Earlier this morning I discussed the possibility of the New
York Yankees having a second MVP award winner from the Arizona Fall League in
the last three seasons as Gleyber Torres seems to be the early candidate for
the award in 2016. Greg Bird won the award in 2014 with a monster fall and we
all watched as he burst onto the scene in 2015 in a big way with the big league
club, could we be seeing that soon with Torres? Also, is there a direct
correlation, at least lately, with Arizona Fall league success and success at
the Major League level shortly thereafter?
To discuss this we have to see the list of recent AFL MVP’s.
For simplicity sake we will go back to the last ten seasons of the Arizona Fall
League and look at who won the MVP Award and what they did the following season
to see if there is a pattern emerging.
2015 – Adam Engel
Reached AAA in 2016. Should make his MLB debut in 2017.
2014 – Greg Bird
We all watched as Bird burst onto the scene and became the
“Birdman of New York” in 2015 taking over for the injured Mark Teixeira. His
defense was good, his power was great and his poised was unmatched by anyone as
a rookie since some kid named Derek Sanderson Jeter came up through the system.
He was truly impressive in his short tenure before a shoulder injury derailed
his 2016 campaign.
2013 – Kris Bryant
Can you say burst onto the scene in a big way, again? Bryant
has been nothing but spectacular since reaching the Major Leagues and will
likely have an MVP Award to sit beside his World Series trophy tomorrow night
when the major awards are announced.
2012 – Chris McGuiness
2011 – Nolan Arenado
Arenado may be one of the best, if not the best, offensive
third baseman in all of Major League Baseball right now. Sure he plays 81 games
inside of Coors Field year in and year out but his splits are impressive on the
road as well. Arenado should probably be a perennial MVP candidate in the
National League for the foreseeable future.
2010 – Dustin Ackley
Ackley was a solid player in Seattle although he never
shared the same successes as Arenado and Bryant. Ackley was doing well as a
Yankee before another shoulder injury derailed his 2016 campaign as well.
Ackley can still be a super utility player on any MLB team right now assuming
the health of that shoulder.
2009 – Grant Desme
2008 – Tommy Hanson
Hanson pitched well for the Atlanta Braves before meeting an
untimely demise as a member of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Hanson was
never an ace but he was a solid pitcher in Atlanta that had his entire career
ahead of him before the injury bug hit him.
2007 – Sam Fuld
2006 – Chip Cannon
