Buxton named Midwest League Most Valuable Player

Even though he played a little over half a season, Byron Buxton made quite an impression on everyone. That includes fellow Midwest League managers.

The former Cedar Rapids Kernels outfielder has been named MWL Most Valuable Player and Prospect of the Year in a vote of the league's 16 field leaders. Also selected to the Midwest League Postseason All-Star Team were former Kernels first baseman D.J. Hicks and current outfielder Adam Brett Walker.

Mark Haley of South Bend is Manager of the Year. Cedar Rapids and Bowling Green each had three players selected to the 13-member all-star team.

Buxton hit .341 in 68 games for the Kernels before earning a promotion to high-Class A Fort Myers, where he is hitting .333. The 19-year-old Georgian had a whopping .990 OPS (on-base plus slugging), with 15 doubles, 10 triples, eight home runs and 55 RBIs.

He also walked 44 times and stole 32 bases. Again, all that was in a mere 68 games.

Hicks lasted 89 games for the Kernels before being promoted. He batted .297 with 31 doubles, 13 home runs and 82 RBIs. At Fort Myers, he has a .279 batting average in 40 games.

Walker was the first player in the minor leagues this season to surpass the 100-RBI mark. He is hitting .278 in 124 games for the Kernels, with 30 doubles, seven triples, 26 homers and 106 RBIs.

Below is the entire MWL Postseason All-Star Team: