Midwest League 2013 Year in Review: Byron Buxton Player of the Year, Carlos Correa An All-Star

Aug 20, 2013; Ft Myers, FL, USA; Fort Myers Miracle center fielder

(7) slides back into first base as he leads off during the first inning against the Charlotte Stone Crabs at Hammond Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Most Valuable Player Byron Buxton, Cedar Rapids (MIN)

Being the No. 2 overall pick of the 2011 Draft, Buxton already had scouts excited headed into his first full season of pro ball. Throughout the year, however, with gushing reports and numerous quotes from people inside the game saying he was the best prospect they’ve ever seen, Buxton finds himself atop virtually every top prospect list.

The 19-year-old split the season between Cedar Rapids and High-A Fort Myers, showing no sings of slowing down after his promotion. When it was all said and done, the Georgia native hit .334/.424/.520 with 12 home runs and 55 stolen bases. He scored 109 runs, drove in 77 and drew 76 walks. Buxton was also named Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year, following in the footsteps of Wil Myers and Mike Trout.

You’ll have to excuse the delay in getting this review posted. As a life-long Minnesota Twins fan, every time I start writing about Buxton I have to take frequent breaks to clean the drool off my keyboard and take a cold shower.

It’s important to note, however, that it’s not like the Houston Astros whiffed on the No. 1 pick in 2011. Carlos Correa made quite the impression on the Midwest League himself, leading the circuit with a .872 OPS. The 18-year-old shortstop is an elite prospect himself and it should be fun to watch these two ascend through the minor leagues together.

Prospect of the Year Byron Buxton, Cedar Rapids (MIN)

Manager of the Year Mark Haley, South Bend (ARI)

All-Stars

• C Luke Maile, Bowling Green (TB)
• 1B Dalton Hicks, Cedar Rapids (MIN)
• 2B Devon Travis, West Michigan (DET)
• 3B Brandon Drury, South Bend (ARI)
• SS Carlos Correa, Quad Cities (HOU)
• OF Byron Buxton, Cedar Rapids (MIN)
• OF Andrew Toles, Bowling Green (TB)
• OF Adam Brett Walker, Cedar Rapids (MIN)
• DH Rock Shoulders, Kane County (CHC)
• RHSP Dylan Floro, Bowling Green (TB)
• LHSP Tyler Pike, Clinton (SEA)
• RHRP R.J. Hively, South Bend (ARI)
• LHRP Geoff Brown, Great Lakes (LAD)

Best Record

• 88-50 (.638) Cedar Rapids Kernels (MIN)
• 82-56 (.594) Bowling Green Hot Rods (TB)
• 81-57 (.587) Quad Cities River BAndits (HOU)

Home Runs

• 27 Adam Brett Walker II, Cedar Rapids (MIN)
• 23 Matt Olsen, Beloit (OAK)
• 22 Victor Roache, Wisconsin (MIL)
• 20 John Wooten, Beloit (OAK)
• 19 Rudy Flores, South Bend (ARI)
• 19 Renato Nunez, Beloit (OAK)

Batting Average

• .326 Andrew Toles, Bowling Green (TB)
• .325 Leonardo Reginatto, Bowling Green (TB)
• .320 Carlos Correa, Quad Cities (HOU)
• .311 Dario Pizzano, Clinton (SEA)
• .309 Breyvic Valera, Peoria (STL)

On-Base Plus Slugging Percentage

• .872 Carlos Correa, Quad Cities (HOU)
• .865 Rudy Flores, South Bend (ARI)
• .863 Dario Pizzano, Clinton (SEA)
• .862 Brandon Drury, South Bend (ARI)
• .850 Dalton Hicks, Cedar Rapids (MIN)

Earned Run Average

• 2.73 Zach Eflin, Fort Wayne (SD)
• 2.78 Victor Sanchez, Clinton (SEA)
• 2.95 Brett Lee, Cedar Rapids (MIN)
• 2.95 Reinaldo Lopez, Bowling Green (TB)
• 2.96 Miguel Sulbaran, Cedar Rapids (MIN)

Strikeouts

• 134 Ismael Guillon, Dayton (CIN)
• 123 Ryan Crowley, Burlington (LAA)
• 123 Vincent Velasquez, Quad Cities (HOU)
• 117 Dylan Baker, Lake County (CLE)
• 117 Lance McCullers, Quad Cities (HOU)

Walks and Hits Per Inning Pitched

• 1.08 Brad Allen, South Bend (ARI)
• 1.09 Jeff Ames, Bowling Green (TB)
• 1.09 Victor Sanchez, Clinton (SEA)
• 1.17 Ryan Crowley, Burlington (LAA)
• 1.19 Zach Eflin, Fort Worth (SD)