Season 57 Minor League All-Pros

Beloit, WI - With the minor-league regular season in Yount over, we wanted to acknowledge the All-Pro Team, a decision that is sure to spark controversy.

CATCHER - Randall Grimsley - Anaheim Low A

Runs: 132 Hits: 183 HR: 47 RBI: 170 SB: 2

AVG: .313 OBP: .391 SLG: .631 OPS: 1.022

Grimsley played a whopping 1290 games in the majors, but when the new ownership strolled in, they took one glance at him during spring training and decided to send him packing to Low A. They told Grimsley, "Just show us what you’ve got, and we'll bring you back up eventually." I'm not sure what else they wanted, considering he had a blockbuster season in Low A. Originally a supplemental first-round pick in Season 46, Grimsley finally grew tired of the broken promises and decided to join the baseball staff at his alma mater, Boston College, where at least the hot dogs are free.

FIRST BASE - Felix Branson - Colorado Low A

Runs: 115 Hits: 196 HR: 56 RBI: 145 SB: 0

AVG: .325 OBP: .407 SLG: .685 OPS: 1.092

Branson has been knocking it out of the park in the minors since being picked by the Rockies in Season 56, and he has the stats to prove it. Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, Branson convinced everyone he would be catching touchdowns for the Buckeyes after his high school heroics as a tight end at Maranatha Christian. He almost didn’t sign with the Rockies because he was the king of Zorbing—yes, rolling down hills in a giant hamster ball. In the end, the Rockies lured him in with an $880,000 signing bonus, which is like winning every Zorbing competition in the world ten times over.

SECOND BASE - Matt McPherson - Philadelphia Low A

Runs: 97 Hits: 166 HR: 45 RBI: 142 SB: 1

AVG: .292 OBP: .360 SLG: .624 OPS: .984

McPherson continues to select Low A players for the All-Pro team. Was there any pitching at that level in Season 57? A 4th round pick by the Phillies in Season 56 out of Missouri State, McPherson definitely has some pop in his bat and maintains a solid average. While McPherson is probably not a major league prospect, he should continue to post impressive numbers in the minors. McPherson hails from Hudson Falls, New York, which provides the stone that was quarried to build the Brooklyn Bridge.

THIRD BASE - Les King - Seattle Low A

Runs: 129 Hits: 199 HR: 44 RBI: 174 SB: 5

AVG: .320 OBP: .381 SLG: .648 OPS: 1.029

King's got power so big it could power a small city, but he's still missing a few tricks to hit the big time. Drafted in the 9th round of Season 54, King is still hanging out in Low A, dreaming of the majors. Legendary scout Benjamin Langerhans, who signed him, had this to say about the third baseman from Gateway Community College: "King's got more power than if you dumped fifteen West Bend popcorn poppers into your Grandma's bathtub."

SHORTSTOP - Colin Joyce - Cleveland High A

Runs: 106 Hits: 184 HR: 39 RBI: 157 SB: 17

AVG: .311 OBP: .384 SLG: .617 OPS: 1.001

The difference between Joyce and some of the other all-pros is his potential. As the 11th overall pick in the Season 55 draft, Joyce was ranked as the 24th best prospect last year in the GUGUGOHG Blog and continues to prove his worth. He likely projects as a 3B in the majors, but for now, he plays SS. Joyce attended Northeast High School in Philadelphia, home of NFL Hall of Famer Herb Adderly.

OUTFIELD - Yeico Moya - Anaheim Low A

Runs: 126 Hits: 179 HR: 48 RBI: 147 SB: 0

AVG: .310 OBP: .388 SLG: .631 OPS: 1.019

Last season, the Angels' Low-A team resembled a retirement home on a baseball field, breaking records as the oldest team in Yount League history. But hey, with 118 wins, soaring ticket sales, and a World Series appearance, those old-timers demonstrated that they still had some swing left in them. Of course, many of them hung up their cleats afterward, probably to take up shuffleboard. Then there was Moya, who had a brief cameo in the majors during season 56. The new management wasn’t too pleased when he rolled into spring training like Roger Dorn, cruising in a Rolls Royce with golf clubs in tow. Drafted in the 4th round back in Season 43 from Middlesex County College, Moya was the quintessential 4A player, stuck in limbo between the minors and the majors.

OUTFIELD - Ross Howe - Seattle Low A

Runs: 160 Hits: 183 HR: 26 RBI: 106 SB: 77

AVG: .307 OBP: .389 SLG: .515 OPS: .904

Howe was a total speedster on the basepaths this past season in Low-A, leaving opponents wondering if he had rockets in his shoes. Like others on the all-pro team, he's marked as retired. But don't be fooled—he's not sipping piña coladas on a beach; he's actually MIA. Being the son of Tommy "Two-Finger" Howe, rumor has it he might have taken a detour into the family business. Maybe he’s just hiding out in a witness protection program for baseball prodigies.

OUTFIELD - Al Quinones - Minnesota Rookie League

Runs: 110 Hits: 149 HR: 18 RBI: 85 SB: 17

AVG: .403 OBP: .453 SLG: .684 OPS: 1.137

The Twins might have hit the jackpot, snagging “Golpear Monstruo” for the bargain price of $1.1M from Cuba. Why so cheap, you ask? Well, they thought he'd get stuck in visa limbo, but surprise, surprise, it all worked out. Making the minor league all-pro team from the rookie league is like trying to win a marathon with one shoe, thanks to the short season. But Quinones put up stats that screamed, “Look at me!” There's a reason he's called the “Hit Monster”—he batted .403 and sent balls flying in every direction. Even though his future looks like a 4A player, his debut is definitely raising some eyebrows.

DESIGNATED HITTER - Emil Morales - Tampa Bay High A

Runs: 121 Hits: 218 HR: 16 RBI: 130 SB: 0

AVG: .399 OBP: .489 SLG: .588 OPS: 1.077

Unlike some others on the list who vanished like socks in a dryer or actually retired to a life of golf and gardening, Morales decided to hang up his cleats after a year proving he could still rock it in High-A. Morales spent fourteen years in the big leagues, racking up 1649 hits and 193 home runs—enough to make any baseball card collector drool. Drafted as a supplemental first-round pick by the Nationals way back in Season 48, Morales was the talk of Lincoln High School in East Los Angeles, where he was a prep phenom. After getting a hit in his last at-bat, Morales called for a pinch runner, waved goodbye to the ballpark, and headed home, wrapping up a rock-solid baseball career with style.

STARTING PITCHER - Juan Ramirez - Minnesota High A

Games: 29 Games Started: 29 W-L: 20-2 Inn: 177.2

BB: 32 SO: 158 WHIP: 0.92 ERA: 1.72

The Twins have a knack for spotting international talent that can shine in the minors. Snagging Ramirez for just $1M in Season 55 was like finding a Picasso at a garage sale. He's already been an all-star twice in his short career. Sure, he might not have the control to climb the entire organizational ladder, but with a career 1.03 WHIP and a 2.13 ERA, he definitely knows how to throw a baseball like a pro.

RELIEF PITCHER - Dick Blake - Toronto High A

Games: 52 Saves: 42 W-L: 2–0 Inn: 49.0

BB: 7 SO: 42 WHIP: 0.94 ERA: 1.65

Blake pulled off one of the most epic relief seasons in Yount minor league history. Drafted in the 23rd round of Season 56, Blake was like a hidden gem that the staff managed to polish into a dazzling diamond, completely flipping the script on his career. Born as Theodore Truman Blake in South Houston, Texas, he mysteriously earned the nickname Dick in middle school, and it’s been glued to him ever since.