Charles Davalan, the 22-year-old outfield prospect for the Great Lakes Loons, just snagged the Midwest League MVP award, and holy cow, his numbers are absolutely ridiculous. This isn’t just a good season; this dude was a one-man wrecking crew, making history for the Loons while he was at it.
The MVP Showdown: Davalan’s Unstoppable Season
You want to talk about leading from the front? Davalan crushed it, posting a .937 OPS for the Loons, hammering 24 dingers, and dominating with a league-leading 29 doubles. Get this: he set a Great Lakes franchise record with seven leadoff home runs! He’s only the fourth Loon in franchise history to grab the Midwest League MVP, a truly special run. He led the entire league in hits (128), doubles (29), extra-base hits (56), and total bases (235). He even finished third in home runs, just two shy of the top spot. His slash line of .292/.402/.535 with a 140 wRC+ over 115 games speaks for itself. The Dodgers picked him 40th overall in 2025, and seeing these numbers, that looks like a steal.
Loons Loaded with Talent, Manager of the Year Included
Davalan wasn’t the only Loons player making waves, though. Manager Jair Fernandez also earned Manager of the Year honors for Great Lakes, capping off his third year managing and tenth season coaching in the Dodgers system. And what a team he had! Davalan was one of four Loons named to the Midwest League All-Star team. Eduardo Quintero, another top-100 prospect, had an unreal year. Quintero led the league in on-base percentage (.445), batting average (.309), and runs scored (107). He was second in OPS (.940) and fourth in walks (88) and stolen bases (44). That’s a serious combo out there in the outfield!
Shortstop Emil Morales, a 19-year-old top-100 prospect, started in Class-A before joining the Loons in May. In 81 games, he mashed 20 homers and 19 doubles. Pitcher Zach Root, Davalan’s college teammate from Arkansas, also made the All-Star squad. Root, drafted right after Davalan at 41st overall, put up a sparkling 2.40 ERA over 15 starts with 79 strikeouts in 60 innings. The Dodgers system is overflowing with talent, with two minor leaguers taking home MVP awards so far, including Class-A Ontario’s Easton Shelton.
What’s Next for These Studs?
Both Davalan and Quintero just got bumped up to Double-A Tulsa and are currently tearing it up in the Texas League playoffs. Talk about finishing the season strong! And it doesn’t stop there: both are set to play in the Arizona Fall League starting in October, where Davalan is even going to get some reps in the infield. With these kinds of performances, Dodger fans have a lot to be excited about watching these guys climb the ladder. Keep an eye on Tulsa’s playoff run, then get ready for the AFL!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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