The Boston Red Sox’s Kristian Campbell and St. Louis Cardinals’ Quinn Matthews took home Baseball America’s Minor League player and pitcher of the year.
Minor League Baseball’s Top Performers: Red Sox, Cubs Lead The Way
Campbell is currently ranked #10 in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100, jumping 64 spots after a season in which he started in high-A but worked up to AAA Worcester. Quinn Matthews sits at #77, beginning in high-A and finishing in AAA Memphis.
Kristian Campbell’s Unexpected Season
Campbell was drafted in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB Draft. He redshirted at Georgia Tech in 2022 and became their leadoff hitter the following season. Campbell played just one season before entering the draft but posted an OPS of 1.033 in 45 games. He plays both shortstop and second while getting experience in center field.
Campbell, 22, played 115 games across three levels in 2024, accumulating a slash line of .330/.439/.558/.997. His WRC+ in Double-A came in at +197, among hitters with at least 200 plate appearances, ranked first by a wide margin. Campbell showed the most promise in hitting the ball to all parts of the field. Even with a drop in line drive percentage at Triple-A, Campbell pulled the ball 38% of the time and hit to the opposite field 36%.
His power upside and ability to play multiple positions will majorly affect his development. Campbell knocked in 20 home runs last season, driving in 70 runs. Campbell’s greatest strength lies in his knack for making contact, even on pitches outside the zone. While this points to a swing-happy approach, his average strikeout rate suggests he can develop into a strong contact hitter with solid plate discipline and above-average power.
Quinn Matthews: Future Ace In St. Louis?
Like Campbell, Matthews was drafted in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB Draft. He first made headlines as the player who threw 156 pitches against Texas in the 2023 Super Regionals. Matthews pitched all four years at Sanford, posting a 4.10 ERA in 68 appearances.
His 6 foot 5 frame grabbed scouts’ attention, along with his mid to upper-90s fastball. That fastball velocity jumped during the Florida State League post-draft, combining it with a plus changeup and two different breaking balls to put away batters. Matthews rose in the MLB Pipeline Rankings due to his control and knack for striking out hitters, earning him recognition as Baseball America’s top pitcher.
Matthews led all of the minor leagues with 202 strikeouts while posting a WHIP of 0.98. His brief stint in Triple-A Memphis saw a lack of control, with a BB/9 of 7.56. At 24 years old, Matthews could see the Major Leagues as soon as 2025.
All-Minor League Team
With the Minor League season over, some of the top prospects were able to showcase their potential. However, a handful of players made a name for themselves this season. Here are the All-Minor League Team awards for LWOS:
Catcher: Adrian Del Castillo, Arizona Diamondbacks
HM: Jimmy Crooks, St. Louis Cardinals
- Castillo currently sits at #14 in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. He posted a WRC+ of 144, hitting 26 home runs while driving in 90 runs.
- His success stems from his drastic improvement at the plate. His strikeout percentage went from 28.9% in 2023 to 16.9%. Castillo’s walk rate did drop slightly, but that is attributed to his explosive pop that he added this year, posting an ISO of .291.
1st Base: Tre’ Morgan, Tampa Bay Rays
HM: Bryce Eldridge, San Fransisco Giants
- Morgan, 22, is not ranked in the top 100 currently and sits at number 10 in the Rays organization. Despite that, he shot his way up to Double-A this season, destroying the cover off the ball. He impressed in the Arizona Fall League, driving in 11 runs, four of which came from a grand slam.
- He posted a WRC+ of 158, also swiping 20 bags. Morgan has a unique combination of power upside with speed on the base paths. With Xavier Isaac waiting for Tampa, Tre might be a trade piece in the upcoming years.
2nd Base: Kristian Campbell, Boston Red Sox
HM: Luke Keaschall, Minnesota Twins
- Well…DUH
Shortstop: Carson Williams, Tampa Bay Rays
HM: Sebastian Walcott, Texas Rangers
- Williams is currently the #1 ranked shortstop in the Top 100 and #4 overall. His combination of speed and power at just 21 years old makes him a future superstar alongside Junior Caminero for years to come.
- Williams posted a WRC+ of 142 during his time in Double-A Montgomery. He posted a 20-20 season, swiping 33 bags and smashing 20 home runs. Williams shows significant defensive potential, showcasing a strong arm comparable to that of Masyn Winn.
3rd Base: Matt Shaw, Chicago Cubs
HM: Andrés Chaparro, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Matt Shaw currently sits atop the Cubs prospect rankings and #23 in the top 100. He split time in Double-A and Triple-A, accumulating 121 games across both levels. Shaw slashed .284/.379/.488/.867 with 21 home runs, 71 batted in, and stole 31 bases.
- Similar to Williams, Shaw showcases both speed and power, potentially being a 30-30 player at the hot corner. He was drafted 13th overall back in 2023 and already made his way to Triple-A Iowa at just 21 years old.
Left Field: Owen Caissie, Chicago Cubs
HM: Johnathan Rodriguez, Cleveland Guardians
- The Cubs farm system is riddled with talent. Caissie was the centerpiece that sent Yu Darvish to the San Diego Padres. Drafted out of high school in 2020, Caissie’s power shined as his greatest strength. That has since translated to the Minors slugging 41 home runs over the last two seasons.
- Caissie slashed .278/.375/.472/.Eight hundred forty-seven paired with his strikeout rate dropping three points. He put up a WRC+ of 121 and had an impressive line drive rate of 26.4% in 127 games.
Center Field: Roman Anthony, Boston Red Sox
HM: Jhostynxon Garcia, Boston Red Sox
- The Red Sox front office should be proud of their farm system. Anthony is widely considered the #1 prospect in all of baseball, and for good reason. Splitting time in Double-A and Triple-A, the 20-year-old centerfielder smashed the cover off the baseball. He slashed .291/.396/.498/.894 in 119 games between two levels.
- Anthony’s plate approach is impeccable. Walking over 18% of the time in Triple-A while striking out at about the same rate. In 35 games in Triple-A Worcester, Anthony’s WRC+ was 162, and he had a 25% line drive rate.
Right Field: Lazaro Montes, Seattle Mariners
HM: Alejandro Osuna, Texas Rangers
- Lazaro ranks #3 in the Mariners farm system and #47 overall. He is listed at 6 foot 3, 210 pounds, at 19 years old. Montes split time between Low-A and High-A this season, accumulating a total slash line of .288/.397/.484/.884 with a WRC+ of 138. His ability to barrel baseballs stands out, having a line drive rate of 28% during his time in High-A.
Montes power upside stands out, especially with his age and frame. He hit 21 home runs while driving in over 100 runs during the 2024 season. He seemingly has unlimited power potential but regressed in plate discipline once joining High-A.
Main Photo Credits: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
