Twins announce Twins Minor League Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year

The Minnesota Twins announced the two award winners for the Twins Minor League on Thursday.

Minor league outfielder Matt Wallner has been named the 2022 Sherry Roberson Award winner for the Twins Minor League Player of the Year. Right-handed pitcher Louie Varland is the 2022 Jim Rantz Award winner for the Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

Both players are Minnesota natives. The Twins say this is the first time that both winners in the same season are from Minnesota.

24-year-old Matt Wallner is from Forest Lake and played for the University of Southern Mississippi. He played his minor league season for the Double-A Wichita Wind Surge and then the Triple-A St. Paul Saints. He was named the Twins minor league Player of the Week four times during the season. He led the Twins minor league in three categories: RBI (95), doubles (32), and total bases (248).

Wallner made his Twin Major League debut on Sept. 17 in Cleveland, where he recorded a solo home run.

St. Paul native Louie Varland, 24, also split his minor league season between the Wichita Wind Surge and then the St. Paul Saints. He was named the Twins minor league Pitcher of the Week four times. He led the Twins minor league in strikeouts (149) and innings pitched (126.1), and tied for games started with 23.

Varland played college ball for Concordia University in St. Paul. He made his Twins Major League debut on Sept. 7 at Yankee Stadium, where he struck out seven batters while playing just over five innings.

Wallner and Varland will receive their awards at the Twins 18th Annual Diamond Awards.