Each MLB Team's Minor League Player of the Year in 2022
As the 2022 MiLB season winds to a close, now is the perfect time to take a look at some of the top performers from across the minor league ranks this year.
From top prospects like Francisco Álvarez, Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Walker living up to the hype to lesser-known prospects making a name for themselves with big statistical seasons, standout performers come in all shapes and sizes.
The goal here was to identify each team's most impressive prospect based solely on their 2022 production. Future potential, past performance and prospect rankings did not factor into this.
Not all of
these guys offer the same type of long-term ceiling, but in 2022, they
were among the best players in minor league baseball and have earned the title of B/R's minor league player of the year in their organization. Both position players and pitchers were eligible to be the pick for their respective team.
American League East
Baltimore Orioles: SS Gunnar Henderson
After getting a brief taste of Double-A to close out the 2021 season, Henderson began the year in the upper levels of the minors. The 21-year-old looked the part of a future star all season, hitting .297/.416/.531 with 50 extra-base hits and a 15.7 percent walk rate in 112 games before he made his MLB debut on Aug. 31.
He has a 133 OPS+ with 11 extra-base hits in 106 plate appearances since getting the call, and he has made starts at second base, shortstop and third base.
Boston Red Sox: 1B Niko Kavadas
An 11th-round pick in the 2021 draft out of Notre Dame, Kavadas hit .280/.443/.547 with 25 doubles, 26 home runs and 86 RBI in 120 games over three minor league levels, closing out the year at Double-A Portland. His 102 walks rank fifth among all minor leaguers.
Right-hander Brayan Bello might have been the pick if he had spent more time in the minors. The 23-year-old went 10-4 with a 2.34 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 129 strikeouts in 96 innings prior to joining the MLB rotation in early July.
New York Yankees: OF Jasson Dominguez
After a rocky first month of the season, Dominguez went on to hit .290/.405/.510 with 20 doubles, 18 home runs, 63 RBI, 91 runs scored and 34 steals over his final 109 games. His 15.6 percent walk rate during that span speaks to his advanced approach, and the 19-year-old closed out the season with five games at Double-A.
Right-hander Juan Carela is a name to watch going forward. The 20-year-old racked up 131 strikeouts in 107 innings between Single-A and High-A, and he has plenty of room to grow into his 6'3", 186-pound frame.
Tampa Bay Rays: LHP Mason Montgomery
The Rays appear to have found their next rising star on the mound in Montgomery after the 2021 sixth-round pick turned in a breakout season. The 6'2" southpaw posted a 2.10 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 124 innings while ranking sixth in the minors with 171 strikeouts thanks to a polished three-pitch repertoire.
First baseman Kyle Manzardo was also a serious candidate for top honors in the Tampa Bay system after hitting .327/.426/.617 with 26 doubles, 22 home runs and 81 RBI in 397 plate appearances between High-A and Double-A in his first full pro season.
Toronto Blue Jays: LHP Ricky Tiedemann
No pitching prospect did more to boost his profile in 2021 than Tiedemann, who was a third-round pick in the 2021 draft. The 6'4", 220-pound lefty logged a 2.17 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 117 strikeouts in 78.2 innings while limiting opposing hitters to a .149 average in his pro debut. He reached Double-A two weeks before his 20th birthday.
Tip of the cap to infielder Addison Barger, who hit .308/.378/.555 with 33 doubles, 26 home runs and 91 RBI in 124 games over three minor league levels.
American League Central
Chicago White Sox: OF Oscar Colás
Signed for $2.7 million after an impressive run in Cuba and Japan, Colás hit .314/.371/.524 with 24 doubles, 23 home runs and 79 RBI in his stateside debut. The 24-year-old closed out the season at Triple-A, where he went 12-for-31 with two doubles and two home runs in seven games, and he could play his way onto the Opening Day roster next spring.
While his numbers were not quite as gaudy, Colson Montgomery also deserves a mention for reaching Double-A in his age-20 season. The 2021 first-round pick posted an .810 OPS with 30 extra-base hits in 96 games this year.
Cleveland Guardians: RHP Gavin Williams
With a 1.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and a 149-to-40 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 115 innings between High-A and Double-A, Williams is already looking like one of the steals of the 2021 draft class after Cleveland took him with the No. 23 overall pick. The 6'6" right-hander has top-of-the-rotation potential if he continues on his current trajectory.
Not all first-round picks shine right out of the gate, but catcher Bo Naylor has proven worth the wait after going No. 29 overall in 2018. The 22-year-old has an .889 OPS with 26 doubles, 21 home runs and 20 steals in 118 games between Double-A and Triple-A.
Detroit Tigers: RHP Wilmer Flores
Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020, Flores has emerged as the top pitching prospect in the Detroit system this year. The 6'4", 225-pound right-hander can touch 98 mph with his fastball and backs it with a high-spin curveball; he's logged a 2.79 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 130 strikeouts in 103.1 innings.
Kerry Carpenter is a bit past prospect age at 25 years old, but he has shown some late-bloomer potential with a 1.025 OPS and 30 home runs in 98 games between Double-A and Triple-A this year.
Kansas City Royals: OF Tyler Gentry
Gentry turned heads this season by hitting .326/.422/.542 with 22 doubles, 21 home runs and 86 RBI in 106 games between High-A and Double-A, and he has the potential for five above-average tools at the next level.
Right-hander Emmanuel Reyes has a long way to go in his development, but it's tough to ignore his 0.91 ERA and 52-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 49.1 innings in the Dominican Summer League.
Minnesota Twins: RHP Simeon Woods Richardson
Acquired in the blockbuster deal that sent José Berrios to Toronto, Woods Richardson just turned 22 years old despite being a second-round pick in the 2018 draft. The athletic right-hander posted a 2.77 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 115 strikeouts in 107.1 innings between Double-A and Triple-A this year, finally turning potential into production.
Outfielder Emmanuel Rodriguez suffered a torn meniscus in June, but before that, the 19-year-old posted a 1.044 OPS with more walks (57) than strikeouts (52) in 47 games at Single-A Fort Myers.
American League West
Houston Astros: OF Justin Dirden
Dirden announced himself as a prospect to watch in the upper levels of the Houston system this year by hitting .302/.384/.558 with 40 doubles, 24 home runs and 101 RBI in 124 games. A sneaky athlete, he also swiped 12 bases while playing a solid center field.
Hard-throwing Hunter Brown had a 2.55 ERA with 134 strikeouts in 106 innings at Triple-A, and he is making a strong case for a spot on Houston's playoff roster since making his MLB debut on Sept. 5.
Los Angeles Angels: C Edgar Quero
Signed for $200,000 in 2021, Quero has been one of the stars of Single-A this season, hitting .312/.435/.530 with 35 doubles, 17 home runs and 75 RBI in 111 games while also throwing out 25 percent of base stealers.
The 19-year-old could be the No. 1 prospect in the Angels system before too long, and he'll be given plenty of time to develop after Logan O'Hoppe was acquired at the trade deadline.
Oakland Athletics: C/1B Tyler Soderstrom
One of the best pure hitters in the 2020 draft class, Soderstrom hit .267/.324/.501 with 21 doubles, 29 home runs and 105 RBI in 134 games over three minor league levels. The 20-year-old has seen more time at first base and less behind the plate this year as the A's look to expedite his bat to the majors.
Fellow catcher Shea Langeliers went .283/.366/.510 with 40 extra-base hits in 92 games at Triple-A and won Futures Game MVP honors before he was promoted to the majors in August.
Seattle Mariners: RHP Taylor Dollard
With George Kirby and Matt Brash moving on to the majors, Dollard has a solid case for being the top prospect in the Seattle farm system. The 23-year-old has gone 16-2 with a 2.25 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 131 strikeouts in 144 innings at Double-A, and his four-pitch mix gives him an extremely high floor.
First baseman Roberto Perez hit .288/.398/.523 with 24 doubles, 27 home runs and 114 RBI in 127 games between Single-A and High-A this season, and he'll go as far as his right-handed bat carries him.
Texas Rangers: OF Evan Carter
Carter flashed some intriguing tools in his pro debut last season, then sent his prospect stock soaring this year by hitting .295/.397/.489 with 21 doubles, 10 triples, 12 home runs and 28 steals in 106 games between High-A and Double-A.
The 20-year-old has as high of a ceiling as any prospect in the Texas system, and his 13.5 percent walk rate is a good indication of an advanced approach that belies his age.
National League East
Atlanta Braves: 2B Vaughn Grissom
The No. 12 prospect in the Atlanta system when the season started, Grissom sent his stock soaring when he hit .324/.405/.494 with 20 doubles, 14 home runs and 27 steals in 96 games. The 21-year-old made his MLB debut on Aug. 10, and he has a 118 OPS+ with five home runs and 17 RBI in 40 games for a contending Atlanta team.
Left-hander Jared Shuster is also worth a mention, as he has posted a 3.29 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 145 strikeouts in 139.1 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. The 24-year-old should be ready for the majors in 2023.
Miami Marlins: RHP Eury Pérez
One of the breakout prospects of the 2021 season, Pérez has continued to impress this season as one of the youngest pitchers at the Double-A level. The 6'8" right-hander posted a 4.08 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 106 strikeouts in 75 innings, and his current upward trajectory reaches top-of-the-rotation potential.
Left-hander Dax Fulton racked up 150 strikeouts in 118.1 innings this season, and the 6'7" southpaw still has some remaining physical projection.
New York Mets: C Francisco Álvarez
The pick here was a coin toss between Álvarez (112 G, .885 OPS, 49 XBH, 27 HR, 78 RBI) and Brett Baty (95 G, .943 OPS, 41 XBH, 19 HR, 60 RBI), and both players figure to be cornerstone pieces of the Mets' future.
Álvarez is two years younger, which makes his high-level production in the upper minors all the more impressive. He should be given every opportunity to win the starting catcher job next spring.
Philadelphia Phillies: RHP Andrew Painter
The No. 13 overall pick in the 2021 draft and the third high school pitcher off the board, Painter was utterly dominant over three minor league levels, posting a 1.56 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 155 strikeouts in 103.2 innings. The 6'7" right-hander has front-line starter potential, and he could be on the fast track heading into 2023.
Late bloomer Darick Hall deserves a mention here as well after posting an .858 OPS with 28 home runs and 88 RBI in 101 games at Triple-A, then filling in admirably as starting DH in the big leagues while Bryce Harper was injured.
Washington Nationals: OF James Wood
A second-round pick in 2021 on the strength of his power potential, Wood has shown a more advanced approach at the plate than expected by hitting .313/.420/.536 with 50 walks and 75 strikeouts in 348 plate appearances.
The towering 6'7", 240-pound outfielder was a key piece of the Juan Soto blockbuster, and he could easily wind up being the best player sent to the Nationals in that deal.
National League Central
Chicago Cubs: 1B Matt Mervis
While outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong emerged as the No. 1 prospect in the Cubs farm system with a stellar 2022 season, Mervis earned the nod here by hitting .309/.379/.606 with 40 doubles, 36 home runs and a minor league-leading 119 RBI in 137 games. Can he be the first baseman of the future?
Right-hander Luis Devers would have taken top honors in a number of other organizations after going 13-3 with a 1.91 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 122 strikeouts in 117.2 innings, and his 6'3", 178-pound frame offers further projection despite the fact that he's already 22 years old.
Cincinnati Reds: SS Elly De La Cruz
De La Cruz has enjoyed a loud season in the Cincinnati system, hitting .304/.359/.586 with 31 doubles, 28 home runs, 86 RBI and 47 steals in 120 games. The toolsy 6'5" infielder will likely outgrow shortstop, but he has the offensive profile to shift to third base and the athleticism to handle center field. The pieces are there for superstardom.
Pitchers Andrew Abbott (3.81 ERA, 159 K, 118.0 IP) and Connor Phillips (3.78 ERA, 150 K, 109.2 IP) both deserve a mention, as they are on their way to joining an already promising young rotation.
Milwaukee Brewers: OF Jackson Chourio
In 2022, Chourio put together one of the best MiLB seasons by an 18-year-old in recent memory, hitting .288/.342/.538 with 30 doubles, 20 home runs, 75 RBI and 16 steals in 99 games while closing out the season at Double-A. There is no limit to his upside after his breakout performance, and he could be Milwaukee's best homegrown bat since Ryan Braun.
Outfielder Sal Frelick also appears to be on the fast track to the majors. He hit .331/.403/.480 with 45 extra-base hits and 24 steals in 119 games while reaching Triple-A after going No. 15 overall in the 2021 draft.
Pittsburgh Pirates: C/IF/OF Endy Rodriguez
Acquired from the New York Mets in the three-team deal that sent Joe Musgrove to San Diego prior to the 2021 season, Rodriguez has broken through as a potential impact player. The 22-year-old is hitting .323/.407/.590 with 39 doubles, 25 home runs and 95 RBI, and he has seen time at catcher, first base, second base and the outfield as a pro.
He went 10-for-22 with four extra-base hits in six games at Triple-A to close out the year, and he could be competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster next spring.
St. Louis Cardinals: 3B Jordan Walker
One of the most exciting offensive prospects in baseball, Walker was a man among boys as a 20-year-old at Double-A. He hit .306/.388/.510 with 31 doubles, 19 home runs and 68 RBI in 119 games, and he also showed better-than-expected defense at third base and stole 22 bases in 27 attempts. With Nolan Arenado blocking his path at the hot corner, a position change could be coming soon.
Outfielders Moisés Gómez (120 G, .996 OPS, 39 HR, 94 RBI, 174 K) and Alec Burleson (109 G, .905 OPS, 20 HR, 87 RBI) are also worth a mention, but Walker got the edge due to his age relative to level of competition.
National League West
Arizona Diamondbacks: SS Jordan Lawlar
Still just 20 years old, Lawlar hit .303/.401/.509 with 18 doubles, 16 home runs, 62 RBI, 98 runs scored and 39 steals in 100 games while reaching Double-A in his first full professional season. He has work to do defensively at shortstop, but his bat is dynamic.
Brandon Pfaadt is also worthy of serious consideration after piling up an MiLB-leading 218 strikeouts in 167 innings with a 3.83 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in the upper levels of the minors. He'll get a long look for a rotation spot next spring.
Colorado Rockies: C/1B Hunter Goodman
A fourth-round pick out of Memphis in 2021 after a 21-homer, 1.079 OPS junior season, Goodman put together one of the most gaudy offensive seasons of any prospect in 2022. The 22-year-old hit .295/.354/.572 with 33 doubles, 36 home runs and 106 RBI while splitting his time between catcher and first base.
Toolsy middle infield prospects Ezequiel Tovar and Adael Amador both raised their stock significantly with impressive seasons. They have much higher ceilings than Goodman, but based on 2022 production, he gets the nod for top honors.
Los Angeles Dodgers: RHP Gavin Stone
After tallying 138 strikeouts in 91 innings in the lower levels of the minors in 2021, Stone took another significant step forward this year with a 1.48 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 168 strikeouts in 121.2 innings while dominating across three minor league levels. The 23-year-old has an upper 90s fastball, terrific changeup and plus slider.
Outfielders James Outman (.978 OPS, 31 2B, 31 HR, 106 RBI) and Michael Busch (.881 OPS, 38 2B, 32 HR, 108 RBI) had impressive offensive seasons worthy of mention as well.
San Diego Padres: IF Eguy Rosario
Despite gutting their farm system in the Juan Soto blockbuster, the Padres still have some good young talent in the pipeline. Rosario is among the most promising, and he hit .288/.368/.508 with 34 doubles, 22 home runs and 21 steals at Triple-A before earning an MLB call-up on Aug. 26.
The 23-year-old has seen regular action at second base, shortstop and third base, and he could fill a super-utility role on the 2023 roster.
San Francisco Giants: LHP Kyle Harrison
Harrison baffled High-A and Double-A hitters all season, racking up 186 strikeouts in 113 innings while posting a 2.71 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and .196 opponents' batting average. The 21-year-old could join Logan Webb atop the MLB rotation in short order.
Outfielder Grant McCray was the biggest riser on the organizational prospect list, hitting .289/.383/.514 with 23 doubles, 23 home runs and 43 steals in 120 games between Single-A and High-A.
All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference.