The 2025 High-A All-Stars and award winners

The third rung of the ladder on a prospect's path to the big leagues is High-A. It's often the level where you can find an organization's best young talent. Top Draft picks out of college often begin their pro journey at High-A, as it serves as one of the most integral stops in a prospect's development. On Wednesday, Minor League Baseball announced its 2025 High-A All-Stars and award winners to highlight the standout performers across the Midwest, Northwest and South Atlantic Leagues.

In the Midwest League, Tigers infielder Izaac Pacheco earns MVP honors, while Cleveland southpaw Josh Hartle is named Pitcher of the Year and another Detroit prospect takes home a piece of hardware as shortstop Kevin McGonigle claims the Top MLB Prospect award.

Moving towards the Pacific to the Northwest League, Lazaro Montes (Mariners) was named MVP, righty Daniel Eagen (D-backs) spun his way to Pitcher of the Year and Colt Emerson (Mariners) was the circuit's Top MLB Prospect.

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Finally, Pittsburgh outfielder/first baseman Esmerlyn Valdez rode a breakout campaign to MVP honors, while Yankees left-hander Kyle Carr enjoyed a bounce-back performance en route to being named the Pitcher of the Year and it's no surprise that the game's No. 1 overall prospect, Konnor Griffin (Pirates), claimed Top MLB Prospect honors.

Here are the major award winners and full All-Star teams for each High-A league:

Midwest League

Most Valuable Player: Izaac Pacheco, West Michigan (DET)
Pacheco signed for well above slot at $2.75 million as the 39th overall pick in the 2021 Draft and opted to go pro instead of heading to Texas A&M. He’s been on a roller coaster ride of development ever since, but on a team that once boasted top prospects Kevin McGonigle, Max Clark and Josue Briceño, Pacheco has been one of West Michigan’s best performers this season. The Tigers' No. 21 prospect paced the circuit in home runs (17), slugging (.499) and OPS (.887) and finished with career highs in doubles (25), runs (72), RBIs (68), and walks (74).

Pitcher of the Year: Josh Hartle, Lake County (CLE)
After being selected in the third round of the 2024 Draft by the Pirates, the lefty made his pro debut in what was his lone appearance that year -- lasting just 1 2/3 frames after surrendering four runs on five hits and a walk. That December, Pittsburgh sent Hartle to Cleveland in a deal for Spencer Horwitz. In his first full-season, the 22-year-old sparkled in the Midwest League, posting a 10-2 mark with a 2.35 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, a .195 average against and 100 strikeouts over 103 1/3 innings. The Guardians' No. 24 prospect was promoted to Double-A on Aug. 21.

Top MLB Prospect: Kevin McGonigle, West Michigan (DET)
The No. 2 overall prospect in baseball climbed three levels of the Minors this year with his most impressive stop at West Michigan. The 21-year-old was promoted to the High-A level and lasted 36 games -- slashing .372/.462/.648 with seven home runs, 19 doubles, 39 RBIs, 37 runs scored, 23 walks and three stolen bases -- before ascending to Double-A Erie on July 7. McGonigle sported a .991 OPS in 88 total games this season.

All-Star Team

1B: Callan Moss, Quad Cities (KC)
2B: Jefferson Rojas, South Bend (CHC No. 3, MLB No. 59)
SS: John Peck, West Michigan (DET No. 16)
3B: Izaac Pacheco, West Michigan (DET No. 21)
C: Jacob Cozart, Lake County (CLE No. 17)
OF: Max Clark, West Michigan (DET No. 2, MLB No. 9)
OF: Josue De Paula, Great Lakes (LAD No. 1, MLB No. 12)
OF: Kendall George, Great Lakes (LAD No. 24)
DH: Alfonsin Rosario, Lake County (CLE No. 12)
UTIL: Jadher Areinamo, Wisconsin (TB No. 24)
SP: Josh Hartle, Lake County (CLE No. 24)
SP: Miguel Mendez, Fort Wayne (SD No. 5)
SP: Tyson Hardin, Wisconsin (MIL No. 20)
SP: Andrew Sears, West Michigan (DET No. 14)
RP: Garrett Hawkins, Fort Wayne (SD No. 18)
RP: Colin Fields, West Michigan (DET)
Manager: Tony Cappuccilli, West Michigan (DET)

Northwest League

Most Valuable Player: Lazaro Montes, Everett (SEA)
Montes was thought to be one of the best hitters in the 2022 international class and received $2.5 million to join the Mariners. The Cuban outfielder showed an immediate return on that investment and played his way to the High-A level last year as a 19-year-old. He opened this season back with Everett and continued to show why his loudest tool is his top-of-the-scale raw power. Despite only playing in 67 Northwest League games this season, the 6-foot-5, 210-pound lefty swinger still is tied for the fourth-most home runs in the circuit with 18. MLB's No. 28 prospect posted a .572 slugging percentage and a .959 OPS with 35 extra-base hits and 50 RBIs before being promoted to Double-A on June 24.

Pitcher of the Year: Daniel Eagen, Hillboro (AZ)
The D-backs selected Eagan in the third round of last year's Draft and signed him for $650,000. He did not make his pro debut until this season with Hillsboro and proved to be worth the wait. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound righty posted a 2.49 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP and .184 average against in 19 Northwest League starts. His 132 punchouts in 97 2/3 frames finished second among the circuit. Arizona's No. 13 prospect was promoted to Double-A on Aug. 19.

Top MLB Prospect: Colt Emerson, Everett (SEA)
The Mariners took Emerson with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2023 Draft and he reached the High-A level at the end of his first full season in 2024 at age 19 despite some injury setbacks. He returned to Everett to open this year and finished in the top five in the league in average (.281), OBP (.388), slugging (.453), OPS (.841) and triples (five) through 90 games. MLB's No. 11 overall prospect not only was promoted to Double-A on Aug. 4, he also reached the Minors' highest level on Sept. 16.

All-Star Team

1B: Charlie Szykowny, Eugene (SF)
2B: Michael Arroyo, Everett (SEA No. 6, MLB No. 58)
SS: Colt Emerson, Everett (SEA No. 1, MLB No. 11)
3B: Cutter Coffey, Vancouver (TOR No. 27)
C: Cole Messina, Spokane (COL No. 26)
OF: Lazaro Montes, Everett (SEA No. 3, MLB No. 28)
OF: Jared Thomas, Spokane (COL No. 8)
OF: Bo Davidson, Eugene (SF No. 5)
DH: Ryan Waldschmidt, Hillsboro (AZ No. 1, MLB No. 65)
UTIL: Braylen Wimmer, Spokane (COL)
SP: Daniel Eagen, Hillsboro (AZ No. 13)
SP: Gage Stanifer, Vancouver (TOR No. 6)
SP: Ryan Johnson, Tri-City (LAA No. 2, MLB No. 96)
SP: Fernando Perez, Vancouver (TOR No. 17)
RP: Chay Yeager, Vancouver (TOR)
RP: Tyler Cleveland, Everett (SEA No. 30)
Manager: Jeremiah Knackstedt, Eugene (SF)

South Atlantic League

Most Valuable Player: Esmerlyn Valdez, Greensboro (PIT)
It just might turn out that Valdez, who signed with the Pirates for $130,000 as part of the delayed 2020-21 international signing period out of the Dominican Republic, is the best player from that class. After leading the Florida State League in homers in 2024 with 22, Pittsburgh's No. 15 prospect broke out in a big way in the South Atlantic League this season. Valdez slashed .303/.385/.592 and ranked second in the league with 20 homers and 39 extra-base hits over 72 games before being promoted to Double-A. He finished the year with career highs in home runs (26), RBIs (86), runs (75) and total bases (238).

Pitcher of the Year: Kyle Carr, Hudson Valley (NYY)
After being selected in the third round of the 2023 Draft by the Yankees, Carr made his pro debut last year at the High-A level but pitched to mixed results. The 23-year-old left-hander returned to the South Atlantic League to open this season and dominated. Carr posted a league-leading 1.96 ERA and a .190 average against over 119 1/3 innings. He punched out 104 batters and amassed a 1.07 WHIP while yielding one run or fewer in 17 of his 22 starts. The Yankees No. 13 prospect was promoted to Double-A on Sept. 3.

Top MLB Prospect: Konnor Griffin, Greensboro (PIT)
MLB's No. 1 prospect was taken ninth overall in last year's Draft and climbed three levels of the Pirates system in his debut pro season this year. He made his mark during his 51-game stint with the Grasshoppers, slashing .325/.432/.510 with 20 extra-base hits, 48 runs scored, 36 RBIs and 33 stolen bases. He opened his run at the High-A level with a nine-game hitting streak -- recording 16 knocks over that stretch.

All-Star Team

1B: Will Bush, Asheville (HOU No. 18)
2B: Sam Antonacci, Winston-Salem (CWS No. 11)
SS: Konnor Griffin, Greensboro (PIT No. 1, MLB No. 1)
3B: Jacob Reimer, Brooklyn (NYM No. 6)
C: Christopher Suero, Brooklyn (NYM No. 15)
OF: Esmerlyn Valdez, Greensboro (PIT No. 15)
OF: Keith Jones II, Hub City (TEX)
OF: Carson Benge, Brooklyn (NYM No. 1, MLB No. 20)
DH: Jeral Perez, Winston-Salem (CWS No. 19)
UTIL: Aron Estrada, Aberdeen (BAL No. 25)
SP: David Davalillo, Hib City (TEX No. 7)
SP: Michael Forret, Aberdeen (BAL No. 11)
SP: Kyle Carr, Hudson Valley (NYY No. 13)
SP: Josh Trentadue, Hub City (TEX No. 22)
RP: Hueston Morrill, Hudson Valley (NYY)
RP: Eric Loomis, Hub City (TEX)
Manager: Blake Butler, Greensboro (PIT)