Carolina League Most Valuable Player Award

The Carolina League Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) is an annual award given to the best player in Minor League Baseball's Carolina League based on their regular-season performance as voted on by league managers.^[1] League broadcasters, Minor League Baseball executives, and members of the media have previously voted as well.^[2] Though the league was established in 1945,^[3] the award was not created until 1948.^[4] After the cancellation of the 2020 season,^[5] the league was known as the Low-A East in 2021 before reverting to the Carolina League name in 2022.^[6][7]

Twenty-six outfielders have won the MVP Award, the most of any position. First basemen, with 21 winners, have won the most among infielders, followed by third basemen (9), shortstops (6), and second basemen (3). Eight catchers and four pitchers have also won the award.

Three players who have won the MVP Award also won the Carolina League Top MLB Prospect Award in the same season: Jackson Chourio (2022), Samuel Basallo (2023), and Jaison Chourio (2024).^[8][9][10] From 1948 to 1978, pitchers were eligible to win the MVP Award as no award was designated for pitchers. In 1959, the Carolina League established a Pitcher of the Year Award.^[4] The only player to win the MVP Award on multiple occasions is Bubba Smith, who won back-to-back in 1992 and 1993.

Fourteen players from the Lynchburg Hillcats have been selected for the MVP Award, more than any other team in the league, followed by the Winston-Salem Dash (10); the Salem RidgeYaks (8); the Peninsula Pilots (6); the Kinston Indians (5); the High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms (4); the Carolina Mudcats, Durham Bulls, Frederick Keys, Greensboro Yankees, Kinston Eagles, Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Potomac Nationals, Raleigh Pirates, Reidsville Luckies, and Wilson Tobs (2); and the Burlington Bees, Charleston RiverDogs, Danville Leafs, Delmarva Shorebirds, Fayetteville A's, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, Raleigh-Durham Triangles, Tidewater Tides, Wilmington Blue Rocks, and Winston-Salem Cardinals (1).

Eleven players from the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball (MLB) organization have won the award, more than any other, followed by the Cleveland Guardians organization (8); the Chicago White Sox organization (7); the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies organizations (6); the New York Mets organization (5); the Baltimore Orioles organization (4); the Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros, New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals organizations (3); the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, and Milwaukee Brewers organizations (2); and the Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, and Washington Nationals organizations (1). Three award winners played for teams that were not affiliated with any MLB organization.