The Eastern League Top MLB Prospect Award is an annual award given to the best rookie player in Minor League Baseball's Eastern 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 1938, the award was not created until 1993 as the Rookie of the Year Award. After the cancellation of the 2020 season, the league was known as the Double-A Northeast in 2021 before reverting to the Eastern League name in 2022. The Top MLB Prospect Award began to be issued instead of the Rookie of the Year Award in 2021.
Fourteen outfielders have won the award, the most of any position. First basemen, with seven winners, have won the most among infielders, followed by shortstops (5), third basemen (3), and second basemen (1). Three catchers and one pitcher have won the award.
Twelve players who have won the Top MLB Prospect Award also won the Eastern League Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) in the same season: Cliff Floyd (1993), Mark Grudzielanek (1994), Jay Payton (1995), Vladimir Guerrero (1996), Calvin Pickering (1998), Marlon Byrd (2001), Ryan Howard (2004), Jordan Brown (2007), Brandon Laird (2010), Darin Ruf (2012), Cavan Biggio (2018), and Franklin Arias. The only pitcher to win the award, Juan Acevedo (1994), also won the Pitcher of the Year Award in the same season.
Seven players from the Reading Fightin Phils have been selected for the Top MLB Prospect Award, more than any other team in the league, followed by the Binghamton Rumble Ponies and Harrisburg Senators (5); the Akron RubberDucks (4); the Altoona Curve, Chesapeake Baysox, New Haven Ravens, and Portland Sea Dogs (2); and the Erie SeaWolves, Hartford Yard Goats, New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Somerset Patriots, and Trenton Thunder (1).
Seven players from the Philadelphia Phillies Major League Baseball (MLB) organization have won the award, more than any other, followed by the New York Mets and Washington Nationals organizations (5); the Cleveland Guardians organization (4); the Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and New York Yankees organizations (2); and the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Miami Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, and Toronto Blue Jays organizations (1).
Winners
+KeyPositionIndicates the player's primary position^Indicates multiple award winners in the same year
YearWinnerTeamOrganizationPosition 1993Harrisburg SenatorsMontreal ExposFirst baseman1994^New Haven RavensColorado RockiesPitcherHarrisburg SenatorsMontreal ExposShortstop1995Binghamton MetsNew York MetsOutfielder1996Harrisburg SenatorsMontreal ExposOutfielder1997Portland Sea DogsFlorida MarlinsOutfielder1998Bowie BaysoxBaltimore OriolesFirst baseman1999Reading PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesFirst baseman2000Binghamton MetsNew York MetsOutfielder2001Reading PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesOutfielder2002New Haven RavensSt. Louis CardinalsOutfielder2003Akron AerosCleveland IndiansOutfielder2004Reading PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesFirst baseman2005Outfielder2006Harrisburg SenatorsWashington NationalsThird baseman2007Akron AerosCleveland IndiansFirst baseman2008Third baseman2009Reading PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesOutfielder2010Trenton ThunderNew York YankeesThird baseman2011Altoona CurvePittsburgh PiratesOutfielder2012Reading PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesFirst baseman2013Altoona CurvePittsburgh PiratesOutfielder2014Harrisburg SenatorsWashington NationalsOutfielder2015Binghamton MetsNew York MetsShortstop2016Reading Fightin PhilsPhiladelphia PhilliesFirst baseman2017Akron RubberDucksCleveland IndiansCatcher2018New Hampshire Fisher CatsToronto Blue JaysSecond baseman2019Erie SeaWolvesDetroit TigersOutfielder2020 2021Bowie BaysoxBaltimore OriolesCatcher2022Hartford Yard GoatsColorado RockiesShortstop2023Somerset PatriotsNew York YankeesOutfielder2024Bowie BaysoxBaltimore OriolesCatcher2025Binghamton Rumble PoniesNew York MetsShortstop2026Portland Sea DogsBoston Red SoxShortstop
Wins by team
Active Eastern League teams appear in bold.
Team Award(s) Year(s)Reading Fightin Phils (Reading Phillies)71999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2016Harrisburg Senators51993, 1994, 1996, 2006, 2014Akron RubberDucks (Akron Aeros)42003, 2007, 2008, 2017Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Binghamton Mets)1995, 2000, 2015, 2025Chesapeake Baysox (Bowie Baysox)31998, 2021, 2024Altoona Curve22011, 2013New Haven Ravens1994, 2002Portland Sea Dogs1997, 2026Erie SeaWolves12019Hartford Yard Goats2022New Hampshire Fisher Cats2018Somerset Patriots2023Trenton Thunder2010
Wins by organization
Active Eastern League–Major League Baseball affiliations appear in bold.
Organization Award(s) Year(s)Philadelphia Phillies71999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2016Washington Nationals (Montreal Expos)51993, 1994, 1996, 2006, 2014Cleveland Guardians (Cleveland Indians)42003, 2007, 2008, 2017New York Mets1995, 2000, 2015, 2025Baltimore Orioles31998, 2021, 2024Colorado Rockies21994, 2002New York Yankees2010, 2023Pittsburgh Pirates2011, 2013Boston Red Sox12026Detroit Tigers2019Miami Marlins (Florida Marlins)1997St. Louis Cardinals2002Toronto Blue Jays2018
References Specific
General