Joc Pederson Named Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player

Albuquerque Isotopes outfielder Joc Pederson was named the Pacific Coast League's Most Valuable Player, the league announced Thursday morning.

The 22-year-old outfielder received more than half of the votes from the 16 field managers as well as media representatives from across the league to be named the 78th PCL MVP in league history.

Pederson's MVP recognition is just another in his trophy case for the 2014 season. On Tuesday, he was named the PCL's Rookie of the Year, just one day after earning All-PCL Team honors. Last Saturday, Pederson became the first player in 80 years to record a 30-30 season in the PCL.

Ranked the Los Angeles Dodgers' top-overall prospect entering the season according to Baseball America, Pederson leads the PCL in home runs (33), on-base percentage (.434), runs scored (101), total bases (256) and walks (96). His .590 slugging percentage currently ranks second in the league. The outfielder's 96 walks and 101 runs scored are Isotopes single-season records.

The MVP award is the first of Pederson's professional career, after being chosen by the Dodgers in the 11th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft. He becomes the first Isotope to receive the honor and the seventh in Albuquerque's Triple-A history. This is the third-consecutive year that the PCL's MVP has also been the Rookie of the Year recipient, as Pederson follows Reno's Chris Owings and Adam Eaton who took home both awards the previous two seasons.

Pederson won the MVP award over Javier Baez (Iowa), Kris Bryant (Iowa), Adam Duvall (Fresno), and Shane Peterson (Sacramento), who all also received votes.

Catch Pederson and the Isotopes as they begin their final homestand of the season tonight against the Las Vegas 51s at 6:35 p.m. On Friday night, one lucky fan will drive away with Pederson's car, as it will be given away following the game. There will also be a pair of fireworks shows and two giveaways during the four-game, five-day homestand.