by Ray Mileur

ELKVILLE, IL - The Prospect(us) Player of the Year, as voted by the Prospect(us) writers, is the Cape Catfish's Andrew Stone, the 6'0", 195-pounds, five-tool outfielder, from Cross Lanes, WV, a sophomore at West Virginia State University.

A candidate for the Prospect League Mike Schmidt Award (Player of the Year) and the Roland Hemond Award (Pro Prospect of the Year), Stone has put up MVP type numbers this season, leading the Cape Catfish to the playoffs in their inaugural season in the Prospect League.

Stone finished the regular season, hitting .397 with 16 home runs and 49 RBI, posting an impressive slash line of .397/.489/.725 with a 1.217 OPS, leading the league in the following categories; hits (89), runs, (66), stolen bases (33) & runs created (75.679).

The All-Star outfielder finished second in the league with his 397 batting average, 16  home runs, and his .782 slugging percentage. In addition, he was among the league leaders in games played (57), at-bats (224) and on-base-percentage, (.489).

Stone, who has a plus-arm and is a Gold Glove Caliber outfielder and made only one error in his 57 games this season.

The stat that stands out among all his impressive numbers is Stone's 75.679 RC (runs created) mark, 13 runs more than his nearest competitor, a significant factor in the decision of naming Andrew Stone the Prospect(US) Player of the Year and making him a contender for multiple Prospect League postseason honors and awards.

The Prospect League Awards;

• Mike Schmidt Award, Player of the Year
• Pitcher of the Year
• Galen Woods Award, Fireman of the Year
• Roland Hemond Award, Pro Prospect of the Year
• Manage of the Year
• Season End All-Star Team

Balloting for all year-end/annual awards and the Postseason All-Star team began on August 1st and the honorees will be announced by the Commissioner's office two days after the Championship Game. 

PHOTO CREDIT - SEMOBALL