Byron Buxton Wins Spink Award as Best Minor League Player

Aug 20, 2013; Ft Myers, FL, USA; Fort Myers Miracle center fielder Byron Buxton (7) slides back into first base as he leads off during the first inning against the Charlotte Stone Crabs at Hammond Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Congratulations are in order for Byron Buxton who was just named the 54th annual J.G. Taylor Spink Award winner for the Topps/MiLB Player of the Year. Buxton, 19, is one of the youngest players to win the award.

Buxton, drafted by the Minnesota Twins second overall in 2012, is now being rated as the consensus #1 prospect in baseball by just about every publication and website. His season split between Low-A Cedar Rapids and High-A Fort Myers, Buxton dominated at both levels, hitting an outstanding .334/.424/.520 in 574 plate appearances with 19 doubles, 18 triples, 12 home runs and 55 stolen bases.

While his power numbers tapered off a bit after his promotion to Fort Myers, his on base percentage remained over .400. There may be some regression in store for Buxton in 2014 (mainly because of his incredibly high BABIP of over .400) but he will no doubt attract national attention when 2014 begins.

Buxton can add this award to his growing collection which included the Midwest League MVP this season.