 innings throughout 17 outings (16 begins) for Spherical Rock. Leiter was summoned to the Majors for the primary time in April and made 9 appearances (six begins) for Texas, putting out 31 over 35 3/4 innings.
High MLB Prospect: Deyvison De Los Santos, Reno (AZ)/Jacksonville (MIA)Though De Los Santos reached the 40-homer mark in a Jacksonville uniform following his commerce to the Marlins in late July, the seeds of his season have been sown in Reno. Taken by the Guardians in final yr’s Rule 5 Draft however returned to the D-backs after a poor spring, De Los Santos tore by the Double-A Texas League and continued his assault when dealing with PCL pitchers. The 21-year-old batted .289/.338/.588 with 14 homers, 29 extra-base hits and 47 RBIs in 49 video games for Reno prior being dealt, then added 12 lengthy balls, seven doubles and 36 RBIs in 50 video games for Jacksonville afterward.
All-Star Team1B: Jason Vosler, Tacoma (SEA)2B: Jordan Diaz, Las Vegas (ATH)SS: Nick Allen, Las Vegas (ATH)3B: Andrés Chaparro, Reno (AZ)C: Adrian Del Castillo, Reno (AZ No. 14)OF: Pedro León, Sugar Land (HOU No. 21)OF: James Outman, Oklahoma Metropolis (LAD)OF: Colby Thomas, Las Vegas (ATH No. 7)DH: Shay Whitcomb, Sugar Land (HOU No. 14)UTIL: Armando Alvarez, Las Vegas (ATH)SP: Colton Gordon, Sugar Land (HOU No. 11)SP: Jack Leiter, Spherical Rock (TEX No. 4)SP: Ryan Gusto, Sugar Land (HOU)SP: A.J. Blubaugh, Sugar Land (HOU No. 9)RP: Grant Holman, Las Vegas (ATH No. 21)RP: Wander Suero, Sugar Land (HOU)Supervisor: Mickey Storey, Sugar Land (HOU)
