There is no shortage of talent at the Minors’ highest level. It’s the last stop of a prospects’ journeys to the big leagues and also provides a place for veterans and others with big league experience to work on something or make tweaks in efforts to return to the Majors. At the Triple-A National Championship on Saturday, Minor League Baseball announced its 2025 Triple-A All-Stars and award winners to highlight the standout performers across the International and Pacific Coast Leagues.
In the International League, Orioles outfielder Dylan Beavers (MLB Pipeline’s No. 100 overall prospect) earned MVP honors, while Twins righty Mick Abel was named Pitcher of the Year, and the No. 7 overall pick in last year’s Draft, JJ Wetherholt (MLB No. 6), claimed the Top MLB Prospect award.
Moving west to the Pacific Coast League, Ryan Ward (Dodgers) rode a breakout campaign to MVP honors, Giants lefty Carson Whisenhunt spun his way to Pitcher of the Year and Mariners backstop Harry Ford (MLB No. 39) was the circuit’s Top MLB Prospect.
Here is a complete breakdown of the major award winners as well as the full All-Star teams for each Triple-A league.
Most Valuable Player: Dylan Beavers, Norfolk (BAL)
The second-ranked Orioles prospect played his way to the Minors’ highest level at the conclusion of his second full pro season last year and returned there to open this season. Beavers found consistent success at the plate this year with the Tides, slashing .304/.420/.515 with a career-high 18 homers, 78 runs, 51 RBIs, 68 walks and 23 stolen bases over 94 games before getting called up to The Show. The Cal product carried this momentum with him to Baltimore, accounting for a pair of walk-off knocks — including this dramatic home run in the Orioles’ final home game of the season.
Pitcher of the Year: Mick Abel, Lehigh Valley/St. Paul (PHI/MIN)
Abel made his Major League debut for the Phillies this season on May 18 and found mixed results over six starts with the big league club. But his dominance was on full display throughout his time with Lehigh Valley. The right-hander posted a 2.31 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP with 81 strikeouts over 74 frames (13 starts) for the IronPigs. His performance made him a key part of the deal that sent star closer Jhoan Duran to Philadelphia at the Trade Deadline. Abel was even better with his new organization, posting a 1.85 ERA, an 0.95 WHIP and a .179 average-against in five starts for St. Paul before returning to The Show with the Twins.
Top MLB Prospect: JJ Wetherholt, Memphis (STL)
Wetherholt opened his first pro full season with Double-A Springfield and played his way to a promotion on July 7. The Cardinals’ top prospect homered and tripled in his first game for Memphis and continued to make an impact for the club the rest of the way. Selected No. 7 overall in the 2024 Draft, Wetherholt had some of the best bat-to-ball skills in his Draft class. The 23-year-old out of West Virginia slashed .314/.416/.562 with 10 dingers, a triple, 14 doubles, 43 runs scored, 25 RBIs, 28 walks and nine stolen bases in 10 attempts over 47 games with Memphis to cap his campaign. This was his second end-of-season honor, he also was named the Texas League’s Most Valuable Player earlier this week.
1B: Jonathon Long, Iowa (CHC No. 7)
2B: José Fermín, Memphis (STL)
SS: Cam Devanney, Indianapolis (PIT)
3B: Otto Kemp, Lehigh Valley (PHI)
C: Samuel Basallo, Norfolk (BAL No. 1/MLB No. 8)
OF: Dylan Beavers, Norfolk (BAL No. 2/MLB No. 100)
OF: Justin Crawford, Lehigh Valley (PHI No. 3/MLB No. 64)
OF: Owen Caissie, Iowa (CHC No. 1/MLB No. 44)
DH: Rece Hinds, Louisville (CIN)
UTIL: Jose Rojas, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (NYY)
SP: Allan Winans, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (NYY)
SP: Joe Boyle, Durham (TB)
SP: Mick Abel, Lehigh Valley/St. Paul (MIN)
SP: Robby Snelling, Jacksonville (MIA No. 4/MLB No. 75)
RP: Andre Granillo, Memphis (STL)
RP: Craig Yoho, Nashville (MIL No. 16)
Manager: Shelley Duncan, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (NYY)
Most Valuable Player: Ryan Ward, Oklahoma City (LAD)
It was a breakout campaign for the 27-year-old who paced all of the Minor Leagues in homers (36), RBIs (122), extra-base hits (73) and total bases (315) for Oklahoma City. He also finished in the top four in the Pacific Coast League in slugging (.557), OPS (.937), hits (164), runs (113), doubles (31), walks (83) and stolen bases (35). Ward was drafted by the Dodgers in the eighth round in 2019 and played his way to Triple-A in 2023 before injuries slowed his momentum. But the Bryant product appeared to be the picture of health while posting a career-best .290 average over 143 games this season.
Pitcher of the Year: Carson Whisenhunt (SF)
The PCL is a tough place for any hurler to pitch, so finding success in this league goes a long way. Whisenhunt put together a dominant May for Sacramento, posting a 2.56 ERA, an 0.93 WHIP and a .204 average-against with 34 strikeouts over 38 2/3 frames (six starts) during the month. San Francisco’s No. 7 prospect parlayed that success into a callup to The Show on July 28 for his big league debut. In total, the southpaw posted a 9-5 mark with a 4.43 ERA and fanned 95 over 107 2/3 innings for the River Cats.
Top MLB Prospect: Harry Ford, Tacoma (SEA)
Everything seems to have clicked for the Mariners’ No. 4 prospect this season with the Rainiers. Ford slashed .283/.408/.868 while posting career highs in home runs (16) and RBIs (74). The 22-year-old also ranked seventh on the circuit with 74 walks. Behind the dish, Ford posted a .984 fielding percentage in 81 starts for Tacoma. The 2021 No. 12 overall pick was called up to Seattle on Sept. 1 and made his debut in The Show on Sept. 5.
1B: Tyler Locklear, Tacoma (AZ)
2B: Adael Amador, Albuquerque (COL)
SS: Leo Rivas, Tacoma (SEA)
3B: Cody Freeman, Round Rock (TEX)
C: Luis Campusano, El Paso (SD)
OF: Ryan Ward, Oklahoma City (LAD)
OF: Carlos Cortes, Las Vegas (ATH)
OF: Esteury Ruiz, Las Vegas/Oklahoma City (LAD)
DH: Yonathan Perlaza, El Paso (SD)
UTIL: Jordan Lawlar, Reno (AZ)
SP: Jhonathan Diaz, Tacoma (SEA)
SP: Carson Seymour, Sacramento (SF)
SP: Carson Whisenhunt, Sacramento (SF No. 7)
SP: Victor Mederos, Salt Lake (LAA)
RP: Ben Bowden, Las Vegas (ATH)
RP: Nick Hernandez, Sugar Land (HOU)
Manager: Fran Riordan, Las Vegas (ATH)
