Country United States Currently held by Ryan Yarbrough | First awarded 1972 | |
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Awarded for Southern League's Regular Season Most Outstanding Pitcher | ||
The Southern League Most Outstanding Pitcher Award (MOP) is an annual award given to the best pitcher in minor league baseball's Southern League. In 1972, Bill Campbell won the first ever Southern League MOP Award. In 1992, Jim Converse and Jerry Spradlin were named Co-MOPs. For five years in a row from 1978 to 1982, pitchers from the Nashville Sounds won the Southern League MOP Award.
Eight players from the Jacksonville Suns/Expos have been selected for the MOP Award, more than any other teams in the league, followed by the Nashville Sounds (5); the Birmingham Barons, Columbus Astros/Carolina Mudcats, Greenville/Mississippi Braves, and Orlando Twins/Montgomery Biscuits (4); the Charlotte O's/Knights, Knoxville Blue Jays/Tennessee Smokies, Nashville Xpress/Mobile BayBears, and West Tenn Diamond Jaxx/Jackson Generals (3); the Chattanooga Lookouts and Huntsville Stars/Biloxi Shuckers (2); and the Charlotte Hornets (1).
Five players each from the Cincinnati Reds and Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball (MLB) organizations have won the MOP Award, more than any others, followed by the Atlanta Braves organization (4); the Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, and Toronto Blue Jays organizations (3); the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Florida/Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Montreal Expos organizations (2); and the Arizona Diamondbacks, San Diego Padres, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays organizations (1).