AJ Rogers ejects manager Brady Williams on July 18, 2011. (Paul R. Gierhart/MiLB.com)

“We are glad to have reached an agreement that will ensure labor peace with our umpires through the 2016 season,” stated Minor League Baseball executive vice president and COO Tim Purpura, who was involved in the contract talks. “The negotiations were conducted in a very professional manner this month.

“This agreement represents a commitment by our leagues and clubs to provide Minor League Baseball players and fans with professional umpires to officiate our games that were enjoyed by more than 41-million fans this season. It will allow us to manage the costs associated with our umpire program in an effective manner, and will help maintain our industry as an attractive form of affordable family entertainment.

“We commend the work of our negotiating committee which included International League president Randy Mobley, PBUC executive director Justin Klemm, and George Yund and Mekesha Montgomery from the law firm of Frost Brown Todd.”

The Bradenton outfielder became the first player to record 100 walks and 100 runs in the same season in seven years, and he led all Minor Leaguers in both categories en route to an MVP-caliber year.

Selected sixth overall in the 2008 Draft, Grossman set career highs in nearly every offensive category, including batting average (.296), homers (13) and RBIs (56). Capping a productive campaign, Grossman was named to the Florida State League’s postseason All-Star team.

Among his season highlights were 42- and 37-game on-base streaks — the top two marks in the league — a strong June where he hit .341 across 26 games and a red-hot doubleheader in August in which he went 6-for-8 with seven runs scored.

The 22-year-old was shortlisted for a MiLBY Award in the Class A Advanced Best Hitter category, and he was invited to go head-to-head with the brightest young prospects in the game in the Arizona Fall League — an offseason finishing school of sorts where he was also selected to the Rising Stars showcase.

MiLB.com talked with Grossman about learning to hit from both sides of the plate and his success in the AFL.

MiLB.com: You had such an impressive season with Bradenton. Have you been able to take anything from the year yet, or did going straight to the Arizona Fall League delay the evaluation of your regular season success?

Robbie Grossman: It was fun. I loved coming out to the park every day and trying to get better. I haven’t had a chance to look back on it yet, but I’m sure I will over the next couple weeks or months. I was proud how I was able to go about things every day and make the most of things.

MiLB.com: You’re the first Minor Leaguer to draw 100 walks and score 100 runs in a season since Nick Swisher accomplished the feat in 2004. How did that feel?

Grossman: It was a tremendous honor just to be mentioned in the same sentence as Nick Swisher. That was an honor in itself. I took it one day at a time. It was a lot of fun. I knew that I was a leadoff hitter coming into the season and I knew what my role was. I had to get on base, and I knew that if I did that the guys behind me would drive me in.

MiLB.com: In 2010 you appeared to project more as a doubles hitter than a home run threat, but then this year you hit 13 homers. What would you put that down to?

Grossman: I just got used to hitting left-handed more. I only had about one year switch-hitting in summer ball and the high school season. This year I got more accustomed to doing that and figuring out my swing.

MiLB.com: How hard is it to suddenly start batting from the opposite side when you’re so used to doing everything one way?

Grossman: I still have a lot of work to do, but I’m excited for what’s to come. A couple years of pro ball got me more at-bats left-handed against right-handed pitching, and it really paid off. It’s definitely taken me some time as you can see, but I’m happy with how it’s come.

MiLB.com: This season marked the second full year you’ve spent in the Florida State League. How much easier did you find it this time around?

Grossman: It’s a tough league. It’s a challenge with the ballparks and the conditions. Just Florida in the summer — it’s not easy. But I had fun with it and made the most of it every day.

MiLB.com: Other than batting left-handed, what else do you need to work on to take your game to the next level?

Grossman: I need to continue what I’m doing, and hopefully I’ll get better and I’ll get stronger. I’ll try to stay healthy and let the chips fall where they fall. I’m guessing I’ll be starting next year in Altoona in the Double-A Eastern League.

MiLB.com: How has playing in the Arizona Fall League helped you prepare for next year? You looked like you handled the jump in competition well.

Grossman: I’m having fun here. There are some good guys on this team, and we have a great coaching staff. There’s a great atmosphere. I’m just showing people what I can do and what I can bring to the table. I really don’t think the jump is that big, it’s more the conditions that are different. The difference between [Arizona] and Florida is totally night and day in terms of how the ball carries and how fast the fields play. The pitching is good, but I just had to step up my game and show people what I got. There’s a lot of people out there taking notes, and I had to go out there and show them that I could play.

MiLB.com: Back in 2008, you committed to the University of Texas. What was the deciding factor in choosing to go pro at that point? Were you ever worried about whether you had made the right decision?

Grossman: I sat down with my family, and I decided that this is what I wanted to do with my life. I thought I might as well get in and start now rather than later. I made the decision and never looked back since. I live my life with no regrets, and I’m glad about where I am today. I wouldn’t give anything in the world for it.

MiLB.com: You got a $1 million signing bonus as a teenager on Draft day — how did that amount of money change your life?

Grossman: It’s nice to have, but it really doesn’t mean much. I don’t see much of it, but it’s nice to have to help my parents. I gave them some money and put the rest of it in savings. The Pirates gave me a chance and I can’t thank them enough.

MiLB.com: Here’s a theoretical one for you. If you had the chance to man the outfield with any two players in baseball history, who would you pick and why?

Grossman: I’d probably say Ken Griffey Jr., Jim Edmonds or Craig Biggio. They were my favorite players growing up, and I like the way they played the game. They were obviously exciting players, and they played for a long time in the big leagues.

Eugene’s Cory Spangenberg hit .384 with 10 doubles and 20 runs. (Shari Sommerfield/MiLB.com)

The best performances in all Minor League Baseball™ classifications are again being honored by the Topps Company of New York, N.Y., in conjunction with Minor League Baseball.

Dean Green (22) of Berryhill, Okla., finished second in the New York-Penn League with 84 hits and a .520 slugging percentage. The Connecticut Tigers first baseman ranked third in the league with a .341 batting average and .915 on-base plus slugging percentage. The Detroit Tigers Drafted Green in the 11th round in June out of Barry (Fla.) University.

Cory Spangenberg (20) of Clark Summit, Pa., hit .384 with 10 doubles, 20 runs and a 1.080 OPS for the Eugene Emeralds. The second baseman played in just 25 games for the Emeralds before earning a promotion to Class A. The San Diego Padres selected Spangenberg in the first round (10th overall) in June out of Indian River (Fla.) State College.

Dante Bichette Jr. (19) of Orlando, Fla., led the Gulf Coast League with 47 RBIs, 67 hits and 17 doubles in being named the circuit’s Most Valuable Player. Bichette also excelled in the field for the Yankees by leading all GCL third baseman with a .945 fielding percentage. The New York Yankees, who promoted Bichette to the Staten Island Yankees in September, selected him 51st overall in June out of Orangewood Christian (Fla.) High School.

Joe Panik (21) of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., led the Northwest League with a .341 batting average, 92 hits and 54 RBIs with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. He tied for the circuit lead with 49 runs and led all NWL shortstops with a .964 fielding percentage in winning league Most Valuable Player honors. The San Francisco Giants took Panik with their first round pick (29th overall) in June out of St. John’s University.

Joc Pederson (19) of Palo Alto, Calif., led short-season players in the domestic-based leagues with 64 RBIs. He also finished in the top five in the classification with 94 hits and 54 runs. The Ogden Raptors outfielder was also among the Pioneer League leaders with his .353 batting average and 24 stolen bases. The Los Angeles Dodgers drafted Pederson in the 11th round out of Palo Alto (Calif.) High School in 2010.

Eddie Rosario (20) of Guayama, Puerto Rico, led short season players in the domestic-based leagues with 21 homers, 71 runs and a .670 slugging percentage. The Elizabethton Twins outfielder, who was named a Co-Player of the Year in the Appalachian League, was also among the top four in the classification with nine triples, a 1.068 OPS, 60 RBIs and 39 extra-base hits. The Minnesota Twins Drafted Rosario in the fourth round in 2010 out of Rafael Lopez Landron (PR) High School.

Mason Williams (20) of Winter Garden, Fla., led the New York-Penn League with 94 hits and tied for the league lead with 28 stolen bases. The Staten Island Yankees outfielder ranked second in the circuit with a .349 batting average and six triples. The New York Yankees selected Williams in the fourth round in 2010 out of West Orange (Fla.) High School.

Jorge Alfaro (18) of Sincelejo, Colombia, hit .300 with six homers and 23 RBI with the Spokane Indians. The catcher had a .481 slugging percentage, an .826 OPS and recorded 48 hits in 45 games. The Texas Rangers signed Alfaro as a non-drafted free agent in January 2010.

Elvis Araujo (20) of Maracaibo, Venezuela, led Arizona League pitchers with nine wins for the Indians. The left-hander, who missed the past two seasons due to injuries, also limited opposing batters to a .229 average, tops among AZL starters. Araujo’s 58 strikeouts and 1.14 WHIP ranked third in the league. The Cleveland Indians signed him as a non-drafted free agent in July 2007.

Branden Pinder (22) of Corona, Calif., went 2-2 with a 1.16 ERA and 14 saves for the Staten Island Yankees. The right-hander had a 0.68 WHIP and held batters to a .152 average. He struck out 38 in 31 innings and walked only five. The New York Yankees drafted Pinder in the 16th round in June out of Cal State Long Beach.

The full roster is below:

* combined statistics

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Organization All-Stars¬Arizona DiamondbacksAtlanta BravesBaltimore OriolesBoston Red SoxChicago CubsChicago White SoxCincinnati RedsCleveland IndiansColorado RockiesDetroit TigersHouston AstrosKansas City RoyalsLos Angeles AngelsLos Angeles DodgersMiami MarlinsMilwaukee BrewersMinnesota TwinsNew York MetsOakland Athletics

The Indianapolis Indians finished eight games above .500 with a 76-68 record in the International League’s West Division but were four games out of the Wild Card race, while the Altoona Curve finished last in the six-team Eastern League West.

The Bradenton Marauders’ strong showing after the All-Star break saw them clinch the FSL North Division second-half crown, and the West Virginia Power won its final five games of the year to end with an even .500 record in the South Atlantic League’s Northern Division. In the New York-Penn League, the State College Spikes went 31-44 in the difficult Pinckney Division.

Catcher — Ramon Cabrera, Bradenton (92 games): A Florida State League midseason All-Star, Cabrera put together a solid season with Bradenton. The 22-year-old switch-hitter batted an organizational-best .343 with 53 RBIs in 92 games — all career highs — in the heart of the Marauders order, including a blistering .380 against right-handers. No other full-time backstop in the system had more RBIs, hits (112), doubles (25) or runs scored (46) than Cabrera, who will enter his fifth year of pro ball in 2012.

Bradenton Marauders hitting coach Ryan Long said: “Cabby is an offensive-type catcher, but he understands the value of being a catcher first. … He is a natural hitter from both sides of the plate, and he uses his instincts well. … He seemed to be a much older hitter than he actually was.”

Larry Broadway the Pirates’ director of Minor League operations, added, “Cabrera really jumped forward after his first full season in 2010 and had an excellent offensive season. More walks than strikeouts for any everyday player is an impressive feat.”

First base — Matt Hague, Indianapolis (141 games): Hague hit .309 with 12 homers and 75 RBIs in 141 games with the Triple-A Indians in 2011. The 26-year-old also smacked a career-high 37 doubles and scored 70 runs.

The former ninth-round Draft pick, named to the IL’s mid- and postseason All-Star teams, had a batting average that ranked sixth among all Pirates Minor Leaguers, while his 75 RBIs ranked third.

Said Broadway: “Matt had a terrific season anchoring our Triple-A lineup in a ballpark that does not favor right-handed hitters. He has shown he can hit at every level he has played at, and 2011 was no exception. His consistency has earned him a spot on the 40-man roster coming into the 2012 season.”

Second base — Jarek Cunningham, Bradenton (80 games), GCL Pirates (2 games): Cunningham missed the last 48 games of the season after experiencing concussion-like symptoms, but the numbers he put up in the first three months showed the growth he had made since sitting out the entire 2009 campaign with an ACL injury. The 21-year-old smacked 15 homers and plated 51 runs in 310 at-bats.

Cunningham made two late-season appearances with the Pirates’ Gulf Coast League team before deciding he was healthy enough to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Mesa Solar Sox. It’s expected that the Spokane, Wash., native will begin 2012 back in the Florida State League.

“Talking with him after the AFL, is seems like he matured a lot,” Long said. “He learned how to handle his at-bats, and I think he has the capability of being a solid big league hitter. I think he could compete at Double-A [in 2012].”

“Jarek made improvements offensively this year that carried him into an invitation in the Arizona Fall League,” Broadway said. “Jarek has missed some time due to injuries in his brief career, but he has maximized his development time when healthy.”

Third base — Elevys Gonzalez, Bradenton (126 games): Gonzalez hit .322 and plated 83 runs — the most in the organization — this year in what many people consider to be his breakout season. If it wasn’t for a slight midseason slump, his numbers would have been even more impressive. He hit .379 in April, .400 in August and .396 with runners in scoring position. No other Pirates third baseman recorded more RBIs, scored more runs or hit for a higher average than Gonzalez.

“He got to know himself, and that was big for him,” Long said. “He is a guy that now knows what he wants to do at the plate, and he learned that if he has a hiccup to regroup. That is a sign of him maturing.

Broadway added, “Elevys played a full season at [Class A Advanced] Bradenton this year and led his team in RBIs and was second in batting average behind Ramon Cabrera. He played at a young age for his level and was not intimidated by the competition.”

Shortstop — Jordy Mercer, Altoona (72 games), Indianapolis (60 games): In his fourth year of pro ball, the Oklahoma State product graduated from the Eastern League to the International League. He hit .268 with 13 homers and 48 RBIs in Altoona before adding six more longballs and 21 RBI in 60 games with Indianapolis. Mercer led all shortstops in the organization in runs and RBIs, and his 19 total homers ranking first in the entire system, four more than any other Pirates prospect.

“Jordy split his season between Double-A and Triple-A where he really anchored down the middle of the infield. His continued improvement up the middle defensively has earned him a spot on the 40-man roster coming into the spring,” Broadway said.

Outfielders

Robbie Grossman, Bradenton (134 games): Grossman repeated the Florida State League in 2011, putting up historic numbers. He hit .294 with 13 homers and 56 RBIs out of the leadoff spot, but his real value came in the form of 100 walks and 100 runs scored. He became the first player to accomplish this feat since Nick Swisher last did it with the Sacramento River Cats back in 2004.

The switch hitter also stole 24 bases, making him the prototypical No. 1 batter in the lineup. A postseason All-Star with the Marauders, Grossman went to the Arizona Fall League in the offseason where he was named to the Rising Stars game and All-Prospect team.

“I still have a lot of work to do, but I’m excited for what’s to come,” said Grossman in a Q&A with MiLB.com last month. “A couple years of pro ball got me more at-bats left-handed against right-handed pitching, and it really paid off. It’s definitely taken me some time, as you can see, but I’m happy with how it’s come.”

Added Grossman’s hitting coach Long: “We look to see guys improve in their second time through the league. Robbie didn’t get wrapped up with being in the league again. … It sometimes takes time for a high school kid to get a professional approach. He cut down on the strikeouts, cleaned up his swing from the left side and gained confidence.”

Starling Marte, Altoona (129 games): Marte combined contact hitting, power and speed en route to a successful year with Altoona. He was a mid- and postseason All-Star and the Eastern League’s Rookie of the Year. In addition, he was named to the Futures Game as a World team member. Marte hit .332 with 12 homers and 24 stolen bases in 129 appearances. He also collected 38 doubles and eight triples, scoring 91 runs and driving home 50.

Broadway said, “An exciting player to watch, Starling has very good athleticism and speed to go along with the ability to hit. The scary thing is that he is starting to mature physically and is starting to develop power as well. His speed-power-hit combo is going to make him a very fun player to see mature.”

John Bowker, Indianapolis (106 games), Pittsburgh (19 games), Philadelphia (12 Games): John Bowker has been around the pro game since being a third-round pick in 2004, appearing in the Majors in each of his last four seasons. The outfielder made 31 Major League appearances in 2011 — 19 with the Pirates at the start of the year and then 12 more in September following a trade to the Phillies.

Bowker spent three-quarters of the year tearing up the International League with Indianapolis, raising his value enough during the first half of the season for Philadelphia to take a chance on him.

“John was a solid bat for us in Triple-A last year, driving in a lot of runs before we traded him to Philadelphia, where he got an opportunity in the Major league with them,” Broadway said. “He has hit wherever he has gone, and he anchored a young Triple-A lineup for us in Indy while he was there.”

Utility — Wes Freeman, State College (50 games), West Virginia (5 games): Freeman hit a combined .299 across two levels in 2011, including .304 with six homers and 25 RBIs in 50 games in the New York-Penn League. His average would have ranked fourth in the league if he had enough at-bats to qualify.

Now in his fourth year of pro ball, Freeman appeared much improved from a year ago, cutting down on his strikeout totals and flashing gap-to-gap power. He was named to the NYPL’s midseason All-Star team.

“Wes was one of our most improved players this year,” Broadway said. “He made some mechanical adjustments that freed him up and allowed him to have early success, which built up confidence, and he never looked back.”

Right-handed starting pitcher — Kyle McPherson, Altoona (16 games), Bradenton (12 games): McPherson combined pinpoint control with overpowering stuff in 2011. He went 12-6 between the Florida State League and Eastern League, striking out an organization-best 142 batters over 161 innings while walking just 27 batters. In 28 starts across both levels, the Mobile product posted a 2.96 ERA in 28 starts. His ERA ranked third in the system, while his 12 wins were topped only by Phil Irwin’s 13.

McPherson’s top performance was the first complete game of his five-year career, a nine-inning one-hitter in Bradenton’s 4-1 win over Brevard County on May 31.

Broadway said: “Kyle has three quality pitches that he can command in the zone and get some strikeouts with. We increased his workload this year and promoted him to Double-A where he continued to attack the zone with nearly a four-to-one strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has put himself squarely in our mix of young starting pitchers at the upper levels.”

Left-handed starting pitcher — Nathan Baker, Bradenton (29 games): Baker moved into the Florida State League full time in 2011, and it’s likely he will see time in the Eastern League in 2012. He was 10-8 with a 3.34 ERA in 29 appearances — including 25 starts — and he fanned 105 batters over 148 1/3 innings. Opponents hit .258 against the 6-foot-3, 190-pound hurler — exactly the same as a year ago — but whereas he surrendered six homers over 44 2/3 innings in 2010, he only allowed six long balls in more than three times as many at-bats this time around.

Broadway said: “Nate had a solid season for Bradenton, especially in the second half after working through some things early. The breaking ball is a work in progress, but he is aggressive with a low 90s fastball that touches mid-90s and has a good changeup to compliment from the left side, which is a recipe for success at any level.”

Relief pitcher — Tim Wood, Indianapolis (40 games), Pittsburgh (13 games): Selected back in the 44th round of the 2002 Draft, 29-year-old Wood had a solid season in the Minors in his first year as a closer; his 23 saves ranked second in the Pirates system behind Noah Krol’s 24.

He was 13-for-14 in save opportunities with a 2.96 ERA in 23 games for Indianapolis before being called up to the Pirates on June 10. Though his Major League 5.63 ERA and 0-3 record look rather unsightly, he did not allow a run in 10 of his 13 appearances.

After returning to the IL in early July, Wood went 2-0 with 10 saves in 17 chances before being traded to the Rangers, who outrighted him after the season. The Pirates have re-signed him as a Minor League free agent.

“He has power stuff, he attacked hitters and induced a high percentage of ground balls contributing to his success in Indy and ultimately earning him a promotion to Pittsburgh during the season,” said Broadway.

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Organization All-Stars¬Arizona DiamondbacksAtlanta BravesBaltimore OriolesBoston Red SoxChicago CubsChicago White SoxCincinnati RedsCleveland IndiansColorado RockiesDetroit TigersHouston AstrosKansas City RoyalsLos Angeles AngelsLos Angeles DodgersMiami MarlinsMilwaukee BrewersMinnesota TwinsNew York Mets

The Athletics farm system had an excellent season at the team level in 2011. Triple-A Sacramento posted the best record in the Pacific Coast League, winning its fifth consecutive division title (and 10th in 12 years) before being swept by Omaha in the PCL Finals. Double-A Midland finished 14 games under .500, but Class A Advanced Stockton, Class A Burlington and Class A Short-Season Vermont each advanced to the postseason in their respective leagues — Vermont for the first time since 1996.

More importantly for the future of the big league club, the organization had a number of prospects get ever closer to the Majors. First-round Draft picks Grant Green (2009) and Michael Choice (2010) were named Topps All-Stars at the Double-A and Class A level respectively, while veteran outfielder Jermaine Mitchell had a breakthrough year that will put him in the running for a job in Oakland in 2012. They were just a few of the A’s top performers this year.

Catcher — Anthony Recker, Sacramento (99 games), Oakland (five games): Recker’s seventh professional season was a big one for Recker, who set career marks in batting (.287), on-base percentage (.388) and slugging (.501). An 18th-round pick in the 2005 Draft, Recker made his Major League debut in a wild game in New York on Aug. 25 that saw the Yankees hit a Major League-record three grand slams in a 21-9 win over the A’s.

“It was a day I will never forget,” Recker told his hometown Lehigh Valley (Pa.) Morning Call. “It was an awesome feeling to get my first start in the big leagues and it was exciting to get out to a 7-1 lead. Unfortunately, it couldn’t continue.

“I just wish I could have contributed offensively,” said Recker, who went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and a walk.

Four days later — on his 28th birthday — Recker was named to the Pacific Coast League’s postseason All-Star team.

Recker led Sacramento in on-base percentage and drew a career-high 56 walks while playing 61 games behind the plate (where he threw out 25 percent of attempted base stealers), 25 at first base and 14 as designated hitter. Between May 21 and June 7, Recker batted .403 with seven homers and 17 RBIs during a 17-game hitting streak.

First base — Josh Whitaker, Burlington (113 games): A 25th-round pick out of Kennesaw (Ga.) State in the 2010 Draft, Whitaker surpassed all expectations in his first full season as a pro. The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder led the Midwest League with a .326 average, .556 slugging percentage and .957 OPS (his .402 on-base percentage ranked third).

“We actually didn’t send him out to Burlington for a week or two when the season started,” A’s director of player development Keith Lieppman said. “We just wanted to see where he was in extended spring training and make sure he was ready. He was ready.”

Whitaker spent most of his time (55 games) at first base, but also played 11 games in right field and served as Burlington’s designated hitter in 44 games. He was named to the Midwest League All-Star squad as a designated hitter and to the Topps Class A All-Star team as a first baseman. After hitting 17 homers — fifth-most in the Oakland system — in the Midwest League, Whitaker should be a force to be reckoned with in the California League next season.

Second base — Wes Timmons, Midland (39 games), Sacramento (56 games): In his first nine professional seasons — all in the Braves organization — Timmons had never hit better than .293 in any campaign. In his first year in the A’s system, the 32-year-old infielder bettered that mark by nearly 50 points, batting .341 to lead all Oakland full-season hitters. His .420 on-base percentage was second in the organization and he delivered a career-best eight homers and 62 RBIs in 95 games.

The Braves’ 12th-round pick in 2002, Timmons has always been a tough out, but never more than this year, when he struck out just 21 times in 401 plate appearances. The West Virginia native had Double-A Midland’s longest hitting streak — he batted .484 over 15 games between July 24 and Aug. 7 — as well as Triple-A Sacramento’s longest such streak (18 games between June 23 and Sept. 4).

The only place Timmons struggled was on the mound. He made his career pitching debut at Colorado Springs on Sept. 5, allowing one run on two hits in a third of an inning and suffering the loss.

Third base — Stephen Parker, Midland (132 games), Sacramento (five games): After a magnificent 2010 campaign that saw him hit 21 homers and drive in 98 runs for Stockton in the California League, Parker’s slugging percentage dropped 100 points this season. But he still had a fine year, batting .287/.373./.408 with 10 homers and 76 RBIs, fifth-most in the Oakland organization.

Parker also drew 71 walks, good for fourth in the A’s system, and was tied for fifth with 76 runs scored. After batting .265 in the first half of the season, the Brigham Young product hit .313 after the Texas League All-Star break and dramatically reduced his strikeouts while bolstering his walk rate.

The 2009 fifth-round pick made his Triple-A debut with Sacramento on Sept. 1, going 0-for-4 against Las Vegas, but collected four hits in seven at-bats at Colorado Springs the following night. In five playoff games with the River Cats, Parker went 0-for-12 with six strikeouts and five walks.

Shortstop — Grant Green, Midland (127 games): This selection is a bit of a misnomer, because Green spent the second half of the regular season and all of the Arizona Fall League campaign working on a transition to the outfield. Nevertheless, the 13th overall pick in the 2009 Draft was named to the Texas League All-Star team as a utility player and the Topps Double-A All-Star squad as a shortstop.

Playing in the outfield is “kind of boring” Green told the Odessa American.

“They said that the whole thing is just to get to the Major Leagues,” Green said. “If they say this is the best way for me to get there, the fastest way, I might as well do it.”

At the plate, Green hit .291/.343/.408 and ranked second in the A’s system with 154 hits. The University of Southern California product, who turned 24 in late September, was also second in the Texas League in hits and third with 33 doubles. He was named XM All-Star Futures Game MVP in July after leading the U.S. team to a 6-4 win with two doubles and an RBI.

“For him to make that adjustment to the outfield in the middle of the season was tough,” said Lieppman. “But he really improved as the season went along, and by the end of the [Arizona] Fall League, he was making some great plays out there. And as he settled in, it allowed him to focus more on his hitting.”

Designated hitter — Adrian Cardenas, Sacramento (127 games): Though possessed of less power than one might want from a designated hitter, Cardenas is a tough player to pin down to just one position. Apart from 34 games at DH, he played 44 contests in left field, 35 at second base, 13 at third and three at shortstop. The Florida native also batted in eight different slots in the order — all but cleanup — for Sacramento.

Cardenas hit no matter his position in the field or at the plate. His .314 batting average ranked fourth among full-season hitters in the A’s system and he tied Green for second in the organization with 154 hits. Cardenas, who turned 24 in October, struck out just 56 times while drawing 47 walks.

A first-round pick by the Phillies in 2006, the A’s acquired Cardenas in a deal for pitcher Joe Blanton in 2008. Though his natural position — second base — appears to be blocked in Oakland by Jemile Weeks, there should be room somewhere in the Majors for such a versatile player.

Outfielders

Michael Choice, Stockton (118 games): The A’s made Choice their first-round pick — 10th overall — in the 2010 Draft. In his first full season in 2011, the University of Texas product more than earned that high regard.

Playing center field for Class A Advanced Stockton, Choice led the Cal League with 30 home runs and ranked ninth in all of Class A with a .542 slugging percentage. His 30 homers and 82 RBIs were second-most in the Oakland system, while his 61 walks ranked sixth. Choice’s 134 strikeouts were fourth in the organization.

Choice batted .285 overall but hit .332 in the second half of the season, bolstered by a performance that saw him named Topps Cal League Player of the Month for July. Choice hit .416/.475/.820 with 10 home runs in 22 games during that month. He started it off with a team-high 17-game hitting streak between July 1-18 and matched Inland Empire’s Kole Calhoun for the Cal League’s longest on-base streak of the season: 47 straight games between June 5 and Aug. 11.

The slugger, who turned 22 in November, worked with the Ports coaching staff to shorten his swing and make more contact as the season went along. He fanned 82 times in his first 65 games, but just 52 times in his final 53 contests.

“I’m just looking for hard contact,” he said. “You can’t try to hit home runs; it doesn’t work that way.”

The work paid off as Choice received Cal League All-Star and Topps Class A All-Star honors.

Jai Miller, Sacramento (110 games), Oakland (seven games): The 26-year-old had a breakthrough season at the plate in his ninth professional campaign. Miller, who was set to play wide receiver and point guard at Stanford before signing with the Marlins in 2003, led the A’s organization with 32 homers, 88 RBIs and a .588 slugging percentage. He also ranked second in the system with 179 strikeouts, but stole 16 bases without being caught once.

Only Graham Koonce, who hit 34 long balls in 2003, had more homers in one season for the River Cats.

Miller got off to a strong start, batting .339 with six homers and 22 RBIs in 18 April games, and had a monumental July that saw him hit 12 homers and drive in 24 runs in 27 games, highlighted by a three-homer game at Las Vegas on July 8.

The Alabama native, who led all Triple-A hitters in slugging, was named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team as well as the Topps Triple-A All-Star squad.

Jermaine Mitchell, Midland (74 games), Sacramento (56 games): Mitchell, a fifth-round pick out of North Carolina-Greensboro in 2006, was one of the great stories of the 2011 Minor League season.

What Mitchell, who turned 27 earlier this month, accomplished was more than a mere power surge — he improved vastly in nearly every facet of his game, with results that proved terrifying to opposing pitchers.

Mitchell was among the Oakland organization’s offensive leaders in nearly every category: He batted .332 (second among full-season farmhands), had a .430 on-base percentage (first), 178 hits (first), 16 triples (first), 115 runs (first), 93 walks (second), 27 stolen bases (second) and 78 RBIs (fourth). He was tied for sixth in the Minor Leagues in runs scored, fourth in hits and third in triples.

Each of those stats represents a career mark for Mitchell, who batted .282 last season. The A’s added him to their 40-man roster on Nov. 18.

“He had a remarkable season,” said Lieppman. “It’s tremendous when a guy who’s a little older just has everything come together. Unfortunately, he’s recovering from knee surgery that may keep him out through Spring Training, but certainly he’ll have every chance to find a role in Oakland. He has game-changing speed.”

Right-handed starting pitcher — Graham Godfrey, Midland (one game), Sacramento (19 games), Oakland (five games): After a tough 2010 season in which he went 4-8 with a 5.33 ERA and a career-high 62 walks in 125 innings, Godfrey rebounded with a sterling 2011 campaign.

The 27-year-old College of Charleston product was 14-3 with a 2.59 ERA in the Minors and made his Major League debut on June 10, ultimately going 1-2 with a 3.96 mark in five appearances for Oakland. Godfrey led the A’s organization in victories and fell just shy of qualifying for the system’s ERA crown.

“Graham’s been outstanding [with] 14 wins in a season after being up and down,” Sacramento manager Darren Bush said as the River Cats prepared for the playoffs. “To be able to go up there [to Oakland] and be able to pick up where he left off every time he comes back has been huge for us.”

Though lacking overwhelming strikeout numbers, Godfrey has found success by keeping the ball in the park. He allowed six home runs in 107 1/3 innings in the homer-happy Pacific Coast League, but was victimized by three long balls over 25 frames in the Majors.

Honorable mention: Blake Hassebrock

Left-handed starting pitcher — Jacob Brown, Burlington (eight games), Stockton (20 games): A 26th-round pick out of Georgia Southern in the 2010 Draft, Brown opened 2011 with Burlington, where he proved dominant in his full-season debut.

In eight outings — seven of which were starts — for the Bees, Brown went 4-0 with a 1.62 ERA while holding Midwest League hitters to a .198 average.

Things did not go as smoothly for Brown after his promotion to Stockton on May 25. The southpaw yielded nine earned runs over 2 2/3 innings in his Cal League debut and dropped four of his first five decisions before holding host Bakersfield scoreless over six frames on July 13.

Brown’s second-half performance was much more solid than his first six outings with the Ports, but he continued to struggle with the long ball, allowing 16 homers in 99 Cal League innings after surrendering just one in 50 Midwest League frames.

Relief pitcher — Anthony Huttenlocker, Stockton (41 games): Relievers come in all shapes, sizes and styles, and the A’s system had several that stood out in different ways. Though he lacked overwhelming strikeout numbers and his WHIP (1.07) was not the lowest, the left-handed Huttenlocker led the group with a 4-0 record and a 1.83 ERA over 69 innings for Stockton.

“He’s a soft-toss lefty that has had to overcome doubts about his velocity,” said Lieppman. “But he has a plus-plus change-up and is a real bulldog on the mound — he’s proved a lot of people wrong in the three seasons he’s been with us. He reminds me a little bit of Wade LeBlanc.”

In his three seasons as a pro, Huttenlocker has allowed just six home runs over 159 1/3 innings — more than half of which were pitched in the Cal League. Those are numbers that will have scouts looking past the numbers on the radar gun.

Honorable mention: Josh Lansford, Zach Thornton, Jeff Urlaub, Pedro Vidal