Following his second full season in Minor League Baseball (and third overall), former Santa Fe Saint outfielder Mallex Smith (2012) was honored by the fans as the Offensive Player of the Year, beating out top prospects Kris Bryant (Cubs), Marquez Smith (Brewers), and Corey Seager (Dudgers) for the honor. There were 10 finalists for the award, and Smith led them all with 23% of the vote.
The San Diego Padres also recognized Smith’s spectacular season, naming him as their Minor League Player of the Year for the entire organization.
MiLB.com had this to say about Smith:
“Proof that stealing 88 bases in a Minors season isn’t easy, Smith finished 19 thefts ahead of any other prospect in baseball. The sparkplug was no one-trick pony, either — he ripped 29 doubles while putting up a .310 average and reaching base better than 40 percent of the time.”
Smith also finished with 99 runs scored, 148 hits, seven triples, and five homeruns in 120 games played between Fort Worth of the Midwestern League, and Lake Elsinore, of the Class A-advanced California League.
Just 21 years old, Smith was named to the Midwestern League All-Star team, and the San Diego Padres minor league organization All-Star team. He is currently participating in the Arizona Fall League with the Surprise Saguaros.