South Atlantic League 2013 Year in Review: Rockies Prospect Rosell Herrera Named MVP

Most Valuable Player Rosell Herrera, Asheville (COL)

Herrera, 20, was no doubt one of the breakout stars of this minor league season. Last year, the Dominican shortstop had just two home runs all season and hit .202 over 63 games after a promotion to Asheville. He was back with a vengeance in 2013. Something clicked in his second go round with the Tourists, and Herrera ended up hitting .343/.419/.515 with 16 home runs and 21 stolen bases.

Most Outstanding Pitcher Gabriel Ynoa, Savannah (NYM) 

Another 20-year-old Dominican, Ynoa has shown great control and has been very consistent over his four seasons in the Mets’ minor league system. What especially sticks out about Ynoa’s 2013 is his stellar 6.63 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The 6-foot-2 right-hander finished 2013 15-4 with a 2.72 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. There may not be a litany of hitters with power or patience in the low minors, but for Ynoa to have surrendered just 16 home runs and 38 walks over 340 ⅔ innings in the minors is impressive.

Most Outstanding MLB Prospect Rosell Herrera, Asheville (COL)

 Manager of the Year Tripp Keister, Hagerstown (WAS)

All-Stars

• C Tom Murphy, Asheville (COL)
• 1B Greg Bird, Charleston (NYY)
• 2B Micah Johnson, Kannapolis (CHW)
• 3B Joey Gallo, Hickory (TEX)
• SS Rosell Herrera, Asheville (COL)
• UT-IF Tony Renda, Hagerstown (WAS)
• OF Josh Bell, West Virginia (PIT)
• OF Francisco Sosa, Asheville (COL)
• OF Nick Williams, Hickory (TEX)
• UT-OF Cameron Flynn, Greensboro (MIA)
• DH Ryan Rua, Hickory (TEX)
• RHP Tyler Glasnow, West Virginia (PIT)
• LHP Daniel Stumpf, Lexington (KC)
• RP Shae Simmons, Rome (ATL)

Best Record

• 82-55 (.599) Augusta GreenJackets (SF)
• 82-58 (.586) West Virginia Power (PIT)
• 80-57 (.584) Hagerstown Suns (WAS)

 Home Runs

• 38 Joey Gallo, Hickory (TEX)
• 29 Ryan Rua, Hickory (TEX)
• 23 Viosergy Rosa, Greensboro (MIA)
• 21 Lewis Brinson, Hickory (TEX)
• 20 Greg Bird, Charleston (NYY)
• 20 Francisco Sosa, Asheville (COL)

Batting Average

• .343 Rosell Herrera, Asheville (COL)
• .315 Francisco Sosa, Asheville (COL)
• .308 Cameron Flynn, Greensboro (MIA)
• .304 Walker Gourley, West Virginia (PIT)
• .303 Willie Carmona, Lakewood (PHI)

 On-Base Plus Slugging Percentage

• .944 Joey Gallo, Hickory (TEX)
• .938 Greg Bird, Charleston (NNY)
• .933 Rosell Herrera, Asheville (COL)
• .926 Francisco Sosa, Asheville (COL)
• .914 Ryan Rua, Hickory (TEX)

 Earned Run Average

• 2.25 Connor Sadzeck, Hickory (TEX)
• 2.62 Lucas Sims, Rome (ATL)
• 2.67 Christian Binford, Lexington (KC)
• 2.72 Gabriel Ynoa, Savannah (NYM)
• 2.73 Kendry Flores, Augusta (SF)

 Strikeouts

• 164 Tyler Glasnow, West Virginia (PIT)
• 144 Parker Bridwell, Delmarva (BAL)
• 137 Kendry Flores, Augusta (SF)
• 134 Lucas Sims, Rome (ATL)
• 132 Miguel Almonte, Lexington (KC)

 Walks and Hits Plus Innings Pitched

• 0.92 Kendry Flores, Augusta (SF)
• 1.02 Gabriel Ynoa, Savannah (NYM)
• 1.11 Lucas Sims, Rome (ATL)
• 1.11 Daniel Stumpf, Lexington (KC)
• 1.14 Christian Binford, Lexington (KC)
• 1.14 Dan Camarena, Charleston (NYY)