Myers honored as Minors' top player

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Minor League Baseball™ and the Topps Company announced today that outfielder Wil Myers is the winner of the 53rd annual J.G. Taylor Spink Award as the Topps/Minor League Player of the Year. Myers hit a combined .314 with 37 homers and 109 RBIs with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals and Omaha Storm Chasers.

The 21-year-old outfielder's 313 total bases led all MiLB™ players and his homer total ranked second. Myers also was among the top 10 in extra-base hits (3rd, 69), slugging percentage (7th, .600), on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) (9th, .987) and hits (tied for 10th, 164).

"I am honored to win this prestigious award from Topps and Minor League Baseball," Myers said. "To join a list with great players such as Johnny Damon and Alex Gordon is extremely humbling for me."

Myers, the Kansas City Royals' third round pick in 2009, began his season with the Naturals in the Double- A® Texas League. In 35 games, he hit .343 with 13 homers, 30 runs batted in and a 1.146 OPS, earning him a promotion him to Triple-A® Omaha. Myers then hit .304 with 24 home runs and 79 RBIs in 99 games with the Storm Chasers.

Damon won the honor in 1995 and Gordon in 2006 as Kansas City farmhands.

Recent Spink winners include Tampa Bay Rays left-handed pitcher Matt Moore (2011); Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim center fielder Mike Trout (2010); and San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (2009).

The best performances in all classifications of Minor League Baseball again this year are being honored by the Topps Company of New York, N.Y., in conjunction with Minor League Baseball.

Next: Player of the Year in 16 Minor Leagues.