Dylan Cozens named 2016’s top offensive player in minor league baseball

Dylan cozens

Philadelphia Phillies prospect Dylan Cozens had a memorable 2016 season. (Frank Klose/Sports Talk Philly)

By Tim Kelly, Sports Talk Philly editor

While Philadelphia Phillies prospect Dylan Cozens has probably moved on to preparing for the 2017 season, he continues to be honored for his dominant 2016 season. 

Cozens was named MiLBY Top Offensive Player by milb.com Thursday, adding onto a long list of awards that he's won in 2016. Cozens had already won the Joe Bauman Award, which is awarded to the single-season minor league home run leader across all levels. He was also named one of the three Paul Owens Award winners in 2016, which is given to the top position player and pitcher in the Phillies minor league system. 

While playing for Double-A Reading in 2016, the 22-year-old batted .276 while hitting a Reading record 40 home runs and also driving in 125 RBIs. Cozens, who MLB Pipeline says is the No. 6 prospect in the Phillies organization, also stole 21 bases and posted a slugging percentage of .591. 

One scout estimated late in the season that Cozens will hit 'at least' 30 home runs per season when he reaches the major league level, though his game doesn't come without flaws. Even with as strong of a season as he had in 2016, Cozens struck out 186 times and is at best a serviceable outfielder in an organization littered with outfielding prospects. 

Cozens is likely to spend 2017 with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, as him and his fellow offensive star Rhys Hoskins move closer to the major leagues. 

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