2011 Minor League Pitcher of the Year Award

by John Sickels on Sep 12, 2025 2:01 PM EDT

Turning our attention to the mound, here are nominees for Minor League Pitcher of the Year. This is for full-season ball only, and does not include anyone who has or will exceed rookie qualifications.

PITCHER OF THE YEAR

Edwar Cabrera, LHP, Rockies
Drew Hutchison, RHP, Blue Jays
Shelby Miller, RHP, Cardinals
Nestor Molina, RHP, Blue Jays
Matt Moore, LHP, Rays
Brad Peacock, RHP, Nationals
Keyvius Sampson, RHP, Padres
Tyler Skaggs, LHP, Diamondbacks
Julio Teheran, RHP, Braves
Taijuan Walker, RHP, Mariners

If the voting is really close, we will have a runoff between the top candidates. You could make a case for Eric Surkamp to be included here, and you can write him in if you like.

Poll

2011 Minor League Pitcher of the Year Poll

Edwar Cabrera, LHP, Rockies

19 votes

Drew Hutchison, RHP, Blue Jays

161 votes

Shelby Miller, RHP, Cardinals

88 votes

Nestor Molina, RHP, Blue Jays

34 votes

Matt Moore, LHP, Rays

613 votes

Brad Peacock, RHP, Nationals

39 votes

Keyvius Sampson, RHP, Padres

33 votes

Tyler Skaggs, LHP, Diamondbacks

51 votes

Julio Teheran, RHP, Braves

103 votes

Taijuan Walker, RHP, Mariners

92 votes

1233 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 25 comments | 0 recs |

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Read More: Shelby Miller (P - STL), Julio Teheran (P - ATL), Tyler Skaggs (P - ARI), Drew Hutchison (P - TOR), Eric Surkamp (P - SFG), Brad Peacock (P - OAK), Matt Moore (P - TAM), San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals, Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks, St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves

Comments

Would love to vote for one of the Blue Jays arms

But I don’t see how this couldn’t be Matt Moore.

by 4dizzle on Sep 12, 2025 2:06 PM EDT reply actions

This.

Moore for sure.

by TwoEyesForAnEye on Sep 12, 2025 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I love Julio Teheran, but there is no way Moore is not going to win this. If not for Moore, JT would be the winner. Congrats to all of them, especially Moore and Teheran. They had hella nice seasons.

God has to bruise you before he use you. So you'll be sensitive to his touch.

by ArmyITSpec on Sep 12, 2025 2:21 PM EDT reply actions

Moore

Followed by Teheran, Miller, and Walker.

by cookiedabookie on Sep 12, 2025 3:54 PM EDT reply actions

Going strictly by the numbers I voted for

Nestor Molina(22): (A+) 108.1 IP 9.55 K/9 1.16 BB/9 0.66 HR/9 2.58 ERA 2.45 FIP
(AA) 22 IP 13.5 K/9 0.82 BB/9 0.0 HR/9 0.41 ERA 0.47 FIP

by Gadfly26 on Sep 12, 2025 4:07 PM EDT reply actions

Oops forgot his WHIP.

A+: 1.07 WHIP
AA: 0.64 WHIP

What put his over the edge for me is his ridiculous strikeout to walk ratio of 9.3k/bb.

by Gadfly26 on Sep 12, 2025 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Matt Moore's numbers vs. Molina's

Matt Moore (22): (AA) - 102.1 IP, 11.5 K/9, 32.8% K%, 2.5 BB/9, 7.0% BB%, 0.7 HR/9, 2.20 ERA, 2.62 FIP, .263 BABIP, 78.0% LOB%, 1.55 GB:FB ratio
(AAA) - 52.2 IP, 13.5 K/9, 38.7% K%, 3.1 BB/9, 8.8% BB%, 0.5 HR/9, 1.37 ERA, 2.02 FIP, .291 BABIP, 92.1% LOB%,1.43 GB:FB ratio

Nestor Molina (22): (A+) - 108.1 IP, 9.55 K/9, 26.6% K%, 1.16 BB/9, 3.2% BB%, 0.7 HR/9, 2.58 ERA, 2.45 FIP, .327 BABIP, 75.4% LOB%, 1.54 GB:FB ratio
(AA) - 22 IP, 13.5 K/9, 41.3% K%, 0.82 BB/9, 2.5% BB%, 0.0 HR/9, 0.41 ERA, 0.47 FIP, .267 BABIP, 85.7% LOB%, 2.20 GB:FB ratio

I’m a big fan of Molina, but you can’t deny that Moore pitched better this year.

"We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question that divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct."
- Niels Bohr

by Frag on Sep 12, 2025 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Based solely on numbers

I still give the edge to Molina. He had a lower FIP in both leagues and a higher GB/FB ratio. The only reason I could see most would give it to Moore is the higher K% and doing it at the same age at a higher level. Molina though has a much lower BB% and is a converted position player so I don’t hold being age appropriate for the level against him.

by Gadfly26 on Sep 12, 2025 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I voted for Molina as well, but my decision isn't entirely based on numbers.

Part is because I am a Jays homer.

The other part is how far he has come this year. Molina was converted to a pitcher in 2008. He was somewhere in the 40th range as far as Jays prospects coming into the season and he has been in complete BEASTMODE all year in Hi-A and even moreso in AA.

Sure Moore has been amazing, but I think Molina has been such a hidden gem this year that he deserves the award.

by Matthew Mueller on Sep 12, 2025 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions

what does being a hidden gem or improving have to do with winning the top pitcher award?

it isnt the breakout pitcher or comeback pitcher award

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Sep 13, 2025 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions

so purposefully give the Best Player award to an inferior player because he has a better story/narrative?

Are you a BBWAA voter by any chance?

Sad, Drunk, And Poorly

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. - JL

Twit Twat.

by Pikachu on Sep 13, 2025 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

As much as I loved the performances of Hutch and Molina

I’m voting Moore. Just too good of a season not to vote for him.

"We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question that divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct."
- Niels Bohr

by Frag on Sep 12, 2025 4:50 PM EDT reply actions

41% of the people

just want their favorite player to finish 2nd. There is no way a rational vote goes for anyone but Moore.

by Galt on Sep 12, 2025 5:02 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I disagree

Teheran has a legitimate argument. He put up ridiculous numbers at a higher level at a younger age.

by rlwhite on Sep 12, 2025 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Yep

Agreed Galt.

by RedHopeful on Sep 13, 2025 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Unless they vote for Julio Teheran of course

Besides that, sure.

by Matt0330 on Sep 13, 2025 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions

HONORABLE MENTION

Joe Wieland, SP - TEX & SD. Pretty impressive numbers across two levels and two different organizations.

by SPYDER21 on Sep 12, 2025 9:27 PM EDT reply actions

This is obviously Moore, and that's who I voted for.

But there is some absurd ballot-stuffing going on for Hutchison.

Founder and Chairman of the Hire A Body Double For David Hernandez's Right Arm Commission. A non-profit organization.

by Dan Strittmatter on Sep 13, 2025 3:24 AM EDT reply actions

Dan - you don't even know me...

Only my wife, her two sisters and her mother have permission to call me an “absurd ballot-stuffing” something or other.

However, on Hutchison - I’ll bet you my well used Panama Hat against a new Corvette (I’ll even let you pick the colour) that in five years time we’ll all agree Hutchison was the better choice! The clue I might be a Canadian is in the way I spell “colour” correctly.

by Mylegacy on Sep 13, 2025 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions

umm

no, I don’t think that’ll happen.

Also, there isn’t a “correct” way to spell colour.

Sad, Drunk, And Poorly

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. - JL

Twit Twat.

by Pikachu on Sep 13, 2025 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

O, I don't know...

It is called English for a reason (and not Websterese).

by gabrielsyme on Sep 13, 2025 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions

heck a lot of jays fans around here

I’m surprised

Sad, Drunk, And Poorly

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. - JL

Twit Twat.

by Pikachu on Sep 13, 2025 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

not so much

If you look at posting patterns over the years, the fanbases of organizations that have a well stocked system / a strong number of top prospects at a specific point in time tend to be exceptionally well represented here (and often they are quite vocal). I’m genuinely interested in learning more about that. Is it a direct relationship? How much does the performance of the organization’s major league team affect turnout?

by mrkupe on Sep 13, 2025 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs