The Mets announced Monday the 2017 Sterling Award winners, which are emblematic of the Most Valuable Player for each of the organization’s nine minor league affiliates.
The Mets named first baseman Dominic Smith the 2017 Sterling Minor League Organizational Player of the Year and RHP Corey Oswalt the 2017 Sterling Organizational Pitcher of the Year.
Infielder Amed Rosario was the Sterling recipient at Las Vegas (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League; infielder Luis Guillorme was the winner at Binghamton (AA) of the Eastern League; infielder Jhoan Urena was honored at St. Lucie (A) of the Florida State League; RHP Jordan Humphreys received the award at Columbia (A) of the South Atlantic League; RHP Nicolas Debora was honored at Brooklyn (A) of the New York-Penn League; infielder Rigoberto Terrazas for Kingsport (R) of the Appalachian League; RHP Jaison Vilera was selected for the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Mets; RHP Miguel Ramirez captured the award for the Dominican Summer League Mets I and infielder/outfielder Yoel Romero and infielder Luis Santana received the award for the Dominican Summer League Mets II.
Smith, 22, was tearing the cover off the ball for the 51’s this season before being called up to the majors in August. In 114 games for Las Vegas, the first baseman hit .330/.386/.519 with 16 homers and 76 RBI. MLB Pipeline had him as the No. 2 Mets prospect behind Rosario before they both exceeded their rookie limits.
In 42 games for the Mets thus far, Smith has hit .209/.258/.392 with seven long balls and 22 RBI, but has shown flashes of his offensive skill set as he works through the ebbs and flows of the major league lifestyle.
The Organizational Pitcher of the Year, Corey Oswalt, really put himself on the Mets prospect radar this season with a strong campaign for Double-A Binghamton.
The 24-year-old registered a 12-5 record and pitched to a shiny 2.28 ERA in 24 games started. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2012 draft out of Madison High School in San Diego.
MLB Pipeline ranks the right-hander as the teams No. 27 prospect.
The awards will be presented in a pre-game ceremony tomorrow night.
