Gonzalez Named Southern League MVP
Birmingham, AL — At just 22 years old,
Jacob Gonzalez already looks like a player with a bright future, and his 2024 season was strong enough to earn the
Southern League’s highest individual honor. The
Birmingham Barons second baseman was named the
Southern League Most Valuable Player after a dominant year at the plate, winning the award unanimously with all eight first-place votes.
“See the ball, hit the ball,”
Gonzalez said. “That’s my basic approach.” The approach worked to near perfection.
Gonzalez led the league with a .381 batting average and posted a .444 on-base percentage while appearing in 99 games. He totaled 163 hits, including 27 doubles, two triples and 28 home runs, drove in 82 runs and scored 93 times, anchoring
Birmingham’s offense throughout the season.
Matt Shaw of the
Tennessee Smokies finished second in the voting, followed by Birmingham outfielder
Oscar Colas in third.
Gonzalez’s breakout campaign not only separated him from the rest of the league in 2024, but also hinted that his best baseball may still be ahead of him.
Code:
Player Team 1st Place Total Pts
Jacob Gonzalez Birmingham Barons 8 112
Matt Shaw Tennessee Smokies 0 72
Oscar Colas Birmingham Barons 0 64
Wilfred Veras Birmingham Barons 0 54
Carson Williams Montgomery Biscuits 0 50
Victor Mesa Jr. Pensacola Blue Wahoos 0 28
Jordyn Adams Rocket City Trash Pandas 0 26
Luis Verdugo Tennessee Smokies 0 24
Will Benson Chattanooga Lookouts 0 23
Peyton Burdick Birmingham Barons 0 15
Rhett Lowder Chattanooga Lookouts 0 4