Top 10 ROY Candidates: The Relievers

No rookie reliever has won the Pat Listach Rookie of the Year Award since John Rocker way back in 1999, but there were some impressive candidates this season! Will the long dry spell end this season?

Al Alburquerque (NWK): The 26-year-old righty has already won the Weirdest Name of the Year Award, but how about the 'Stach? Alburquerque posted a 2.19 ERA and 12.6 R/9 while going 7-3 with 25 saves. The first pick of the 2nd Round (#17) walked 42 but also struck out 85 in 61.2 IP.

Antonio Bastardo (RWY): This 26-year-old has won the Bad Ass Name of the Year Award. What a bastardo! The lefty, taken in the 3rd Round (#36 overall), went 1-4 with 5 saves while posting a 3.02 ERA, 11.6 R/9, 42 BB and 94 K in 86.1 IP. He led all rookies with 19 holds, which was tied for 2nd most in the league.

Aroldis Chapman (HPG): The fireballing Cuban posted a 2.12 ERA and 12.7 R/9 while going 2-5 with 3 saves and 15 holds. The 24-year-old walked 40  but struck out 70 in 51.0 IP. His 2.12 ERA was best among rookie relievers. Drafted in the 6th Round (#75 overall) in 2010 by Hoboken, but was traded to Hopatcong in 2011 along with a 1st Round pick (#6 overall) for the #3 pick in 2011.

Scott Elbert (ARK): The 26-year-old lefty setup man, drafted in the 10th Round (#149 overall), had a 4.12 ERA and 13.7 R/9 while going 5-2. He struck out 76 and walked 22 in 74.1 IP.

Greg Holland (HBK): The 2nd Round pick (#30 overall) went 6-4 with 10 saves (3.75 ERA, 10.1 R/9). He logged 105.2 IP while walking 39 and striking out 134. His 10.1 R/9 was tops among rookie relievers.

Craig Kimbrel (AMI): Amityville's closer led all rookies with 28 saves. The 24-year-old righty had a 3.22 ERA, 12.6 R/9, and walked 38 while striking out 106 in just 67.0 IP. He led all rookies in inherited runners who scored percentage (.167). Kimbrel was taken in the 11th Round (#148 overall) in 2011 by Hoboken, but was traded to Amityville along with a 7th Round pick for Hiroki Kuroda and Carlos Ruiz.

Sam LeCure (AMI): "Crime is a disease... and I am LeCure!" The 28-year-old went 7-4 with 6 saves while posting a 2.88 ERA, 10.2 R/9, 38 BB and 99 K in 122.0 IP. He was quite the bargain as a 7th Round pick (#111 overall).

Fernando Salas (RWY): The 27-year-old Mexican righthander, drafted in the 3rd Round (#43 overall), went 2-2 with 2 saves, with a 3.62 ERA, 10.8 R/9, 30 BB and 78 K in 82.0 IP.

Chris Sale (BRI/LV): Drafted by Bridgewater in the 5th Round in 2011 (#70 overall), the talented 23-year-old lefthander was dealt to Las Vegas along with a 10th Round pick for Tim Lincecum and Francisco J. Rodriguez. Combined, Sale went 10-5 with 4 saves and 15 holds, and a 3.44 ERA and a 11.4 R/9, with 62 BB and 152 K in 131.0 IP. He led all rookies in relief wins, innings, and Ks.

Jordan Walden (STL): The 24-year-old went 6-2 with 3 saves while posting a 4.50 ERA and 13.9 R/9. He walked 35 and sruck out 93 in 80.0 IP. The righty was taken in the 4th Round (#57 overall).

Top 10 ROY Candidates: The Starters

Last year the Pat Listach Rookie of the Year Award went to starter Travis Wood. Will it be back-to-back years for starting pitchers? Let's take a look at the candidates.

Henderson Alvarez (VAN): The 22-year-old Alvarez went 15-14 with a 4.24 ERA and 10.8 R/9 in 225.0 IP, with 32 BB and 109 K. The 2nd Round pick (#23 overall) tied for the rookie lead in shutouts (3) and complete games (5).

Brandon Beachy (BRI): The #2 pick went 16-7 with a 4.84 ERA and 13.6 R/9, with 78 BB and an amazing 220 K in 182.1 IP. The 25-year-old led all rookies in wins, winning percentage (.696), Ks, and tied with fellow rookie Cory Luebke for the league lead in K/9 (10.9).

Josh Collmenter (HPG): Collmenter posted a 4.47 ERA and 11.5 R/9 while going 13-12 with 45 BB and 122 Ks in 217.1 IP. The 26-year-old was drafted with the final pick in the 1st Round (#16 overall).

Dillon Gee (LIV/PHI/HIL): Drafted in the 10th Round (#154 overall) by Livingston, Gee was bombed in eight starts for the Last Place (2-5, 7.36 ERA, 16.7 R/9) and was released. Philadelphia claimed him off waivers; he went 1-2 with a 6.08 ERA and 12.5 R/9 in four starts, but they released him too. Hillsborough signed him and he went 5-4 with a 4.61 ERA and 13.3 R/9 but they cut him anyway. Too bad a fourth team didn't sign him as he was improving after each stop!

Jeremy Hellickson (BR): Don't be fooled by his mediocre 11-10 record; Hellickson was pitching for 13th place Blue Ridge, who scored him just 3.7 runs per game. Hellickson posted a 3.37 ERA and 10.2 R/9, leading all rookies in both categories. Among all DMBL pitchers, he was 2nd in H/9 (6.9) and 3rd in R/9, tied for 2nd in shutouts (3), and tied for 3rd in complete games (5). Philly drafted back in 2010 in the 13th Round (#176 overall) but traded him and an 8th Round pick to Blue Ridge in 2011 for Howie Kendrick and a 1st Round pick.

Philip Humber (ARK): The 29-year-old Humber, taken #5 overall, went 15-13 with a 4.21 ERA and 12.6 R/9 with 71 BB and 162 K in 220.0 IP.

Cory Luebke (HPG): One of this year's top lefties, the 27-year-old Luebke went 13-8 with a 3.74 ERA and 11.2 R/9. The #4 overall pick gave up 80 BB while striking out 242 batters, tying with Brandon Beachy for the league lead in K/9 (10.9).

Ivan Nova (STL): It was something of a surprise when the 25-year-old Nova was selected with the #10 overall pick, but he went a respectable 13-9 with a 4.63 ERA, 12.3 R/9, and 55 BB with 120 K in 196.1 IP.

Michael Pineda (ARK): The 23-year-old Pineda, drafted in the 7th Round (#86 overall) as an ineligible prospect last year, went 9-14 with a 5.20 ERA and 12.6 R/9, and tied for the rookie lead in starts with 33.

Vance Worley (BR): The third consecutive rookie starter taken in the 1st Round at #6 overall, the 24-year-old Worley went 12-10 with a 4.19 ERA, 12.1 R/9, 69 BB, and 169 K in 195.1 IP.

Top 10 ROY Candidates: The Batters

I know, I know... you want to vote for the Pat Listach Rookie of the Year, but you're not sure who is a rookie and who isn't! Don't worry... I got your back.

Here are the top 10 rookie batters, at least according to me. There are other rookies but no one better than the guys on this list.

Remember, the ROY is for batters and pitchers, so don't just vote for all batters! The pitcher list is coming up next.

2B Dustin Ackley (SAR): Drafted in the 3rd Round (#41 overall) way back in 2010 and then traded in 2011 along with a 1st Round pick for Cole Hamels, the long wait for the 24-year-old Ackley finally ended in 2012. He hit .244/.329/.356 (.685 OPS) with 22 2B, 5 HR, 57 R, and 52 RBI, and led all rookies with 65 walks.

CF Peter Bourjos (NWK): The 25-year-old came out of nowhere (7th round pick) to hit .288/.356/.490 (.846) with 26 2B, 12 HR, 74 R and 47 RBI while playing terrific defense in center field. Bourjos led all rookies in triples with 13.

1B/OF Lucas Duda (AMI): The #1 pick in this year's draft, the 26-year-old Duda hit .261/.341/.453 (.795 OPS) with 32 2B, 25 HR, 90 R, and 96 RBI. He led all rookies in runs and RBIs.

1B Jesus Guzman (BRI): The 28-year-old Guzman hit .300/.369/.448 (.816 OPS) with 47 2B, 12 HR, 85 R, and 82 RBI. The 2nd Round pick (#18 overall) led all rookies in BA, OBP, H, 2B, and total bases, and led the DMBL in SB% (22 steals in 24 attempts, .917).

1B Eric Hosmer (SAR): Drafted in the 3rd Round (#35 overall) of the 2011 draft, the 22-year-old Hosmer made his debut this year and lived up to the hype, hitting .287/.345/.537 (.882 OPS) with 33 2B, 26 HR, 70 R and 85 RBI. He led all rookies in SLG and OPS, and tied for the lead in HRs and extra base hits (63).

OF Desmond Jennings (MAR): Drafted in the 7th Round (#98 overall) in 2010 as an ineligible prospect, Jennings finally made his debut this season and hit .253/.354/.437 (.791 OPS) with 17 2B, 17 HR, 73 R and 68 RBI. He led all rookies with 24 stolen bases.

1B/CF John Mayberry Jr. (VAN): The #11 pick hit .257/.345/.489 (.833 OPS) with 18 2B, 26 HR, 63 R and 60 RBI. The 28-year-old tied for the rookie lead in homers.

C Wilson Ramos (AMI): Taken in the 2nd Round (#22 overall), the 24-year-old Ramos hit .254/.324/.451 (.775 OPS) with 26 2B, 20 HR, 67 R, and 70 RBI. He pounded lefties for a rookie-best 1.092 OPS vs LHP.

OF Eric Thames (LIV): This 8th round pick was an unexpected power source for the Last Place, hitting .255/.295/.457 (.752 OPS) with 33 2B, 20 HR, 56 R and 67 RBI. He tied for the rookie lead in extra base hits with 63.

2B Jemile Weeks (NWK): Drafted #3 overall, Weeks hit .273/.302/.387 (.689 OPS) with 36 2B, 9 HR, 67 R, and 64 RBI. He led all rookies in at-bats and plate appearances.