2021 Mitchell Award contenders

2021 was a wild and wacky year in the DMBL. Expansion brought the league from 16 to 20 franchises and the season was simulated on the 60-game 2020 MLB season, so statistics come with a bit of an asterisk.

The Mitchell Award, which goes to the league's best batter, only has room for 6 candidates, on a 10-7-5-3-2-1 voting system. Last year's winner, Christian Yelich of Sardine City, had a bit of an offer year (.184/.336/.370), so he's not a safe bet to repeat. But here's a look at about a dozen candidates -- in no particularly order -- who might get a look from voters:

Jose Abreu, 1B/DH, Vancouver

Abreu was the big bopper for a vaunted Vancouver lineup that averaged the second-most runs per game in the league (5.6). He led the DMBL in RBI (145) and slugging (.611), along with 49 HR, which ranked him 6th. He was 2nd in extra base hits (92), total bases (404) and OPS (.987). As for total bases, Abreu is likely one of only a handful of batters to eclipse 400 in a season. His 145.5 Runs Created (RC) was 3rd best in the league (behind Ke'Bryan Hayes of Blue Ridge and Livingston's Juan Soto) and his RC/27 of 8.3 was tied for 4th. He was especially destructive against right-handers; his 1.076 OPS vRHP was second only to Poovey Farms' Freddie Freeman. With all the sexy power, it might be easy to forget he was 3rd in the league with 211 hits.

Abreu suited up for 152 games, with 134 coming at 1B for the 4th-seeded Iron Fist, who won a tiebreaker over Sardine City for the DiMaggio Division after both squads won 103 games.

Byron Buxton, CF, Hillsborough

Buxton led the league in home runs, slugging 63 long balls (55 coming off RHPs) while manning center field in Hillsborough for 158 games. He ranked 7th in RBI (122) and 8th in slugging (.550) despite swatting just 18 doubles but showed enough pop to rank 3rd with 375 total bases. He also scored 99 runs with an iffy slash line (.243/.256/.550) and ranked 7th in extra base hits (82). The 28-year-old registered an incredible 181 strikeouts against just 7 walks for the 101-loss Hit Men but his 63 HRs matches Albert Belle for the 11th-most in a single season.

Will Smith*, C/DH, Vancouver

Smith is a contender for the Listach Award, which goes to the league's top rookie, as well as the Mitchell Award. Hitting in a lineup that includes Jose Abreu, batting champ Ty France,  and Anthony Rendon helps but Smith stood out on his own, usually behind Abreu in most major batting categories for the Iron First and among the league's top 10.

Fernando Tatis, Jr., SS, El Paso

A finalist for the 2021 Listach Award, Tatis was the straw that stirred El Paso's league-high 5.8 R per game offense. The Ryan Division champions secured the No. 2 seed, winning a tiebreaker over Tucson, behind Tatis and his 45 HR (8th) and 139 RBI (2nd only to Abreu). He also contributed with his legs, swiping 15 bases (7th) on 20 attempts for a .750 steal percentage, which was 3rd best in the league.

The Chihuahuas might also have some sleeper candidates, with 5 players topping 100 runs and 6 with at least 85 RBI, including 3 100+. For one, there's veteran 1B Paul Goldschmidt, who had a sneaky good year that was unlike his typical power season: .291/.413/.433 and 19-110-100 with 30 doubles in 162 games. In fact, he led El Paso with 121.5 RC and 7.1 RC/27, in addition to a league-high 134 walks and 768 plate appearances.

Juan Soto, OF, Livingston

The 2019 DMBL World Series MVP. scorched the DMBL in the second half on his way to a league-best 26-game hit streak, 143 runs, .428 OBP, 1.020 OPS, .526 second average, and 1.181 total average. Not only did the 23-year-old lead the DMBL in RC/27 at 10.4, he was way ahead of Ty France and K'Bryan Hayes (8.7)

Luke Voit*, Loudon/Hoboken

Voit mashed for a last-place club before getting traded to a playoff contender. Between Loudon (42) and Hoboken (18), he slugged 60 HRs, including 36 in the second half, and half of those coming in a playoff chase for Hoboken. Only Buxton hit more dongs. Voit finished 5th in RBI (123), tied with Vancouver's Will Smith and was second again to Buxton with 10.6 HR/AB. All those long balls contributed to 337 total bases, which was tied for 5th in the league with Blue Ridge's Jose Ramirez. He also placed 6th in isolated power (.296). The 60-HR plateau has only been reached 20 times in DMBL history.

Trea Turner, SS, Tucson

When you play 160 games at a premium position like SS, you don't have to do a whole lot. I guess it's a bonus when you do but Turner did more than that. He was 4th in the league in hits (208) and stolen bases (18) and total bases (344), 5th in runs and triples (14), and second in plate appearances (763). He was all over the place for the King Snakes and his 25-game hit streak was 2nd longest of the season. 

Jose Ramirez, Blue Ridge

Ramirez just lulls you to sleep because you get used to how much this mother-lover rakes. Yea, Ke'Bryan Hayes got a lot of headlines as the No. 1 overall pick, being Charlie Hayes's son, and having a huge rookie DMBL year but Ramirez was right there in the Bombers lineup as he's often been, ranking 6th in runs (113) and 10th in RBI (111) but more importantly, 4th in the extra base hits (90), including. a league-best 44 v. LHP. His 337 total bases was good for 5th in the DMBL (tied with Voit), including a league-high 155 total bases v. LHP. Ramirez slashed .254/.338/.539 with 44 2Bs. 

Ke'Bryan Hayes*, 3B, Blue Ridge

The 1st overall pick was a stalwart in the Bombers offense, starting all 162 games, including 129 at 3B. If he doesn't win the Mitchell Award, Hayes is still likely to make a serious run for the Listach Award. Check out the Listach Award writeup for more details on Hayes' impressive season.

Ty France*, 2B, Vancouver

France is another rookie who might make a mark in the Mitchell Award race. The 2021 batting champ will have to bank on his second-best 8.7 RC/27. Read more about his rookie year in the Listach Award writeup.

Freddie Freeman, 1B, Poovey Farms

The sweet-swinging 1B may not have led the league in any one batting category but you could find is name throughout the top 10. Freeman ranked 2nd in OBP (.421), including a league-best .462 v. RHP, and total average (1.012). He was 4th in OPS (.941) including a league-best 1.087 v. RHP.

He tied with Philly's Jared Walsh for 2nd in intentional walks (24) and his 116 walks overall were good for 6th in the league.

Marcell Ozuna, OF, Tucson

The 2018 playoff MVP came up with big hits for the 105-win King Snakes, recording 18 GW RBI. Ozuna ranked 3rd in the league in total average (1.000) and 4th in both RC/27 (8.3) and RC (140.1) while making 162 starts in the OF. He slashed .288/.404/.533 with 37 2B, 38 HR, 109 RBI and 134 runs, in an all-round great year in Tucson.

Jose Iglesias, SS, Hopatcong-Arkansas

Iglesias smacked a league-high 82 doubles, falling just short of Jose Ramirez's DMBL record of 84 set in 2018, and paced the Golden Falcons offense after being acquired from Hopatcong along with C Salvador Perez in exchange for 2nd and 5th picks in 2022. Iglesias transformed his season after leaving the Floating Fish, slashing .361/.388/.502 with 60 doubles in 102 games in Arkansas. His 233 hits were second only to Hayes.

Aaron Judge, OF, Sardine City

While the reigning Mitchell Award winner was under the Mendoza line all season, Judge was picking up the slack, driving in 124 RBIs (T3rd) on 51 HRs (5th). He also finished 5th in the league in SLG (.579) while batting a respectable .258 and .326 OBP. He led the DMBL in AB/HR (10.4).

Ronald Acuna, Jr., El Paso

It might be easy to forget about him because he's only 24 but he did lead the league's top offense with 113 RBI (9th in the DMBL), and ranked 2nd with 132 walks, all while playing 144 games in CF and 17 in RF.

The 240 strikeouts (T6th) might earn a demerit, along with his lame .219 batting average, but for you SABRmatricians, he did score a .366 OBP and .469 SLG, for a respectable .835 OPS.