Double-A is widely considered one of the biggest tests in the Minor Leagues. After making the jump from High-A, pitchers start mixing their pitches more, batters can really punish mistakes and the top prospects separate themselves from the pack.
Several big names stood out above the rest in an exciting 2025 season. Minor League Baseball announced the slate of award winners for the Double-A level on Tuesday, with five Top 100 prospects taking home major awards and three more earning All-Star nods.
Reds infielder Sal Stewart (MLB No. 30) scored both Southern League MVP and Top Prospect honors, Mets righty Jonah Tong (MLB No. 43) became the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year and Cardinals middle infielder JJ Wetherholt (MLB No. 6) earned the Texas League MVP nod. Mets speedster Jett Williams (MLB No. 29) and Rangers infielder Sebastian Walcott (MLB No. 4) were named Top Prospect for the Eastern and Texas League respectively.
Rounding out the group, Phillies slugger Felix Reyes was named Eastern League MVP, Rays righty Ty Johnson was crowned Southern League Pitcher of the Year and Cardinals southpaw Ixan Henderson took home Texas League Pitcher of the Year honors.
Here’s a complete breakdown of the major award winners as well as the full All-Star teams for each Double-A circuit.
Most Valuable Player: Felix Reyes, Reading (PHI)
After starting the season on the developmental list, Reyes became the powerhouse behind one of the best offenses on the circuit. Playing both corner outfield and infield positions, the Dominican native led the Eastern League in hitting by 29 points with a .335 average and also ranked first in slugging (.572), OPS (.937), wRC+ (160) and doubles (34). The 24-year-old had a career year in homers (16) and stolen bases (13) while earning a promotion to Triple-A the last week of the season.
Pitcher of the Year: Jonah Tong (NYM)
Tong has long imparted impressive vertical movement on his fastball, but his dominant stuff took a leap this season as he led the Eastern League — and the Minors as a whole — in strikeouts. The right-hander racked up 162 across 102 frames with Binghamton and was the only pitcher on the circuit (min. 100 IP) with an ERA below 2.00 (1.59) or a WHIP below 1.00 (0.92). The Mets’ No. 4 prospect held opponents to one run or fewer in 16 of his 20 starts for the Rumble Ponies.
Top MLB Prospect: Jett Williams (NYM)
After injuries limited him to 33 games last season, Williams showed off his electric toolset — and style — for the Rumble Ponies. The 2022 first-rounder stole 32 bases in 96 games while knocking 10 homers, five triples and 29 doubles with a .390 OBP that ranked second among qualified hitters. The Mets’ No. 2 prospect stands out for his ability to work the count and use his speed at shortstop, second and center field.
1B: Ryan Clifford, Binghamton (NYM No. 8)
2B: Max Anderson, Erie (DET No. 9)
SS: Aidan Miller, Reading (PHI No. 2/MLB No. 47)
3B: Carlos Mendoza, Erie (DET)
C: Rafael Flores, Somerset (PIT No. 8)
OF: Felix Reyes, Reading (PHI)
OF: Phillip Glasser, Harrisburg (WSH)
OF: Hendry Mendez, Reading (MIN No. 25)
DH: Cooper Ingle, Akron (MIL No. 4)
UTIL: Jett Williams, Binghamton (NYM No. 2/MLB No. 29)
SP: Jonah Tong, Binghamton (NYM No. 4/MLB No. 43)
SP: Jack Wenninger, Binghamton (NYM No. 13)
SP: Connelly Early, Portland (BOS No. 6)
SP: Joander Suarez, Binghamton (NYM)
RP: Wilkin Ramos, Altoona (PIT)
RP: Douglas Orellana, Binghamton (NYM No. 26)
Manager: Reid Brignac, Binghamton (NYM)
Most Valuable Player/Top MLB Prospect: Sal Stewart, Chattanooga (CIN)
Long known for his advanced approach at the plate, Stewart put together his best — and most powerful — season yet. Combining a line-drive approach with elite exit velocities, the Reds’ top prospect ranked second in the Southern League (among hitters with at least as many plate appearances) with an .850 OPS and registered multiple hits in 30 of his 80 contests. This all with an impressive 15.5 percent strikeout rate. Stewart put up massive power numbers after his promotions to Triple-A Louisville and Cincinnati.
Pitcher of the Year: Ty Johnson, Montgomery (TB)
After starting the season largely pitching in relief, Johnson became the most dominant starter on the circuit from mid-May on. Among pitchers with at least 100 innings, the Rays’ No. 19 prospect ranked first with a 2.33 FIP and 34.7 percent strikeout rate and second with a 2.61 ERA. The 6-foot-6 righty had more strikeouts than innings pitched in 20 of his 26 outings and gave up more than three runs only twice all season.
1B: Luke Adams, Biloxi (MIL No. 8)
2B: Pedro Ramirez, Knoxville (CHC No. 8)
SS: Denzer Guzman, Rocket City (LAA No. 9)
3B: Sal Stewart, Chattanooga (CIN No. 1/MLB No. 30)
C: Tatem Levins, Montgomery (TB)
OF: Héctor Rodríguez, Chattanooga (CIN No. 9)
OF: Kemp Alderman, Pensacola (MIA No. 10)
OF: Homer Bush Jr., Montgomery (TB No. 23)
DH: Brock Wilken, Biloxi (MIL No. 17)
UTIL: BJ Murray Jr., Knoxville (CHC)
SP: Ty Johnson, Montgomery (TB No. 19)
SP: Ian Mejia, Columbus (ATL No. 19)
SP: Shane Murphy, Birmingham (CWS)
SP: Brody Hopkins, Montgomery (TB No. 3)
RP: Trevor Kuncl, Chattanooga (CIN)
RP: Zach Franklin, Birmingham (CWS)
Manager: Joe Ayrault, Biloxi (MIL)
Most Valuable Player: JJ Wetherholt, Springfield (STL)
The Cardinals’ top prospect only needed 62 games to make a big impact for Springfield. The 2024 first-rounder hit a smooth .300/.425/.466 and led the Texas League in OBP among hitters with at least as many plate appearances. Wetherholt was efficient on the basepaths with 14 steals in 16 attempts and also walked (28) more than he struck out (25) before earning a promotion to Triple-A.
Pitcher of the Year: Ixan Henderson, Springfield (STL)
Henderson has pitched in parts of three pro seasons since the Cardinals selected him in the eighth round of the 2023 Draft, and he’s yet to have an ERA above 3.00. The southpaw paced the circuit with a 2.59 ERA after giving up just five homers, the second-fewest among qualified pitchers, and ranked second with a 1.14 WHIP. Armed with a five-pitch mix and deceptive delivery, the Cardinals’ No. 15 prospect racked up 134 strikeouts with just 51 walks in 132 frames.
Top MLB Prospect: Sebastian Walcott, Frisco (TEX)
Walcott got a taste of Double-A in 2024 as an 18-year-old and used that as a springboard for a promising 2025 in a league in which he was nearly five years younger than the average player. He set career highs in steals (32) and homers (13) while improving his strikeout (19.6 percent) and walk (12.7 percent) rates. The 6-foot-4 Bahamian slugger has elite arm strength and more raw power, all but assuring that one of the most talented players in the Minors has even more potential he can tap into in next season.
1B: Abimelec Ortiz, Frisco (TEX No. 18)
2B: Tommy Troy, Amarillo (AZ No. 5)
SS: JJ Wetherholt, Springfield (STL No. 1/MLB No. 6)
3B: LuJames Groover, Amarillo (AZ No. 10)
C: Carter Jensen, Northwest Arkansas (KC No. 2/MLB No. 66)
OF: Victor Labrada, Arkansas (SEA No. 29)
OF: Kala’i Rosario, Wichita (MIN No. 29)
OF: Joshua Baez, Springfield (MLB No. 11)
DH: Kyler Fedko, Wichita (MIN)
UTIL: Kaelen Culpepper, Wichita (MIN No. 4/MLB No. 72)
SP: Ixan Henderson, Springfield (STL No. 15)
SP: Mitch Bratt, Frisco/Amarillo (AZ No. 9)
SP: Brycen Mautz, Springfield (STL No. 21)
SP: Henry Baez, San Antonio/Midland (LAA No. 8)
RP: Alimber Santa Corpus Christi (HOU No. 13)
RP: Pierson Ohl, Wichita (MIN No. 30)
Manager: Patrick Anderson, Springfield (STL)
