2020 Listach Award contenders - batters

The thing about the Pat Listach Award, recognizing the DMBL's top rookie each year, is that there are only three slots on the ballot. In 2020, voters are going to have a helluva time deciding because they'll have to leave some outrageously good rookies off of their ballots.

One rookie led the league in RBI, there was another who led the league in stolen bases, plus a rookie hurler led all of DMBL in WHIP. I mean, come on! Votes are cast on a 5-3-1 basis. There's a clear top tier of front-runners for the award, who also might challenge for the Mitchell Award. Then there's another tier of solid rookies who would be hands-down favorites in any other year.

Here's a look at a few of the top candidates for the Listach (italics = led rookies; bold, italics = led league), followed by some honorable mentions:

Pete Alonso, 1B, Hillsborough
2019: 3rd round, 9th pick/41st overall (by Livingston)
.270/.340/.610--.964
60 HR, 139 RBI, 114 R
172 H, 33 2B, 2 3B
133.1 RC, 7.4 RC/27

As has become the case in recent years, some rookies will also be contenders for the Mitchell Award, as the league's most valuable batter, and Alonso will be among them. He led rookies in the big batting categories, and if he didn't, it was likely teammate Yordan Alvarez, becoming central Jersey's version of the Bash Brothers. It helped to bat in a lineup that had a seven players blast 30 homers, breaking the league record for a team, and was the DMBL's top offense.

Alonso didn't start his career with the Hit Men but came over as a prospect in a huge June 2019 trade from Livingston, along with Eloy Jimenez, and two 1st rounders in 2020, Livingston's (No. 16, John Means) and their own original pick (No. 1 Yordan Alvarez). In exchange, Hillsborough sent Mookie Betts, and a 3rd in 2020 (Gavin Lux) and 13th in 2020 (skipped).

Yordan Alvarez, DH, Hillsborough
2020: 1st Round, 1st overall
.290/.395/.587---1.028
48 HR, 124 RBI, 119 R
181 H, 39 2B, 1 3B
144.3 RC, 8.4 RC/27

The top overall draft pick should typically be among the best first-year players and Alvarez didn't disappoint, putting up a monster year at DH for a Hillsborough team that bludgeoned opponents. He came out of the gate scorching hot, among the league's leaders in batting and putting together a 21-game hit streak, which was the 2nd longest all season. Alvarez compiled 15 intentional walks, tops among rookies and 4th in the league. He also led rookies in categories that Alonso didn't, like RC, RC/27, OPS and total average.

Alvarez and teammate Alonso are connected in a way, involved in the same trade that brought Alonso to Hillsborough, but the original pick exchanged hands twice. Before the June 2019 Mookie Betts deal that included Alonso, Hillsborough's 2020 1st rounder (which was No. 2 overall before winning the lottery) was involved in a July 2018 trade when it was shipped to Livingston with a 1st in 2019 (11th overall, Shin-shoo Choo) and a 2nd in 2020 (2nd pick, RP Ryan Pressly), along with Eloy Jimenez and SP Joe Musgrove. In exchange, Hillsborough welcomed back SP Justin Verlander along with OF Alex Presley and RP Joakim Soria.

Fernando Tatis, Jr., SS, El Paso
2018: 4th round, 4th pick/52nd overall (by Livingston)
.306/.364/.595---.987
42 HR, 123 RBI, 94 R
167 H, 20 2B, 6 3B
119.3 RC, 8.2 RC/27

Tatis usually found himself just behind Alonso, Alvarez or both in most batting categories. While he led rookies in only one category, Tatis found himself all across the league's top 10 throughout batting categories, especially bludgeoning left-handers. He also manned 132 games at SS for the Chihuahuas and could find some support for the Mitchell Award despite El Paso's 93-loss season.

Tatis, who turns 22 in January, was drafted in 2018 by and El Paso traded for him in early 2019, sending a 1st that year (8th overall, via SF, Jose LeClerc) to Livingston and also got SP Trevor Williams.

Keston Hiura, 2B, Hillsborough
2019: 14th round, 11th pick/219th overall
.300/.361/.554---.936
34 HR, 96 RBI, 108 R
171 H, 37 2B, 3 3B
116.6 RC, 7.6 RC/27
10 SB, 2 CS

Hiura is probably the latest player drafted among the 2020 rookies and one could make a case for the Hit Men sweeping all three slots on a Listach Award ballot.

At one point this season, Hiura was Hillsborough's top rookie batter but it might be tough to be the league's top rookie if he's not the top rookie on his own team as Alonso and Alvarez could squeeze him out.

Jeff McNeil, 2B/3B, Livingston
2019: 2nd round, 9th pick/25th overall, by Blue Ridge
.295/.363/.487---.835
28 HR, 87 RBI, 124 R
196 H, 40 2B, 2 3B
121.5 RC, 6.8 RC/27

McNeil was drafted in 2019, missing eligibility for the 2019 season by just two plate appearances. He spent the season as Bombers' prospect and then, just before protected lists were due, was sent to Livingston in exchange for SP Zack Wheeler, 2B Brandon Lowe and a 4th in 2020 (16th/64th overall, C Francisco Mejia).

He made up for just missing 2019 with a big first year in 2020, leading rookies in runs scored and second only to Hoboken's Luis Arraez (197) in hits. He's one of those candidates who could run away with the Listach in most any other year but in 2020 he might just get lost amid all the enormous numbers. The lefty made 160 starts in all, 133 at 2B and 27 at 3B. He also led rookies with 17 GW RBI, tied for 2nd in the league with Mike Trout of Allentown and Xander Bogaerts of Poovey Farms.

Ramon Laureno, CF, Arkansas
2020: 1st Round, 6th overall
.295/.328/.547--.878
35 HR, 87 RBI, 99 R
153 H, 35 2B
13 SB, 5 CS
97.9 RC, 6.6 RC/27

Arkansas didn't make the playoffs or reach .500 so Laureno could be flying under the radar. Known for his arm and defense in CF, where played 121 games + 7 in LF, Laureno also showed off his hitting chops and power.

He led all centerfielders with 13 assists (Philly's Eloy Jimenez led all OFs with 15) with 7 errors.

There were a number of rookies who put up good numbers but likely just won't be able to find a spot on many ballots.

The aggregate numbers make Hoboken 1st round OF Willie Calhoun (15th overall) look like a legit Listach candidacy -- 32 HR, 95 RBI, 87 R -- in a typical year. This year, he trails a half-dozen rookies or more in homers and RBI and you'd have to ignore his paltry averages -- .250/.205/.439. Philly OF Eloy Jimenez has been around longest among this year's rookies, having been on a roster for three full seasons before finally becoming eligible. He was selected by Hillsborough in the 8th round of the 2017 draft (7th pick, 119th overall) before being dealt to Philly. Though he hit only .240/.281/.455, he also compiled 32 HRs and 78 RBI in 133 starts, including a league-best 15 assists out of LF.

Hopatcong had a trio of productive rookies. The Fish put 2020 2nd rounder (1st pick/17th overall) Cavan Biggio at 2B on opening day and just let him play. He hit a meager .195 in 162 starts but he deserves mention for the 109 BBs -- leading all rookies. His infield mate, SS Jon Berti (selected with the 1st pick of the 5th round (65th overall)), led rookies with 24 SB, and matching Trea Turner of Poovey Farms for the league lead. OF Mike Tauchman (3rd round, 1st pick/33rd overall) blasted 27 HR with 71 RBI and 75 R while hitting 36 doubles and a line of .264/.335/.475. He also was 2nd among LF in putouts and total chances.

Marietta 1st rounder Bryan Reynolds (11th overall) led rookies with 41 doubles, putting up respectable numbers overall in 151 games in the outfield, most in CF, where he had 12 assists and .933 fielding percentage (5th in the league) -- just 3 errors. Kevin Newman had a productive first year as Vancouver's full-time SS, third among rookies with 194 hits and his 10 triples were second among rookies to Phil Ervin, who had 12 as a platoon player in Sardine City. Newman, a 2nd rounder (9th/25th overall), hit .303/.346/.418 but was a less-than-stellar base stealer, caught more times (9) than bases stolen (5).