Chourio among Single-A All-Stars and award winners

The Single-A level of Minor League Baseball is usually a prospect’s first taste of pro ball away from a player development complexes, out in the world, playing under lights, in front of paying fans, from April to September. That means, of course, it’s also the first level where the baseball world gets a good, long look at the player.

On Wednesday, Minor League Baseball announced the Single-A end-of-season All-Stars and award winners, with three Top 100 prospects — Tigers SS/2B Kevin McGonigle (No. 30) of the Florida State League, Mariners OF Lazaro Montes (No. 45) of the California League and Guardians OF Jaison Chourio (No. 66) of the Carolina League — claiming MVP honors.

Reds right-hander Nestor Lorant of the FSL, Rockies righty Jace Kaminska of the California League and Nationals righty Travis Sykora (MLB’s No. 92 prospect) of the Carolina League won Pitcher of the Year awards.

Detroit outfielder Max Clark, MLB’s No. 5 prospect, was named the FSL’s Top MLB Prospect, with Montes and Chourio taking those laurels in the Cal League and Carolina League, respectively.

Here’s a complete breakdown of the major award winners as well as the full All-Star teams for each Single-A circuit.

Most Valuable Player: Lazaro Montes, Modesto (SEA)After leading the Nuts to a Cal League title in 2023, Montes was a wrecking ball in the Modesto lineup through the first half of 2024. The Mariners’ No. 3 prospect slashed .309/.411/.527 through 65 games, and although he was promoted to the High-A Northwest League after June 22, he still finished tied for third in the Cal League in home runs (13) and tied for second in RBIs (72).

Pitcher of the Year: Jace Kaminska, Fresno (COL)Kaminska piled up 104 strikeouts in 87 1/3 innings for the Grizzlies, walking a mere 12 hitters in that span. The 2023 10th-round pick out of Nebraska posted a 1.05 WHIP and a 2.78 ERA over 17 games — 16 starts — while holding opposing hitters to a .238 batting average.

Top MLB Prospect: MontesAfter Montes signed with Seattle for $2.5 million in January 2022, he put up solid numbers in the Dominican Summer League that year despite a 33.2 percent strikeout rate. He’s cut that number down to under 14 percent in the Cal League over the last two seasons, giving his 65-grade power an even better chance to impact games. Montes won’t turn 20 years old until October, but after he was bumped up to High-A Everett, he continued to get on base at a .378 clip and drilled eight homers and eight doubles in 51 games.

All-Star Team

1B: Romeo Sanabria, Lake Elsinore (SD No. 24)2B: Demetrio Crisantes, Visalia (AZ No. 13)SS: Tai Peete, Modesto (SEA No. 11)3B: Braylen Wimmer, Fresno (COL)C: Carlos Rojas, Rancho Cucamonga (LAD)OF: Lazaro Montes, Modesto (SEA No. 3, MLB No. 45)OF: Druw Jones, Visalia (AZ No. 2, MLB No. 84)OF: Nate Nankil, Stockton (OAK)DH: Angel Ortiz, Visalia (AZ)UTIL: Luis Suisbel, Modesto (SEA)SP: Jace Kaminska, Fresno (COL)SP: Will Schomberg, Modesto (SEA)SP: Isaiah Lowe, Lake Elsinore (SD No. 8)SP: Daniel Nunez, Visalia, (AZ)RP: Cesar Perdomo, San Jose (SF)RP: Welinton Herrera, Fresno (COL)Manager: Ydwin Villegas, San Jose (SF)

Most Valuable Player: Jaison Chourio, Lynchburg (CLE)Chourio was among Carolina League leaders in just about every offensive category. The 19-year-old outfielder led the loop with 86 walks, tied for first with a .414 OBP and was second with 44 stolen bases, third with an .812 OPS, tied for third with 24 doubles, seventh with 58 RBIs, tied for fifth with 69 runs and tied for ninth with a .269 batting average.

Pitcher of the Year: Travis Sykora, Fredericksburg (WSH)Sykora’s 129 strikeouts were the most at the Single-A level, and the 2023 third-round pick put up a 2.33 ERA and 85 innings across 20 starts. The 20-year-old righty walked 27 and surrendered a grand total of two long balls all season, posting a 0.91 WHIP and a .168 average against.

Top MLB Prospect: ChourioComing into the year, fans already knew the name thanks to his older brother, standout Brewers rookie Jackson Chourio. But the younger Chourio established his own legitimacy as a major prospect with his first long season as a pro. By the time of his 19th birthday, on May 19, the outfielder already had 13 stolen bases and a .428 on-base percentage for the Hillcats, and from there he just kept going, finishing with a .414 OBP and 44 swiped bags.

All-Star Team

1B: Caden Connor, Kannapolis (CWS)2B: Aron Estrada, Delmarva (BAL No. 29)SS: Cristian Hernandez, Myrtle Beach (CHC No. 15)3B: Gleider Figuereo, Down East (TEX No. 23)C: Blake Mitchell, Columbia (KC No. 2, MLB No. 52)OF: Jaison Chourio, Lynchburg (CLE No. 3, MLB No. 66)OF: Rikuu Nishida, Kannapolis (CWS)OF: Jacob Wetzel, Myrtle Beach (CHC)DH: Esteban Gonzalez, Lynchburg (CLE)UTIL: Cooper Pratt, Carolina (MIL No. 2, MLB No. 58)SP: Travis Sykora, Fredericksburg (WSH No. 3, MLB No. 92)SP: David Davalillo, Down East (TEX)SP: Jojo Ingrassia, Salem (BOS)SP: Gary Gill Hill, Charleston (TB No. 7)RP: Nico Zeglin, Myrtle Beach (CHC)RP: Gerlin Rosario, Charleston (TB)Manager: Nick Stanley, Carolina (MIL)

Most Valuable Player: Kevin McGonigle, Lakeland (DET)The Tigers’ No. 3 prospect came into the year with 21 professional games under his belt but made it crystal clear he was ready for full-season ball. McGonigle, who turned 20 in August, batted .326/.407/.470 with 22 extra-base hits and 20 steals over 60 FSL games before getting promoted out of the league. He struck out just 24 times in 230 at-bats at the level.

Pitcher of the Year: Nestor Lorant, Daytona (CIN)The Reds signed the 22-year-old righty out of Venezuela back in 2019, and although he flashed promise in previous seasons, this year Lorant enjoyed a breakout campaign. Making 22 appearances — seven starts — for the Tortugas, he punched out 99 and walked 22 across 87 2/3 innings, posting a 1.44 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and .180 average against.

Top MLB Prospect: Max Clark, Tigers (DET)Part of a dangerous combo with McGonigle in the Lakeland lineup (and later with High-A West Michigan), Clark remained tied for seventh in the FSL with 26 stolen bases and tied fifth with 58 RBIs despite having moved on from the league in July. The 19-year-old outfielder has among the most well-rounded tool sets in the Minors, and he slashed .286/.386/.421 with seven homers, three triples and 11 doubles over 73 games for Lakeland.

All-Star Team

1B: Esmerlyn Valdez, Bradenton (PIT)2B: Devin Saltiban, Clearwater (PHI No. 9)SS: Kevin McGonigle, Lakeland (DET No. 3, MLB No. 30)3B: Jesus Baez, St. Lucie (NYM No. 14)C: Ryan Ignoffo, Jupiter (MIA)OF: Jordan Viars, Clearwater (PHI)OF: Victor Arias, Dunedin (TOR)OF: Max Clark, Lakeland (DET No. 1, MLB No. 5)DH: Jackson Castillo, Tampa (NYY)UTIL: Miguel Villarroel, Palm Beach (STL)SP: Nestor Lorant, Daytona (CIN)SP: Chen-Wei Lin, Palm Beach (STL No. 16)SP: Darlin Saladin, Palm Beach (STL No. 21)SP: George Klassen, Clearwater (LAA No. 3)RP: Jake Miller, Lakeland (DET)RP: Zack Showalter, Palm Beach (STL No. 17)Manager: Gary Kendall, Palm Beach (STL)