The Cubs named Bryan LaHair and Jeff Beliveau as their Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year earlier this week, but that's no reason why you shouldn't have a chance to express your opinion. We've been doing the "BCB Minor League Player (and Pitcher) of the Month" all year, so now it's time to put it all together and choose the BCB Minor League Player of the Year.
The same rules apply for the award as they always have. The award is meant to reward production over the course of the season and not their status as a prospect, but you can vote for whomever you want. Besides, anyone who can produce over the course of an entire season in the minors has get at least some consideration as a prospect. You can take into account position and defense, role on a winning team, scrappiness or whatever else you want. It would also be nice if you'd defend your choice in the comments, but of course that's not required.
There are six candidates for the award this season as there is a rookie ball candidate for this award. Roughly, I chose one candidate from each team, but of course some players got promoted over the course of the season. I also tried to balance out the positions somewhat.
The candidates after the jump. They say it's an honor just to be nominated.
Outfielder Brett Jackson: The Cubs first round pick in 2009 started the season with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies and got off to a good start before hurting his hand diving back into second base in May. But he took off after getting promoted to Iowa after the All-Star Break and turned in the first of what we hope are many 20/20 seasons in his career. Jackson hit exactly ten home runs with Tennessee and ten with Iowa. He still loves to draw a walk as he drew 73 in 115 games this year. Between Tennessee and Iowa, Jackson had triple-slash stats of .274/.379/.490. He was also named to Team USA this month.
Shortstop Logan Watkins: It was an up-and-down season for the shortstop for the Florida State League Champion Daytona Cubs. After two years of playing mostly second base, he moved back to shortstop with the trade of Hak-Ju Lee to the Rays. The move seemed to unnerve his bat in April as he only hit .138 for the month. But as he got comfortable again, he improved with a .241 batting average in May before exploding when the weather got hot. He hit .443 for the month of June and .321 for the month of July. Watkins finished the season with a line of .281/.352/.404 with 21 stolen bases in the tough-hitting environment of the Florida State League. The 21 year old Watkins is a superior athlete with a sure glove as well. He should stick at shortstop as he moves on to Tennessee and beyond.
First/Third baseman Greg Rohan: Rohan split his time between Peoria and Daytona this season just as he had in 2010, but with much better results the second time around. Rohan hit .314 with 20 doubles and five home runs in the first half-season with the Chiefs and was second in the Midwest League in RBI when he got the call to Daytona. He was even better there, hitting .345 with six home runs in only 31 games. Between the two stops, the 25 year-old Ohio native hit .324/.378/.478.
Catcher Rafael Lopez: When a catcher gets to DH on the days that he's not catching, you know he's got an impact bat. The Cubs took Lopez in the 16th round this year after a four year career at Florida State and assigned him to Boise after three games in Arizona. I don't know how he was defensively in Boise but he had a good defensive reputation with the Seminoles and the Hawks pitching staff had one of their best seasons in years. His final line on the season .319/.383/.449 with six home runs over 57 games.
Shortstop Marco Hernandez: The 18 year old Dominican shortstop has already drawn comparisons to Starlin Castro after his first season in the Arizona Summer League. Hernandez hit .333/.375/.486 in 51 games in Rookie Ball along with nine stolen bases. He's also has all the tools to be a superior defensive shortstop although at 18, he's still pretty raw right now.
0 recs | 29 comments
LaHair, clearly.
Not only did he have a record-breaking season, but he also made it to the big club first and looks like he has a decent shot of sticking around in a backup role.
NobodySpecial - September 22, 2011
My feelings about LaHair as a major league possibility are well known.
But he did have a monster season at Triple-A and deserves this honor.
Al Yellon - September 22, 2011
I took this at the game the other night,
but didn’t catch all the names. Could anyone please help me out?
katie casey - September 22, 2011
Kirk is definitely the one between LaHair and Bour
So it’s just between Beliveau and Samson on each side of Jackson. I think Beliveau is next to Fleita, and Samson is next to Bour.
Mulhollandmania - September 22, 2011
Beliveau
Beliveau is definitely the one on the far right.
srwilly - September 22, 2011
I Believeau you.
daver - September 22, 2011
Thanks everyone.
So to recap….we have…
Bush, LaHair, Kirk, Bour, Samson, Jackson, Beliveau, Fleita?
katie casey - September 22, 2011
correct
Dcr18 - September 22, 2011
Jay Jackson, Justin Bour, Austin Kirk, and Nate Samson
Sans unis, no idea. Except Jackson is third from the right.
timh815 - September 22, 2011
That looks like Randy Bush on the left.
Al Yellon - September 22, 2011
Bour fourth from the left?
He looks big.
timh815 - September 22, 2011
And that's Oneri Fleita on the right end
RiskyBusiness - September 22, 2011
Who is Bour?
Kennabelle - September 22, 2011
Justin
High-A first baseman
Dcr18 - September 22, 2011
Well, pretty obvious Bour is the big guy in the khaki slacks
If they’re standing in order of level, then it’s Kirk next to La Hair.
cubzfan - September 22, 2011
Hard to tell if they're standing in order of level
as Jackson would either be next to LaHair or on the very end (he’s the only guy from AAA).
Unless they decided to bookend the other honorees with LaHair and Beliveau.
SouthernCub - September 22, 2011
Yeah, Jackson (third from right), LaHair (uniformed), and Bour (the big guy in khakis) stand out...
Beliveau, Samson, and Kirk are all about the same size, so it’s hard to tell who is who.
SouthernCub - September 22, 2011
I wish Jay Jackson was
in a Cub uniform getting a few of Lopez’s starts.
Grockcubs - September 22, 2011
Voted LaHair
But I wouldn’t hold it against anyone who voted for BJax. Only 1 of 4 guys in all of minor league baseball to have a 20/20 year.
RynoRooter - September 22, 2011
Voted BJax.
Even though I got a feeling we will be hearing about Hernandez and where will he play in the infield.
Grockcubs - September 22, 2011
Voted Hernandez
To ensure that he got at least a little bit of love. Of course, if you put the screws to me, I’d have to give it to LaHair, like everyone else.
Brett Taylor - September 22, 2011
Zeke DeVoss
I voted LaHair and would put BJax second on my list. My third vote is not listed here, and that’s Zeke DeVoss. Prototypical leadoff man! When you see a guy draw walks like this in their very first season, it’s exciting – plus the blazing speed, and he doesn’t strike out like Brett. In a future lineup it could be Zeke who bumps Brett to the middle of the order.
KO Stradivarius - September 22, 2011 via mobile
Considered DeVoss
but I gave the Hawks nod to Lopez. One big reason is that DeVoss only played 42 games as opposed to 57 for Lopez, and he’s a catcher. I also wanted to have one catcher on the list and after Clevenger didn’t make the cut for the Smokies (losing out to Brett Jackson), Lopez was the next best choice.
Josh Timmers - September 22, 2011
HOILMAN!!!
jameslcrockett - September 22, 2011
My head says LaHair...
…but my heart says BJax. Jackson will (probably, hopefully, please, please) play a much bigger role in the future of the Cubs than LaHair, and he did what he needed to do this year to move through the system quickly and put himself in a position to contribute at the major league level next season. He could be part of the core of young players that the team so desperately needs. Maybe I’ll flip a coin.
daver - September 22, 2011
I picked Jackson.
Top propsect has great year and kept getting better even dealing with injuries. Indisputable higher future value, and I’m not willing to concede that he doesn’t have more present value because players like Jackson are rare. I’d probably think differently if there weren’t lots of hitters in AAA putting up gaudy numbers, even if LaHair’s was admittedly the best. I know this isn’t a “best prospect” award, but that still factors into my vote.
jameslcrockett - September 22, 2011
I caved and voted for LaHair.
But I agree nonetheless. Let’s hope this was LaHair’s year in the minors but next year will be Jackson’s — in the majors.
daver - September 22, 2011
Agreed.
Al Yellon - September 22, 2011
How about both?
I don’t think there’s a snowball’s chance in a Lou Malnati’s pizza oven of it happening for LaHair, but I’m not going to turn down lightning striking once… or twice… or…
jameslcrockett - September 22, 2011
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Bleed Cubbie Blue to post a comment.