It’s Awards Week here at Bus Leagues, that annual event in which we unveil the seasons that our voters determined to be the best in Minor League and Independent baseball. This year, we have nine awards to give out: Player of the Year, Starting Pitcher of the Year, and Relief Pitcher of the Year for Full-Season Minor League Baseball, Short-Season Minor League Baseball, and Independent Baseball.
In the Independent Baseball awards announced yesterday, Ronnie Gaines was named Player of the Year, Mike Loree won the Starting Pitcher of the Year award unanimously, and Josh Dew was the Relief Pitcher of the Year.
The voters for the third annual Bus Leagues Postseason Awards: Andrew Rosin, Brian Moynahan, Chris Fee, Eric Angevine, Mike Lortz, and Scott Grauer from Bus Leagues Baseball; Craig Forde from Beyond Fenway; Craig Wieczorkiewicz from Midwest League Traveler; Patrick Cavanaugh and Joshua Kummins from Boston Sports U18; Jeff Perro; Dave Gershman from Penn League Report; Ben Hill from Ben’s Biz Blog and MiLB.com; and Dan Suitor.
Up next: the awards for Minor League Baseball’s Short-Season Player, Starting Pitcher, and Relief Pitcher of the Year.
Minor League Baseball Short-Season Player of the Year
FIRST
Oscar Hernandez, VSL Rays (Tampa Bay, RK)
69 G, 239 AB, .402 BA, 21 HR, 66 RBI, 56 RS, .503/.732/1.236
54 points (10-1-0-0-0)
“Is Oscar Hernandez Spanish for Bryce Harper? My goodness, what a season. I don’t think I could put up these numbers in a video game.” – Mike Lortz
“I don’t have much use for short season stats, but any time an 18-year-old catcher can get on base over half the time in their 69 games, while putting up gargantuan low-minors power figures, they’re getting my vote for player of the year.” – Dan Suitor
“Oh, the power. Love to see that in an 18-year-old prospect.” – Eric Angevine
“Who? In a stacked system, Hernandez emerged with some incredible statistics, still at an appropriate age for his level which is still very far away. Apparently, the Rays’ Venezuelan affiliate has a hitter friendly park because nearly all of the league’s home run leaders come from that team, but his sheer dominance of the rest of the league is still very impressive. He’ll come to the U.S. next year and prove if he’s for real.” – Scott Grauer
“He’s the MVP. “WHY DON’T YOU JUST CROWN HIM ALREADY!” – Chris Fee
“All the homers. He catches too! I eagerly await him getting to Tampa by 2020.” – Andrew Rosin
SECOND
Eddie Rosario, 19, Elizabethton (Minnesota, RK)
67 G, 220 AB, .337 BA, 21 HR, 60 RBI, 71 RS, 17 SB, .397/.670/1.068
35 points (1-6-1-1-1)
“He scored 71 times as a 19 year old? When I was that age, I had a problem scoring once. In baseball, of course.” – Mike Lortz
“21 homers/17 steals. 1068 OPS. John Sickels’ favorite prospect of all time.” – Andrew Rosin
“More remarkable power numbers from a sub-20 player, but this time with some speed to complement it. These low-minors half-seasons can’t tell us much, but the one thing you really can see is when someone completely outclasses the competition. Rosario is one of the few that can make that claim.” – Dan Suitor
“The Twins have recently spent money on international signings but not so much in the draft. Last year, they took Rosario from Puerto Rico in the 4th round. After a solid season in the GCL last year, he broke out this year for the always successful Elizabethton Twins, hitting 21 home runs in just 67 games. He did all of this while also playing centerfield. Baseball America named him the short season player of the year, and he’s deserving of that.” – Scott Grauer
THIRD
Joc Pederson, Ogden (Los Angeles Dodgers, RK)
68 G, 266 AB, .353 BA, 11 HR, 64 RBI, 54 RS, 24 SB, .429/.568/.997
25 points (2-1-2-2-1)
“GAAAAAH! He plays for the Raptors and his name is JOC! Oh, and his numbers ain’t bad,
either.” – Eric Angevine
THE FIELD
Miguel Sano, Elizabethton, 21 (0-1-5-1-0); Dante Bichette Jr., GCL Yankees/Staten Island, 11 (0-0-1-4-0); Nick DelGuidice, Idaho Falls/AZL Royals, 9 (0-1-0-2-1); Tyler Austin, GCL Yankees/Staten Island, 7 (0-1-0-0-3); Daniel Muno, Brooklyn, 7 (0-1-1-0-0); Kevan Smith, Bristol/Great Falls, 7 (0-1-0-1-1); Runey Davis, Idaho Falls, 6 (0-0-1-1-1); Taylor Lindsey, Orem, 5 (0-0-1-1-0); Robelys Reyes, DSL Cardinals, 4 (0-0-1-0-1); Jesus Vasquez, DSL Pirates, 4 (0-0-0-0-4); Ulises Montilla, VSL Pirates, 0
Minor League Baseball Short-Season Starting Pitcher of the Year
FIRST
Justin Nicolino, Vancouver (Toronto, A-)
12 G, 9 GS, 5-1 W-L, 1.03 ERA, 52.1 IP, 28 H, 11 BB, 64 SO
44 points (6-1-1-3-1)
“.5 hits per inning? Over a K per inning? That’s a little impressive. Pitching in Vancouver? That’s more than impressive. I bet it’s cold there.” – Mike Lortz
“But in the end, Justin Nicolino could not be overshadowed by anyone, regardless of regions or borders. Pitching for the only affiliated Minor League team in Canada, Nicolino was a force, posting a 1.08 ERA and 0.75 WHIP and allowing only 6 runs and no homers in 12 appearances (9 starts).” – Craig Forde
“The Blue Jays seem to have a surplus of pitchers who put up great stats in 2011, and Nicolino may be the head of the class. After being drafted in 2010, he didn’t make his pro debut until this season where he dominated the Northwest League. In nine starts and 12 appearances total, he allowed only 28 hits and 11 walks in 52.1 IP and also struck out more than a batter per inning. Toronto usually develops their pitchers slowly, but he finished the season in the Midwest League.” – Scott Grauer
SECOND
Tony Cingrani, Billings (Cincinnati, A-)
13 GS, 3-2 W-L, 1.75 ERA, 51.1 IP, 35 H, 6 BB, 80 SO
34 points (1-4-4-0-1)
“Strikeouts, strikeouts, strikeouts. Another guy with amazing control. But was he the oldest guy in short A? Maybe he was the guy who bought everyone beer.” – Mike Lortz
“Tony Cingrani put up similar numbers to Luis Mateo against nominally tougher competition, but his peripherals just aren’t as good. His strikeout rate is downright filthy at 14.03 K/9, beating Mateo by over 2.5 K/9, and his walk rate is a similarly insane 1.05, but Mateo has a clear advantage. Cingrani and Mateo started the same number of games and, while Cingrani was nearly as good in the innings he pitched, Mateo pitched 11.6 more innings (almost an inning per game more). Ratios are well and good, but while both of them have elite numbers Mateo had more innings to apply them over. More of a good pitcher is better for the team.” – Dan Suitor
“Cingrani closed in his final season at Rice, but the Reds decided to move the big lefty back to the rotation, and it paid off in the Pioneer League. Normally a difficult environment to pitch in, Cingrani conquered it. He struck out 80 batters in 51.1 innings which is just a ridiculous rate for a starter, and his WHIP was a minuscule .80. He won’t be able to keep those rates up at higher levels, but he’s one to keep an eye on.” – Scott Grauer
“Guy sounds like an extra from the movie “Goodfellas” but he’s a pretty good pitcher too, if the pitching thing doesn’t work he may have a career elsewhere, If ya know what I mean.” – Chris Fee
THIRD
Frank Garces, DSL Padres (San Diego, RK)
15 G, 10 GS, 4-3 W-L, 2.51 ERA, CG, SV, 71.2 IP, 53 H, 20 BB, 115 SO
29 points (2-2-2-2-1)\
“Low level, old. But K’d a lot of bros.” – Andrew Rosin
“I was hoping hard that this guy was related to Rich Garces, because I really want to nickname him “Guapito”. Unfortunately, the Internet had little-to-no information on him, except for people asking Padres beat writers who Frank Garces is. I don’t know anything about him, but 115 strikeouts in 71.6 innings deserves better.” – Dan Suitor
“The Ks kind of make up for the uneven stats across the rest of the line, especially at this level.” – Eric Angevine
“At first I thought it was “El Guapo” Rich Garces making his triumphant return to pitching…it’s not, but it doesn’t matter: my vote is a tribute to Richard “El Guapo” Garces.” – Chris Fee
THE FIELD
Luis Mateo, DSL Mets, 24 (2-1-1-3-1); Gabriel Perez, DSL Angels, 21 (2-2-0-1-1); Brennan Smith, Connecticut, 12 (0-1-1-1-3); Seth Frankoff, Vermont, 10 (0-1-2-0-0); Jaime Esquivel, GCL Orioles/Aberdeen, 8 (0-0-2-0-2); Noah Syndergaard, Bluefield/Vancouver, 6 (0-1-0-1-0); Tim Shibuya, Elizabethton, 4 (0-0-0-1-2); Drew Granier, AZL Athletics/Vermont, 3 (0-0-0-1-1); Oswaldo Mieres, VSL Reds, 0
Minor League Baseball Short-Season Relief Pitcher of the Year
FIRST
Edwin Carl, Idaho Falls (Kansas City, RK)
21 G, 3-1 W-L, 1.36 ERA, 5 SV, 33 IP, 17 H, 3 BB, 71 SO
40 points (4-3-1-2-1)
“23 in the short season is a little old. 71 strikeouts in 33 innings is a little sick.” – Mike Lortz
“Bunch of innings, bunch of strikeouts, just three walks and 17 hits in 33 innings. With lower-minors relievers, what else do you want? He’s too old for rookie ball, but whatever: his WHIP was .606. That says enough.” – Dan Suitor
“Edwin walked three. This charity must end.” – Eric Angevine
“Carl’s numbers this year were perhaps the most eye-popping of any pitcher this season. Sure, he was 22 for most of the season and still in rookie ball, but anyone who can strike out 71 batters in only 33 innings deserves recognition. He only allowed 20 baserunners, and his K:BB ratio was 23.67. To put into perspective how impressive it is to strike out 20 batters in 9 innings, Carl’s K/
9 this year was “only” 19.4.” – Scott Grauer
“Averaging over 2 strikeouts an inning. Winner.” – Andrew Rosin
SECOND
Francisco Nunez, DSL Twins (Minnesota, RK)
20 G, 1 GS, 9-1 W-L, 1.47 ERA, 5 SV, 49 IP, 29 H, 8 BB, 61 SO
38 points (2-4-4-0-0)
“It’s always difficult to evaluate players in the Latin leagues because the ability of the players is so varied. There are some talented younger guys who haven’t come over to the states yet, older players who teams apparently aren’t interested in bringing to the U.S., and some of the best talent comes right to the states. It was the third year for Nunez in the DSL, but he’s still young and put up some great numbers.” – Scott Grauer
“Nice stats for such a young prospect. Gotta love the wins in relief.” – Eric Angevine
“Basically Edwin Carl with more innings and worse peripherals. He’s younger by four
years, so it’s fine. He’s wet clay, a blank canvas, or whatever metaphor you want to use.
There’s a lot of upside here.” – Dan Suitor
“A mere footnote to Edwin Carl.” – Andrew Rosin
“Nine wins as a relief pitcher in the short season? That team must not have tried to hit until the 6th inning or later.” – Mike Lortz
THIRD
Branden Pinder, Staten Island (New York Yankees, A-)
24 G, 2-2 W-L, 1.16 ERA, 14 SV, 31 IP, 16 H, 5 BB, 38 SO
26 points (3-2-0-1-1)
“Pinder was in Long Beach State’s weekend rotation, but when the Yankees drafted him, they immediately converted him to the bullpen. He had great success as Staten Island’s closer, helping them win the New York Penn League title. It’s reasonable to say that college players from big programs like LBSU should do well in short season leagues, but Pinder’s .67 WHIP and 7.6 K:BB ratio were outstanding.” – Scott Grauer
THE FIELD
Kelvin Santana, DSL Astros, 22 (2-0-3-1-1); Rinku Singh, DSL Pirates/GCL Pirates/State College, 16 (1-2-0-0-3); Matthew Summers, Elizabethton, 14 (0-0-1-5-1); Matthew Bischoff, Everett, 12 (0-2-0-1-2); Drew Permison, Vancouver, 8 (0-0-1-2-1); Ely Izturriaga, VSL Phillies, 7 (0-0-2-0-1); Alejandro Chacin, AZL Reds, 6 (0-0-1-1-1); Carlos Sosa, DSL Brewers, 5 (1-0-0-0-0); Aneudy Merejo, DSL Pirates, 1 (0-0-0-0-1)
