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Pittsburgh Pirates: MVP For Each Minor League Affiliate Team

ByKody Duncan|
Oneil Cruz of the Altoona Curve scored a two-run homer as Binghamton Rumble Ponies lost to the Altoona Curve, 5-0, on Tuesday, May 11, 2021.
Oneil Cruz of the Altoona Curve scored a two-run homer as Binghamton Rumble Ponies lost to the Altoona Curve, 5-0, on Tuesday, May 11, 2021.
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PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 03: Oneil Cruz #61 of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits a two run home run for his first Major League home run in the ninth inning during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on October 3, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 03: Oneil Cruz #61 of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits a two run home run for his first Major League home run in the ninth inning during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on October 3, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

Altoona Curve – shortstop Oneil Cruz

Oneil Cruz is this year’s most valuable position player for the Altoona Curve. Just like Fraizer, Cruz managed to get called up later in the year to Triple-A and then to the Pittsburgh Pirates for the last 2 games. He spent most of his time with the Curve, so he is given the honor of most valuable player.

Cruz was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates back in 2017 for left-handed pitcher, Tony Watson. With Altoona this year, Cruz put up impressive numbers. He slashed .292./.346/.536 and had an OPS of .882. He played in 62 games in had 32 extra base hits in which 12 of them were for homeruns.

Cruz eventually was called up to Triple-A and showed he was more than capable of hitting there too. In just 6 games he had 11 hits in 21 at-bats with 5 home runs. He finished the minor league season slashing .310/.375/.594 with a total of 17 homeruns.  In the last two games with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he was 3 for 9 with a home run as well. Look for him to see more action with the Pirates sometime in 2022.

Indianapolis Indians – outfielder Bligh Madris

Bligh Madris is this year’s most valuable position player for the Indianapolis Indians. There was not a lot of players to choose from on this team but Madris is the one that’s comes to mind when giving out this honor.

Drafted in 2017 in the 9th round by the Pirates, Madris looked like a potential option next year in the outfield for the big-league club. He started the year in Altoona, but in just 10 games was called up to Triple-A Indy where he played the majority of the season.

Madris played in 104 games with Indianapolis and tallied 91 hits in 334 at bats. He had 35 extra base hits and also had a career high 9 home runs. He slashed .272/.352./.434 with an OPS of .786 for Indy. He also recorded 40 walks on the year. I could see him getting a non-roster invite to Spring Training next season because of what he did this year for the Indians.

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