Single-A Jupiter, which captured its second title in four years, had three players named Florida State League All-Stars: first baseman Echedry Vargas, left-hander Julio Mendez and right-hander Manuel Genao.
The 21-year-old Vargas, who earned MVP honors, captured the Triple Crown by pacing the FSL in average (.323), homers (27) and RBIs (94) in 103 games.
“Another intentional swing change, and someone who really struggled last year,” Balkovec said. “We sent him down to Jupiter. He wasn't happy about it, and he's really just done a great job of buying in and making all the adjustments he's needed to.”
Mendez, 21, compiled a 2.89 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP in 17 games (14 starts) for the Hammerheads before a promotion to High-A Beloit.
Genao, 20, finished with a 3.67 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP in 26 games (21 starts) with one save. His 108 innings and 116 strikeouts ranked second and fourth, respectively, in the FSL.
At the Double-A level, Pensacola’s Nelson Prada and right-hander Eliazar Dishmey were anointed Southern League Manager and Pitcher of the Year, respectively.
Prada, who was in his second year with the Blue Wahoos, led them to a league-best 79-58 record for the third-best winning percentage in franchise history. The club also set a Southern League record with 312 stolen bases, and its 184 home runs were tied for the third most in league history. Prada is the second Blue Wahoos skipper to win the award (Kevin Randel in 2023).
The 21-year-old Dishmey, who was promoted from High-A Beloit to Double-A Pensacola in May, ranked first in strikeout rate (32.4 percent) and fielding independent pitching (3.05) while finishing third in WHIP (1.06) and fourth in ERA (3.30) among pitchers with at least 70 innings.
Dishmey (Marlins’ No. 30 prospect) twice won Southern League Pitcher of the Week thanks to no-hit bids on July 5 and Aug. 6. He joined Max Meyer (2021) as the only Blue Wahoos pitcher to earn Southern League Pitcher of the Year honors.
