Southern League Most Valuable Player Award


The Southern League Most Valuable Player Award is an annual award given to the best player in Minor League Baseball's Southern League based on their regular-season performance as voted on by league managers. League broadcasters, Minor League Baseball executives, and members of the media have previously voted as well. Though the league was established in 1964, the award was not created until 1972. After the cancellation of the 2020 season, the league was known as the Double-A South in 2021 before reverting to the Southern League name in 2022.
Twenty-one outfielders have won the MVP Award, the most of any position. First basemen, with 14 winners, have won the most among infielders, followed by third basemen and second basemen and shortstops. Eight catchers have also won the award.
Two players who won the MVP Award also won the Southern League Top MLB Prospect Award in the same season: Junior Caminero and Sal Stewart.
Six players from the Knoxville Smokies have been selected for the MVP Award, more than any other team in the league, followed by the Huntsville Stars and Montgomery Biscuits ; the Carolina Mudcats, Chattanooga Lookouts, Columbus Mudcats, and Memphis Chicks ; the Birmingham Barons, Jackson Generals, and Jacksonville Suns ; the Biloxi Shuckers, Greenville Braves, Mobile BayBears, and Nashville Sounds ; and the Asheville Orioles, Charlotte O's, Mississippi Braves, Montgomery Rebels, and Orlando Twins.
Six players from the Chicago White Sox Major League Baseball organization have won the award, more than any other, followed by the Tampa Bay Rays organization ; the Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros, and Milwaukee Brewers organizations ; the Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals, and Oakland Athletics organizations ; the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, and Washington Nationals organizations ; and the Miami Marlins, San Diego Padres, and Seattle Mariners organizations.

Winners

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

Wins by team

Active Southern League teams appear in bold.
TeamAwardYear
Knoxville Smokies 61974, 1975, 1976, 1993, 2001, 2024
Huntsville Stars51985, 1986, 1997, 2003, 2012
Montgomery Biscuits52005, 2007, 2009, 2021, 2023
Carolina Mudcats41994, 1995, 2008, 2010
Chattanooga Lookouts41999, 2006, 2015, 2025
Columbus Mudcats 41973, 1979, 1989
Memphis Chicks41978, 1988, 1990, 1996
Birmingham Barons32000, 2002, 2013
Jackson Generals 32004, 2016, 2017
Jacksonville Suns31983, 1984, 1998
Biloxi Shuckers22018, 2022
Greenville Braves21991, 1992
Mobile BayBears22011, 2014
Nashville Sounds21980, 1982
Asheville Orioles11972
Charlotte O's11987
Mississippi Braves12019
Montgomery Rebels11977
Orlando Twins11981

Wins by organization

Active Southern League–Major League Baseball affiliations appear in bold.
OrganizationAwardYear
Chicago White Sox61974, 1975, 1976, 2000, 2002, 2013
Tampa Bay Rays 52005, 2007, 2009, 2021, 2023
Cincinnati Reds41999, 2006, 2010, 2025
Houston Astros41973, 1979, 1989
Milwaukee Brewers42003, 2012, 2018, 2022
Arizona Diamondbacks32011, 2014, 2017
Atlanta Braves31991, 1992, 2019
Kansas City Royals31983, 1988, 1990
Oakland Athletics31985, 1986, 1997
Baltimore Orioles21972, 1987
Chicago Cubs22004, 2024
Detroit Tigers21977, 1998
Minnesota Twins21981, 2015
New York Yankees21980, 1982
Pittsburgh Pirates21994, 1995
Toronto Blue Jays21993, 2001
Washington Nationals 21978, 1984
Miami Marlins 12008
San Diego Padres11996
Seattle Mariners12016