Aurora Announces 2025 Minor League Players of the Year
by Francis Ferry,
NLN baseball beat writer
'Fudd' Martínez is the first repeat Minor League Hitter of the Year in Aurora's history - and for very good reason - he was far and away the best hitter in the organization. Maybe only 1B
José Torres, this years 'runner-up (as it were), the 2024 #1 for Aurora, is the only challenger to the Borealis' 2023 #1 pick. Here's what I had to say last year at this time regarding 'Fudd':
Francis Ferry wrote:Aurora will leave Martínez at Gatineau for the 2025 season, barring a stellar improvement, and they target seeing him on The Front Range probably in the Fall of 2026, maybe '27. One thing is for sure - 'Fudd' has a fundamental skill that is sorely lacking in the overall system: Power. With the overall lack or inability to develop a power hitter over the years (outside of Mike Britt, EDIT: and maybe Paul Carlisle), the Borealis are crossing their fingers on this guy.
You kind of hate choosing the same guy - that has happened once with the pitchers, with Hyeon-Cheong Yong getting the nod twice in '18 & '19, but it's hard to argue with the numbers Martínez put up. As I had predicted, He began the year at Gatineau, but it became apparent that he wasn't going to stay very long - and when injuries caused shifts across the Organization, it was determined that maybe it was his time to move upwards - a .394 average with 15 HR and 36 RBI in 55 games was pretty impressive for a team needing a little extra oomph! He would end up being named to the Great Northern League Pacific Alliance All-Star team.
So onto Thornton he went, and though his average didn't translate so much - .273 in 83 games, he still managed 16 HR and 58 RBI, giving him a seasons average of .319 with 31 HR and 94 RBI over 138 games. Yes, he struck out 142 times (98 at AAA), but Aurora plans on having him work on that this winter, and he did have 37 SB in 56 attempts. To put things into perspective, only Mike Britt hit more homers (31) and the 94 RBI tied Theron Boswell for the Organization lead.
So, where does that place 'Fudd' on the developmental scale? I had predicted he would arrive on The Front Range come next fall. Now? He will certainly get an invite to spring training - no doubts there. With Mike Hale all but gone to free agency (barring a miraculous signing), and if Aurora fails to bring in a top-notch CF option (or Harris or Heath from AAA don't pan out), River Pope is scheduled to begin 2026 in center - which leaves LF open for competition - with Martínez no doubt considered a serious contender (amongst the likes of Lawrence Justice).
I, for one, can't wait for Spring Training!
On the eve of the 2021 draft - the first after the Grand Merger, Aurora dealt their #1 and #4 picks to the newly minted Hartford Harpoons (nee, Omaha Cyclones) for virtually all their picks - beginning with the two second round picks they had (#19 and #21). With that first selection - Aurora's first of that draft (#55 overall), Aurora took a SP out of Tulane by the name of Billy Taylor. Taylor had posted just a 16-16 record for the Jade Breakers - then again, the team itself was barely over .500 for his four-years. More impressive was his career 3.12 ERA - and 2.72 his junior/seniors years. He mostly kept the ball in the park and has a pretty sturdy 236 K to 73 BB ratio.
So to Mokule'ia he went and he was an instant hit - 10-2, 2.42 ERA, 117 K and 23 BB. He finished third in the Hawaiian League Outstanding Pitcher voting. 2022 went exceptionally well - he made three starts at SLRC (3-0, 2.87) and then was called up to AA Gatineau, where he posted a 12-6 record and a 2.49 ERA - with a combined 165 K and 32 BB. Then, just as the post-season got rolling, he went down with pain in his elbow - and ended up with surgery for bone spurs. 2023 was a struggle as the elbow continued to be 'pissy' and as the season wore down to a finish, his 11-10 mark and 4.06 ERA seemed to indicate there were other issues. Then on August 25, it was reveled he would need Tommy John surgery on the same elbow (some of the medical staff have expressed concerns that this injury may have been the result of a careless surgeon - no names mentioned, who may have created the problem during the previous surgery).
Taylor missed all but the last few weeks of 2024, where he made 6 starts and was 0-4, with a 10.03 ERA, 22 K and 14 BB. The Aurora coaching staff were concerned. So much so that Taylor, who was Rule 5 eligible during the offseason, was almost left off the 40-man roster - at the last minute he was granted the last spot and Orlando Alarcon (who was that 2nd #2 pick from Hartford) was instead exposed (and drafted by Reno, where he pitched in relief and had a 4.43 ERA and has had two serious arm problems this year).
Taylor, though, should that Aurora's faith was placed in the right hands. He was 15-4, with a 2.64 ERA, with 177 K an d34 BB. His HRA number was the highest it's been (22), but he also threw the most innings in his career. He finished 2nd to teammate 'Terror' Diaz in many team stats. Diaz, who won the Rocky Mountain League Outstanding Pitcher Award, was deemed to have too many major league appearances to be eligible - he was clearly the best pitcher in the 'minors'.
For Taylor, who will turn 26 as the 2026 season begins, his spot in the organization is undetermined. He will certainly get a look during Spring Training, and injuries happen. It is expected that Diaz will get any first crack - and he may begin 2026 in the Aurora bullpen, but Taylor is likely to begin 2026 back at AAA, biding his time.
CL
Tomás Moya was this years runner up, with a 2.60 ERA and 36 saves at Thornton. Maya was 3rd round pick in that same 2021 draft, Aurora's 4th overall that year.
Previous Winners:
Aurora Minor League Hitter of the Year
2024: LF Roberto 'Fudd' Martinez (AA/A)
2023: C Manny Castro (AAA)
2022: 2B Pablo Medrano (AAA)
2021: 2B Gabriel McIntyre (AAA)
2020: 2B Jack Speed (AAA)
2019: C Miguel Angel Gálvez (AAA)
2018: OF Paul Carlisle (AAA)
2017: C Rusty Butler (AAA)
2016: LF Artie Thompson (AA/A)
2015: 3B Mike Britt (AA)
2014: 2B John 'Gypsy' Foster (AA)
2013: 1B Ken Coleman (AAA)
Aurora Minor League Pitcher of the Year
2024: SP Sam Gordon (AAA)
2023: CL Xavier Díaz (AA)
2022: CL Júlio Martínez (AA)
2021: CL Manuel Galloca (AAA)
2020: MR John Gray (AAA)
2019: SP Hyeon-Cheong Yong (AAA)
2018: SP Hyeon-Cheong Yong (AAA)
2017: SP Edgardo Rojas (AAA)
2016: CL Terry Burns (AA)
2015: SP Chris Graves (AAA)
2014: SP Christian George (S A)
2013: SP Nathan O'Reilly (AA)
NOTE: I've listed previous winners here because, aside for record purposes, the links for all previous winners (2014-2019) are broken.