Northwest League Most Valuable Player Award Explained

Northwest League Most Valuable Player Award
Sport:	Baseball
League:	Northwest League
Givenfor:	Regular-season most valuable player of the Northwest League
Country:	United States
Presenter:	Northwest League
First:	Kevin Coughlon &<br />Tony Gwynn (1981)
Mostrecent:	Jordan Beck (2023)

The Northwest League Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) is an annual award given to the best player in Minor League Baseball's Northwest League based on their regular-season performance as voted on by league managers.^[1] League broadcasters, Minor League Baseball executives, and members of the media have previously voted as well.^[2] Though the league was established in 1955,^[3] the award was not created until 1981.^[4] After the cancellation of the 2020 season,^[5] the league was known as the High-A West in 2021 before reverting to the Northwest League name in 2022.^{[6] [7]}

Twenty-one outfielders have won the MVP Award, the most of any position. First basemen, with 13 winners, have won the most among infielders, followed by third basemen (7), shortstops (3), and second basemen (1). No pitchers or catchers have won the award.

One player who has won the MVP Award also won the Northwest League Top MLB Prospect Award in the same season: Zac Veen (2022).^[1] From 1981 to 2014, pitchers were eligible to win the MVP Award as no award was designated for pitchers. In 2015, the Northwest League established a Pitcher of the Year Award.^[2]

Eleven players from the Spokane Indians have been selected for the MVP Award, more than any other team in the league, followed by the Everett AquaSox (7); the Boise Hawks (5); the Eugene Emeralds and Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (4); the Vancouver Canadians (3); the Medford Athletics, Southern Oregon Timberjacks, and Yakima Bears (2); and the Bellingham Mariners, Everett Giants, Tri-Cities Triplets, and Walla Walla Padres (1).

Eight players from the Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball (MLB) organization have won the award, more than any other, followed by the San Diego Padres organization (7); the Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants, and Texas Rangers organizations (5); the Los Angeles Angels organization (4); the Colorado Rockies and Kansas City Royals organizations (3); the Arizona Diamondbacks and Toronto Blue Jays organizations (2); and the Chicago Cubs organization (1).

Winners

Position

Indicates the player's primary position
^	Indicates multiple award winners in the same year

Year!scope="col"

Winner	Team	Organization	Position
1981^		Medford Athletics	Oakland Athletics	Outfielder	^[8]
		Walla Walla Padres	San Diego Padres	Outfielder	^[9]
1982		Medford Athletics	Oakland Athletics	First baseman	^[10]
1983		Tri-Cities Triplets	Texas Rangers	Third baseman	^[11]
1984		Bellingham Mariners	Seattle Mariners	Outfielder	^[12]
1985		Spokane Indians	San Diego Padres	Outfielder	^[13]
1986		Everett Giants	San Francisco Giants	Outfielder	^[14]
1987		Spokane Indians	San Diego Padres	First baseman	^[15]
1988		Southern Oregon Athletics	Oakland Athletics	Third baseman	^[16]
1989		Spokane Indians	San Diego Padres	Third baseman	^[17]
1990				Outfielder	^[18]
1991		Eugene Emeralds	Kansas City Royals	Third baseman	^[19]
1992				First baseman	^[20]
1993		Boise Hawks	California Angels	Outfielder	^[21]
1994				First baseman	^[22]
1995				First baseman	^[23]
1996		Everett AquaSox	Seattle Mariners	First baseman	^[24]
1997		Spokane Indians	Kansas City Royals	Outfielder	^[25]
1998		Southern Oregon Timberjacks	Oakland Athletics	First baseman	^[26]
1999		Boise Hawks	Anaheim Angels	Third baseman	^[27]
2000^		Portland Rockies	Colorado Rockies	First baseman	^[28]
		Everett AquaSox	Seattle Mariners	Outfielder	^[29]
2001		Boise Hawks	Chicago Cubs	Outfielder	^[30]
2002		Everett AquaSox	Seattle Mariners	Second baseman	^[31]
2003		Yakima Bears	Arizona Diamondbacks	Outfielder	^[32]
2004		Vancouver Canadians	Oakland Athletics	Outfielder	^[33]
2005		Spokane Indians	Texas Rangers	Outfielder	^[34]
2006		Yakima Bears	Arizona Diamondbacks	Outfielder	^[35]
2007^		Salem-Keizer Volcanoes	San Francisco Giants	First baseman	^[36]
		Eugene Emeralds	San Diego Padres	Outfielder	^[37]
2008				Outfielder	^[38]
2009		Salem-Keizer Volcanoes	San Francisco Giants	Third baseman	^[39]
2010		Spokane Indians	Texas Rangers	Outfielder	^[40]
2011		Salem-Keizer Volcanoes	San Francisco Giants	Shortstop	^[41]
2012		Everett AquaSox	Seattle Mariners	Third baseman	^[42]
2013		Vancouver Canadians	Toronto Blue Jays	First baseman	^[43]
2014				Shortstop	^[44]
2015		Everett AquaSox	Seattle Mariners	Shortstop	^[45]
2016				Outfielder	^[46]
2017		Salem-Keizer Volcanoes	San Francisco Giants	First baseman	^[47]
2018		Spokane Indians	Texas Rangers	First baseman	^[48]
2019				First baseman	^[49]
2020
2021		Everett AquaSox	Seattle Mariners	Outfielder	^[50] ^[51]
2022		Spokane Indians	Colorado Rockies	Outfielder	^[52] ^[53]
2023				Outfielder	^[54] ^[55]

Wins by team

Active Northwest League teams appear in bold.

Team	Award(s)	Year(s)
Spokane Indians	11	1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1997, 2005, 2010, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023
Everett AquaSox	7	1996, 2000, 2002, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2021
Boise Hawks	5	1993, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2001
Eugene Emeralds	4	1991, 1992, 2007, 2008
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes		2007, 2009, 2011, 2017
Vancouver Canadians	3	2004, 2013, 2014
Medford Athletics	2	1981, 1982
Southern Oregon Timberjacks (Southern Oregon Athletics)		1988, 1998
Yakima Bears		2003, 2006
Bellingham Mariners	1	1984
Everett Giants		1986
Portland Rockies		2000
Tri-Cities Triplets		1983
Walla Walla Padres		1981

Wins by organization

Active Northwest League–Major League Baseball affiliations appear in bold.

Organization	Award(s)	Year(s)
Seattle Mariners	8	1984, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2021
San Diego Padres	7	1981, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 2007, 2008
Oakland Athletics	5	1981, 1982, 1988, 1998, 2004
San Francisco Giants		1986, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2017
Texas Rangers		1983, 2005, 2010, 2018, 2019
Los Angeles Angels (California/Anaheim Angels)	4	1993, 1994, 1995, 1999
Colorado Rockies	3	2000, 2022, 2023
Kansas City Royals		1991, 1992, 1997
Arizona Diamondbacks	2	2003, 2006
Toronto Blue Jays		2013, 2014
Chicago Cubs	1	2001

References

Specific

General

• Web site: Northwest League Award Winners. Northwest League. Minor League Baseball. January 1, 2022. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20220112022940/https://www.milb.com/northwest/history/award-winners. January 12, 2022.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Resnick. Jacob. High-A Award Winners and All-Stars. Minor League Baseball. November 9, 2022. December 16, 2022.
2. Web site: Avallone. Michael. MiLB's High-A Award Winners and All-Stars. Major League Baseball. October 7, 2021. December 16, 2022.
3. Web site: Northwest League (Adv A) Encyclopedia and History. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
4. Web site: Northwest League Award Winners. Northwest League. Minor League Baseball. January 1, 2022. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20220112022940/https://www.milb.com/northwest/history/award-winners. January 12, 2022.
5. Web site: 2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved. Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. July 1, 2020.
6. Web site: Reichard . Kevin . Minor League Baseball Overhaul Unveiled. Ballpark Digest. February 12, 2021. February 13, 2021.
7. Web site: Historical League Names to Return in 2022. Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. March 16, 2022.
8. Web site: Kevin Coughlon Minor Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
9. Web site: Tony Gwynn Minor & College Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
10. Web site: Phil Strom Minor Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
11. Web site: Bert Martinez Minor Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
12. Web site: Sam Haley Minor Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
13. Web site: Jerald Clark Minor, Japanese, Mexican & Independent Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
14. Web site: Dave Nash Minor Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
15. Web site: Steve Hendricks Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
16. Web site: Stan Royer Minor Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
17. Web site: Dave Staton Minor Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
18. Web site: Matt Mieske Minor Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
19. Web site: Joe Randa Minor Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
20. Web site: Larry Sutton Minor & Korean Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
21. Web site: Todd Greene Minor Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
22. Web site: John Donati Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
23. Web site: Danny Buxbaum Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
24. Web site: Rob Zachmann Independent & Minor Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
25. Web site: Dee Brown Minor, Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
26. Web site: Jason Hart Minor Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
27. Web site: Robb Quinlan Minor Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
28. Web site: Garrett Atkins Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
29. Web site: Jamal Strong Minor, Fall & Independent Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
30. Web site: J.J. Johnson Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
31. Web site: Ismael Castro Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
32. Web site: Conor Jackson Minor, Fall & Winter Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
33. Web site: Javier Herrera Minor, Winter & Independent Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
34. Web site: Steve Murphy Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
35. Web site: Cyle Hankerd Minor, Winter, Independent & Mexican Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
36. Web site: Matt Downs Minor Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
37. Web site: Luis Durango Minor, Winter, Mexican & Independent Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
38. Web site: Daniel Robertson Minor, Winter & Independent Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
39. Web site: Drew Biery Minor Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
40. Web site: Jared Hoying Minor, Winter & Korean Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
41. Web site: Joe Panik Amateur, College, Fall & Minor Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
42. Web site: Patrick Kivlehan College, Minor, Fall, Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
43. Web site: L.B. Dantzler College & Minor Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
44. Web site: Franklin Barreto Minor, Winter & Fall Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
45. Web site: Drew Jackson Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
46. Web site: Eric Filia College, Amateur, Minor, Fall & Winter Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
47. Web site: Ryan Kirby Amateur, College, Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
48. Web site: Curtis Terry Minor Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
49. Web site: Blaine Crim College, Amateur, Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
50. Web site: Postseason All-Stars. Minor League Baseball. January 1, 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20211008130129/https://www.milb.com/fans/postseason-all-stars. October 8, 2021.
51. Web site: Cade Marlowe Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
52. Web site: Postseason All-Stars. Minor League Baseball. January 1, 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20221215143640/https://www.milb.com/fans/league-all-stars. December 15, 2022.
53. Web site: Zac Veen Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. January 1, 2023.
54. Web site: Samson. Brendan. The 2023 High-A All-Stars and Award Winners. Minor League Baseball. September 20, 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230920190009/https://www.milb.com/news/high-a-all-stars-and-award-winners. September 20, 2023.
55. Web site: Jordan Beck College, Amateur & Minor Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. September 20, 2023.