Northwest League Most Valuable Player Award

The Northwest League Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) is an annual award given to the best player in Minor League Baseball's Northwest League based on their regular-season performance as voted on by league managers.[1] League broadcasters, Minor League Baseball executives, and members of the media have previously voted as well.[2] Though the league was established in 1955,[3] the award was not created until 1981.[4] After the cancellation of the 2020 season,[5] the league was known as the High-A West in 2021 before reverting to the Northwest League name in 2022.[6][7]

Northwest League
Most Valuable Player Award
SportBaseball
LeagueNorthwest League
Awarded forRegular-season most valuable player of the Northwest League
CountryUnited States
Presented byNorthwest League
History
First awardKevin Coughlon &
Tony Gwynn (1981)
Most recentKyle Karros (2024)

Twenty-one outfielders have won the MVP Award, the most of any position. First basemen, with 13 winners, have won the most among infielders, followed by third basemen (8), shortstops (3), and second basemen (1). No pitchers or catchers have won the award.

One player who has won the MVP Award also won the Northwest League Top MLB Prospect Award in the same season: Zac Veen (2022).[1] From 1981 to 2014, pitchers were eligible to win the MVP Award as no award was designated for pitchers. In 2015, the Northwest League established a Pitcher of the Year Award.[2]

Twelve players from the Spokane Indians have been selected for the MVP Award, more than any other team in the league, followed by the Everett AquaSox (7); the Boise Hawks (5); the Eugene Emeralds and Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (4); the Vancouver Canadians (3); the Medford Athletics, Southern Oregon Timberjacks, and Yakima Bears (2); and the Bellingham Mariners, Everett Giants, Tri-Cities Triplets, and Walla Walla Padres (1).

Eight players from the Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball (MLB) organization have won the award, more than any other, followed by the San Diego Padres organization (7); the Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants, and Texas Rangers organizations (5); the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Angels organizations (4); the Kansas City Royals organization (3); the Arizona Diamondbacks and Toronto Blue Jays organizations (2); and the Chicago Cubs organization (1).

Winners

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Tony Gwynn won the first Northwest League Most Valuable Player Award in 1981 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.[8]
 
Todd Greene won the 1993 Most Valuable Player Award.
 
Garrett Atkins was chosen as the Most Valuable Player in 2000.
 
Joe Panik, the 2011 MVP, was selected to play in the 2015 MLB All-Star Game.[9]
Key
Position Indicates the player's primary position
^ Indicates multiple award winners in the same year
Winners
Year Winner Team Organization Position Ref(s).
1981^ Kevin Coughlon Medford Athletics Oakland Athletics Outfielder [10]
Tony Gwynn Walla Walla Padres San Diego Padres Outfielder [11]
1982 Phil Strom Medford Athletics Oakland Athletics First baseman [12]
1983 Bert Martinez Tri-Cities Triplets Texas Rangers Third baseman [13]
1984 Sam Haley Bellingham Mariners Seattle Mariners Outfielder [14]
1985 Jerald Clark Spokane Indians San Diego Padres Outfielder [15]
1986 Dave Nash Everett Giants San Francisco Giants Outfielder [16]
1987 Steve Hendricks Spokane Indians San Diego Padres First baseman [17]
1988 Stan Royer Southern Oregon Athletics Oakland Athletics Third baseman [18]
1989 Dave Staton Spokane Indians San Diego Padres Third baseman [19]
1990 Matt Mieske Outfielder [20]
1991 Joe Randa Eugene Emeralds Kansas City Royals Third baseman [21]
1992 Larry Sutton First baseman [22]
1993 Todd Greene Boise Hawks California Angels Outfielder [23]
1994 John Donati First baseman [24]
1995 Danny Buxbaum First baseman [25]
1996 Robert Zachmann Everett AquaSox Seattle Mariners First baseman [26]
1997 Dee Brown Spokane Indians Kansas City Royals Outfielder [27]
1998 Jason Hart Southern Oregon Timberjacks Oakland Athletics First baseman [28]
1999 Robb Quinlan Boise Hawks Anaheim Angels Third baseman [29]
2000^ Garrett Atkins Portland Rockies Colorado Rockies First baseman [30]
Jamal Strong Everett AquaSox Seattle Mariners Outfielder [31]
2001 J. J. Johnson Boise Hawks Chicago Cubs Outfielder [32]
2002 Ismael Castro Everett AquaSox Seattle Mariners Second baseman [33]
2003 Conor Jackson Yakima Bears Arizona Diamondbacks Outfielder [34]
2004 Javier Herrera Vancouver Canadians Oakland Athletics Outfielder [35]
2005 Steve Murphy Spokane Indians Texas Rangers Outfielder [36]
2006 Cyle Hankerd Yakima Bears Arizona Diamondbacks Outfielder [37]
2007^ Matt Downs Salem-Keizer Volcanoes San Francisco Giants First baseman [38]
Luis Durango Eugene Emeralds San Diego Padres Outfielder [39]
2008 Daniel Robertson Outfielder [40]
2009 Drew Biery Salem-Keizer Volcanoes San Francisco Giants Third baseman [41]
2010 Jared Hoying Spokane Indians Texas Rangers Outfielder [42]
2011 Joe Panik Salem-Keizer Volcanoes San Francisco Giants Shortstop [43]
2012 Patrick Kivlehan Everett AquaSox Seattle Mariners Third baseman [44]
2013 L. B. Dantzler Vancouver Canadians Toronto Blue Jays First baseman [45]
2014 Franklin Barreto Shortstop [46]
2015 Drew Jackson Everett AquaSox Seattle Mariners Shortstop [47]
2016 Eric Filia Outfielder [48]
2017 Ryan Kirby Salem-Keizer Volcanoes San Francisco Giants First baseman [49]
2018 Curtis Terry Spokane Indians Texas Rangers First baseman [50]
2019 Blaine Crim First baseman [51]
2020 None selected (season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic) [5]
2021 Andy Pages Everett AquaSox Seattle Mariners Outfielder [52][53]
2022 Zac Veen Spokane Indians Colorado Rockies Outfielder [54][55]
2023 Jordan Beck Outfielder [56][57]
2024 Kyle Karros Third baseman [58][59]

Wins by team

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Active Northwest League teams appear in bold.

Team Award(s) Year(s)
Spokane Indians 12 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1997, 2005, 2010, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024
Everett AquaSox 7 1996, 2000, 2002, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2021
Boise Hawks 5 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2001
Eugene Emeralds 4 1991, 1992, 2007, 2008
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 2007, 2009, 2011, 2017
Vancouver Canadians 3 2004, 2013, 2014
Medford Athletics 2 1981, 1982
Southern Oregon Timberjacks (Southern Oregon Athletics) 1988, 1998
Yakima Bears 2003, 2006
Bellingham Mariners 1 1984
Everett Giants 1986
Portland Rockies 2000
Tri-Cities Triplets 1983
Walla Walla Padres 1981

Wins by organization

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Active Northwest Leagueโ€“Major League Baseball affiliations appear in bold.

Organization Award(s) Year(s)
Seattle Mariners 8 1984, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2021
San Diego Padres 7 1981, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 2007, 2008
Oakland Athletics 5 1981, 1982, 1988, 1998, 2004
San Francisco Giants 1986, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2017
Texas Rangers 1983, 2005, 2010, 2018, 2019
Colorado Rockies 4 2000, 2022, 2023, 2024
Los Angeles Angels (California/Anaheim Angels) 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999
Kansas City Royals 3 1991, 1992, 1997
Arizona Diamondbacks 2 2003, 2006
Toronto Blue Jays 2013, 2014
Chicago Cubs 1 2001

References

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Specific

  1. ^ a b Resnick, Jacob (November 9, 2022). "High-A Award Winners and All-Stars". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Avallone, Michael (October 7, 2021). "MiLB's High-A Award Winners and All-Stars". Major League Baseball. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  3. ^ "Northwest League (Adv A) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  4. ^ "Northwest League Award Winners". Northwest League. Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  6. ^ Reichard, Kevin (February 12, 2021). "Minor League Baseball Overhaul Unveiled". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  7. ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  8. ^ "Tony Gwynn Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  9. ^ "Joe Panik Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  10. ^ "Kevin Coughlon Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  11. ^ "Tony Gwynn Minor & College Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  12. ^ "Phil Strom Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  13. ^ "Bert Martinez Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  14. ^ "Sam Haley Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  15. ^ "Jerald Clark Minor, Japanese, Mexican & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  16. ^ "Dave Nash Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  17. ^ "Steve Hendricks Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  18. ^ "Stan Royer Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  19. ^ "Dave Staton Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  20. ^ "Matt Mieske Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  21. ^ "Joe Randa Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  22. ^ "Larry Sutton Minor & Korean Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  23. ^ "Todd Greene Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  24. ^ "John Donati Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  25. ^ "Danny Buxbaum Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  26. ^ "Rob Zachmann Independent & Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  27. ^ "Dee Brown Minor, Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  28. ^ "Jason Hart Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  29. ^ "Robb Quinlan Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  30. ^ "Garrett Atkins Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  31. ^ "Jamal Strong Minor, Fall & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  32. ^ "J.J. Johnson Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  33. ^ "Ismael Castro Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  34. ^ "Conor Jackson Minor, Fall & Winter Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  35. ^ "Javier Herrera Minor, Winter & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  36. ^ "Steve Murphy Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  37. ^ "Cyle Hankerd Minor, Winter, Independent & Mexican Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  38. ^ "Matt Downs Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  39. ^ "Luis Durango Minor, Winter, Mexican & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  40. ^ "Daniel Robertson Minor, Winter & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  41. ^ "Drew Biery Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  42. ^ "Jared Hoying Minor, Winter & Korean Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  43. ^ "Joe Panik Amateur, College, Fall & Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  44. ^ "Patrick Kivlehan College, Minor, Fall, Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  45. ^ "L.B. Dantzler College & Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  46. ^ "Franklin Barreto Minor, Winter & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  47. ^ "Drew Jackson Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  48. ^ "Eric Filia College, Amateur, Minor, Fall & Winter Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  49. ^ "Ryan Kirby Amateur, College, Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  50. ^ "Curtis Terry Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  51. ^ "Blaine Crim College, Amateur, Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  52. ^ "Postseason All-Stars". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  53. ^ "Cade Marlowe Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  54. ^ "Postseason All-Stars". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  55. ^ "Zac Veen Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  56. ^ Samson, Brendan. "The 2023 High-A All-Stars and Award Winners". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  57. ^ "Jordan Beck College, Amateur & Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  58. ^ Samson, Brendan (September 19, 2024). "Here are the 2024 High-A All-Stars and Award Winners". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  59. ^ "Kyle Karros Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved September 21, 2024.

General