Pacific Coast League Top MLB Prospect Award


The Pacific Coast League Top MLB Prospect Award is an annual award given to the best rookie player in Minor League Baseball's Pacific Coast League based on their regular-season performance as voted on by league managers. Broadcasters, Minor League Baseball executives, and members of the media have previously voted as well. Though the league was established in 1903, the award was not created until 1952 as the Rookie of the Year Award. It was abandoned from 1973 to 1997 before being revived in 1998. After the cancellation of the 2020 season, the league was known as the Triple-A West in 2021 before reverting to the Pacific Coast League name in 2022. The Top MLB Prospect Award began to be issued instead of the Rookie of the Year Award in 2021.
Nineteen outfielders have won the award, the most of any position. Third basemen, with seven winners, have won the most among infielders, followed by second basemen and first basemen, and shortstops. Five pitchers and one catcher have won the award.
Ten players who have won the Top MLB Prospect Award also won the Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player Award in the same season: Willie Davis, Billy Cowan, Denny Doyle, Robb Quinlan, Adam Eaton, Chris Owings, Joc Pederson, Joshua Fuentes, Ty France, and Michael Busch. Félix Hernández is the only player to win both Rookie of the Year and the league's Pitcher of the Year Award in the same season.
Four players from the Hollywood Stars, Reno Aces, and Salt Lake Bees have each been selected for the Top MLB Prospect Award, more than any other teams in the league, followed by the El Paso Chihuahuas anf Tacoma Rainiers ; the Albuquerque Isotopes, Eugene Emeralds, Denver Bears, Oklahoma City Comets, Omaha Storm Chasers, Portland Beavers, Salt Lake City Bees, San Diego Padres, Spokane Indians, and Vancouver Mounties ; and the Arkansas Travelers, Calgary Cannons, Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Hawaii Islanders, Los Angeles Angels, Las Vegas Aviators, New Orleans Zephyrs, Phoenix Giants, Sacramento River Cats, Seattle Rainiers, and Tucson Sidewinders
Six players from the Los Angeles Angels Major League Baseball organization have won the award, more than any other, followed by the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers organizations ; the San Diego Padres organization ; the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Seattle Mariners organizations ; the Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, and Minnesota Twins organizations ; and the Athletics, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Guardians, Houston Astros, Miami Marlins, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants organizations.

Winners

PositionIndicates the player's primary position
^Indicates multiple award winners in the same year

Wins by team

Active Pacific Coast League teams appear in bold.
TeamAwardYear
Hollywood Stars41952, 1953, 1954, 1955
Reno Aces42011, 2012, 2013, 2024
Salt Lake Bees 42002, 2006, 2010, 2021
El Paso Chihuahuas32015, 2016, 2019
Tacoma Rainiers32005, 2007, 2025
Albuquerque Isotopes22014, 2018
Denver Bears21966, 1968
Eugene Emeralds21969, 1971
Oklahoma City Comets 22022, 2023
Omaha Storm Chasers 21998, 1999
Portland Beavers21965, 2001
Salt Lake City Bees 21963, 1972
San Diego Padres21962, 1965
Spokane Indians21959, 1960
Vancouver Mounties21957, 1961
Arkansas Travelers11964
Calgary Cannons12000
Colorado Springs Sky Sox12009
Hawaii Islanders11970
Las Vegas Aviators 12017
Los Angeles Angels11956
New Orleans Zephyrs12004
Phoenix Giants11967
Sacramento River Cats12003
Seattle Rainiers11958
Tucson Sidewinders12008

Wins by organization

Active Pacific Coast League–Major League Baseball affiliations appear in bold.
OrganizationAwardYear
Los Angeles Angels 61970, 1972, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2021
Arizona Diamondbacks52008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2024
Los Angeles Dodgers51959, 1960, 2014, 2022, 2023
San Diego Padres42001, 2015, 2016, 2019
Cincinnati Reds 31958, 1962, 1965
Philadelphia Phillies31964, 1969, 1971
Pittsburgh Pirates31952, 1954, 1955
Seattle Mariners32005, 2007, 2025
Chicago Cubs21956, 1963
Colorado Rockies22009, 2018
Kansas City Royals21998, 1999
Minnesota Twins21966, 1968
Athletics 12003
Atlanta Braves 11961
Baltimore Orioles11957
Cleveland Guardians 11965
Houston Astros12004
Miami Marlins 12000
New York Mets12017
San Francisco Giants11967