By: RiverDogs Media
The Charleston RiverDogs have selected five standout performers from the 2023 season as finalists for the team's annual “Top Dog” award. A fan vote will determine which player receives the title. The winner will be announced following the RiverDogs final regular season home game on Sunday, September 3. The five finalists are listed below:
Yoniel Curet – RHP
By the time he was promoted to High-A Bowling Green, Curet had become the most dominant pitcher in the Carolina League. The Dominican Republic native struggled with his command early in the campaign, but found his rhythm in late May and never looked back. The 20-year-old was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Month for both June and July and departed as the league leader in strikeouts. During 26.0 innings in the month of June, Curet allowed just one run on eight hits. He followed that performance by striking out 37 in 21.2 innings during July. On July 28, Curet struck out 11 batters in 4.1 innings against the Augusta GreenJackets. Opponents hit just .132 against him this season.
Xavier Isaac – 1B
The first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2022 MLB Draft, the 19-year-old slugger has been a dominant force in the middle of the lineup all season long. As of August 14, he has racked up 13 home runs and 54 runs batted in, numbers that put him in the top five among Carolina League hitters in those categories. The native of Fayetteville, NC has displayed a patient approach at the plate in his first full season of professional baseball, putting him in the top ten league-wide in slugging percentage, OPS, walks, extra-base hits and total bases. Through 85 games played, he is hitting .274.
Cooper Kinney – INF
The 20-year-old second baseman has made an impressive return from a season-ending injury suffered during spring training last year. A regular in the two-hole, Kinney has playedxavier i solid defense on the right field of the infield while becoming one of the most reliable hitters in the lineup on a nightly basis. Through his first 99 games with the RiverDogs, Kinney was hitting .262 with eight home runs and 48 runs batted in. His 18 doubles led the team. A native of Kennesaw, Ga, Kinney ranks among the top five in the Carolina League in hits and total bases, while sitting among the top ten in doubles and RBI.
Trevor Martin – RHP
A member of the RiverDogs starting rotation since opening day, the right-hander kept getting better as the season progressed. A third-round pick by the Rays in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Oklahoma State, Martin owns an 8-5 record with a 3.57 earned run average as of August 14. The 22-year-old ranks among the top five pitchers in the Carolina League in ERA, wins, innings pitched and strikeouts. He has posted eight games with seven or more strikeouts this season.
Chandler Simpson – OF
A staple at the top of the lineup for most of the 2023 season, Simpson used his elite speed to fluster opponents and give his teammates RBI opportunities throughout his stay with the RiverDogs. When the outfielder departed for High-A Bowling Green, he had amassed 81 stolen bases on the season, the most in Minor League Baseball. That number also tied him for the second-most in team history during a single season. The 22-year-old from Atlanta also led the Carolina League in hits and runs scored, while ranking among the top ten in batting average. A converted infielder, Simpson played the most games of any player in the Carolina League this season without committing an error.
