Here are the 2024 Double-A All-Stars and award winners
Double-A is widely considered to be a litmus test in professional baseball, the level at which raw talent tends to reveal itself as actual ability. As a result, success there is often -- although, of course, not always -- an indicator of a prospect's trajectory. For a precious few, the
Double-A is widely considered to be a litmus test in professional baseball, the level at which raw talent tends to reveal itself as actual ability. As a result, success there is often -- although, of course, not always -- an indicator of a prospect's trajectory. For a precious few, the second highest level of the Minor Leagues can serve as a springboard right to The Show.
On Tuesday, Minor League Baseball revealed the Double-A end-of-season All-Stars and award winners, headed up by each league's Most Valuable Player and Pitcher of the Year, as voted on by the respective circuit's managers.
The Eastern League's 2024 MVP, infielder/outfielder Kristian Campbell, MLB Pipeline's No. 74 overall prospect comes out of the Red Sox system and is a finalist for the MiLB Hitting Prospect of the Year award. In the Southern and Texas Leagues, the honors went to Cubs infielder Matt Shaw (MLB No. 22) and Dodgers catcher/outfielder Dalton Rushing (MLB No. 36) respectively.
On the other side of the ball, Mets right-hander Brandon Sproat (MLB No. 37), White Sox lefty Noah Schultz (MLB No. 13) and Cardinals righty Tink Hence (MLB No. 48) took home Pitcher of the Year honors in the Eastern, Southern and Texas Leagues.
Each circuit also recognized the Top MLB Prospect. This year's accolades went to Orioles catcher/first baseman Samuel Basallo (MLB No. 9) in the Eastern League, Rays infielder Carson Williams (MLB No. 4) in the Southern League and Rushing in the Texas League.
Here are the major award winners as well as the full All-Star teams for each Double-A league.
Eastern League
Most Valuable Player: Kristian Campbell, Portland (BOS)
Among the many players considered for league-wide honors, Boston's No. 5 prospect topped 2024 teammates (and fellow All-Stars) Marcelo Mayer (MLB No. 3) and Roman Anthony (MLB No. 12). Campbell hit .362/.418/.558 with eight homers, 35 RBIs and 17 stolen bases while seeing time at shortstop, second base, third base and in center field for the Sea Dogs.
Pitcher of the Year: Brandon Sproat, Binghamton (NYM)
In his first Minor League season, Sproat made it all the way to Triple-A, but his stop in Binghamton was especially notable. The 24-year-old, a second-round pick by the Mets in 2023, posted a 2.45 ERA with 77 strikeouts in 62 1/3 innings for a K/9 rate of 11.1 over 11 starts.
Top MLB Prospect: Samuel Basallo, Bowie (BAL)
Although not an end-of-season Eastern League All-Star, Basallo hit .289 with 16 homers and 55 RBIs while handling responsibilities both behind the plate and at first base. The 20-year-old has spent the past two years ascending the rankings in the Orioles system.
All-Star Team
1B: Carson Taylor, Reading (PHI)
2B: Hao-Yu Lee, Erie (DET No. 8)
SS: Marcelo Mayer, Portland (BOS No. 1/MLB No. 3)
3B: Gage Workman, Erie (DET No. 30)
C: Agustin Ramirez, Somerset* (MIA No. 3)
OF: Roman Anthony, Portland (BOS No. 2/MLB No. 12)
OF: Spencer Jones, Somerset (NYY No. 2)
OF: Gabriel Rincones Jr., Reading (PHI No. 11)
DH: Kyle Teel, Portland (BOS No. 3/MLB No. 24)
UTIL: Kristian Campbell, Portland (BOS No. 5/MLB No. 74)
SP: Brandon Sproat, Binghamton (NYM No. 1/MLB No. 37)
SP: Jackson Jobe, Erie (DET No. 2/MLB No. 6)
SP: Brad Lord, Harrisburg (WSH No. 30)
SP: Parker Messick, Akron (CLE No. 18)
RP: Eric Pardinho, New Hampshire (TOR)
RP: Andrew Walters, Akron (CLE No. 21)
Manager: Bobby Meacham, Hartford (COL)
*Traded to MIA on July 24, 2024
Southern League
Most Valuable Player: Matt Shaw, Tennessee (CHC)
The 13th overall pick of the 2023 Draft, Shaw's first full professional season went off without a hitch -- he hit .279 with 14 homers, 60 runs, 50 RBIs and 25 stolen bases in 86 games. All of that production earned him an August promotion to Triple-A.
Pitcher of the Year: Noah Schultz, Birmingham (CWS)
Schultz is ranked the top left-handed pitching prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, and based on his results alone, it makes sense. In his age-20 season, Schultz made 16 Double-A starts, posting a 1.48 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP and 73 strikeouts in 61 IP (10.8 K/9).
Top MLB Prospect: Carson Williams, Montgomery (TB)
The No. 4 overall prospect, Williams did everything in 2024, which he spent entirely in Double-A. Hitting .256/.352/.469 (.821 OPS), he also piled on 20 homers, 69 RBIs and 33 stolen bases, showing off his potential as a true power-speed shortstop.
All-Star Team
1B: Ernesto Martinez Jr., Biloxi (MIL)
2B: James Triantos, Tennessee (CHC No. 5/MLB No. 56)
SS: Carson Williams, Montgomery (TB No. 1/MLB No. 4)
3B: Matt Shaw, Tennessee (CHC No. 1/MLB No. 22)
C: Edgar Quero, Birmingham (CWS No. 4/MLB No. 59)
OF: Chandler Simpson, Montgomery (TB No. 4)
OF: Gustavo Campero, Rocket City (LAA)
OF: Eric Wagaman, Rocket City (LAA)
DH: Dominic Keegan, Montgomery (TB No. 13)
UTIL: Brooks Baldwin, Birmingham (CWS)
SP: Caden Dana, Rocket City (LAA No. 1/MLB No. 70)
SP: Ian Seymour, Montgomery (TB No. 17)
SP: Noah Schultz, Birmingham (CWS No. 1/MLB No. 13)
SP: Drew Thorpe, Birmingham (CWS)
RP: Evan Reifert, Montgomery (TB)
RP: Blake Holub, Biloxi (MIL)
Manager: Kevin Boles, Montgomery (TB)
Texas League
Most Valuable Player: Jimmy Crooks, Springfield (STL)
One of two Cardinals prospects to take home Texas League honors, catcher Crooks spent his entire season in Springfield, hitting .321 with 11 homers, 19 doubles, 62 RBIs and 42 runs over 90 games. He also threw out 25 potential base stealers (33%).
Pitcher of the Year: Tink Hence, Springfield (STL)
Hence, St. Louis' No. 2 prospect, had a rough first run at Double-A competition in 2023. No such trouble his second time around -- over 20 starts, he posted a 2.71 ERA with 109 strikeouts in 79 2/3 innings (12.3 K/9), allowing just five home runs over the course of the season.
Top MLB Prospect: Dalton Rushing, Tulsa (LAD)
Rushing split his year between catching and DHing and (clearly) had a handle on all of the responsibilities that came with both. The 23-year-old hit .270/.378/.512 with 17 home runs and 59 RBIs for Tulsa, which earned him a promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City in August.
All-Star Team
1B: Brennan Milone, Midland (OAK No. 24)
2B: Cooper Bowman, Midland (OAK No. 20)
SS: Alex Freeland, Tulsa (LAD No. 4/MLB No. 73)
3B: Cody Freeman, Frisco (TEX)
C: Jimmy Crooks, Springfield (STL No. 5)
OF: Carson McCusker, Wichita (MIN)
OF: Alejandro Osuna, Frisco (TEX No. 16)
OF: Colby Thomas, Midland (OAK No. 7)
DH: Dalton Rushing, Tulsa (LAD No. 1/MLB No. 36)
UTIL: Tim Tawa, Amarillo (AZ)
SP: Tink Hence, Springfield (STL No. 2/MLB No. 48)
SP: Andrew Morris, Wichita (MIN No. 7)
SP: Zebby Matthews, Wichita (MIN No. 4/MLB No. 81)
SP: Quinn Mathews, Springfield (STL No. 3/MLB No. 80)
RP: Matt Svanson, Springfield (STL)
RP: Troy Taylor, Arkansas (SEA No. 17)
Manager: Jose Leger, Springfield (STL)