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Moncada named Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year

Kelley L. Cox / USA TODAY Sports

Boston Red Sox infielder Yoan Moncada, ranked by many as baseball's top prospect, has been named the 2016 Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America.

Moncada is the first Red Sox player to be given the honor.

The 21-year-old Cuban has fast-tracked through the Red Sox system since signing a $31.5-million contract with the team in 2015. In just his second season playing in the United States, Moncada jumped from High-A to the major leagues and skipped over Triple-A in the process. He posted a .294/.407/.511 slash line with 15 home runs, 31 doubles, and 45 stolen bases across 106 minor-league games before joining the Red Sox earlier this month.

Although his first taste of major-league ball hasn't gone as expected - he's been plagued by base-running miscues and record-strikeout pace - Moncada did record his first big-league hit during his debut start Sept. 3.

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