This year's rookie class is deep and one could make a case for any number of them to be included on the ballot for the Pat Listach Award.
But while the field might be deep in 2023, there's a clear top tier of candidates. And yet, it'll probably be tough to choose just 3.
The Pat Listach Award recognizes the DMBL's top rookie, defined as the year in which a player qualifies for DMBL for the first time (200 plate appearances for batters, 10 starts for starting pitchers, and 30 appearances or 50 innings for relievers).
The trickiest part about the Listach is that the ballot only has 3 spots, with a points system of 5-3-1. Between pitchers and batters, there are always numerous worthy candidates who must be left off. And this year is no different as you could conceivably put together a 3-player ballot each for batters, starters, and relievers. So, where to begin?
PITCHERS
Let's start with...starters. There's one line of thinking that it's more difficult to find success as a first-year starter than it is as a first-year batter.
With that said, it's safe to say that Spencer Strider of Hillsborough met or exceeded expectations of being the top overall pick in 2023, which is not always the case. He not only led rookies in most pitching categories but was among the league's leaders, and likely to make a case as a Ben McDonald candidate. His 292 strikeouts are his calling card, ranking 2nd in the DMBL to Livingston's Jacob de Grom (331) as was his 13.7 K/9. His stellar 0.99 WHIP and 2.63 ERA were among the league's top 10 and while his 191 2/3 IP and 13-7 mark weren't, they were among rookie leaders in an All-Star first season.
For comparison, 2022 No. 1 overall pick Alek Manoah put together this line for Rockland last year: 12-12, 4.47 ERA, 199.3 IP, 199 Ks, 1.19 WHIP, 4 CG, 2 shutouts.
Another 1st rounder who came up big this year was Rockland's Kyle Wright. He was the workhorse of the rookie class, hurling 4 complete games to lead rookies (and match 5 other starters for 2nd in the DMBL), and 3 shutouts. He led rookies with 208 IP and 24 QS (.750) while 2.81 ERA was good for top 10 in the league and his 1.05 WHIP was close but 3rd among rookies.
Most other 1st rounder starters in 2023 aren't serious candidates for the Listach, i.e., Nick Lodolo, Hunter Greene, Reid Detmers, Roansy Contreras, Bailey Ober. Of course, there are other candidates but they were drafted as ineligibles who broke through in 2023.
Take Erie's Edward Cabrera. He was drafted in the 4th round in 2021 by Livingston, who shipped him to Erie that offseason with SS Tim Anderson for OF Starling Marte. Cabrera spent 2022 on the Snow Wolves' taxi squad before breaking in this season. It was worth the wait as he made the All-Star Team and led all rookies in wins (14-8), just ahead of Strider (13), Wright (12) and a trio of 11-game winners (El Paso's George Kirby, J.P. Sears who was drafted by Vancouver this year but dealt Tucson, and Beau Brieske of Hoboken). And if wins are not important to you, Cabrera led rookies with a 0.93 WHIP, good for 6th in the league, plus a respectable 3.33 ERA in 183 2/3 IP. He led
all pitchers in batting average against (.156) and H/9 (4.9) while ranking in the top 10 in the league in R/9 (9.3) and OBP (.260). One drawback for Cabrera are his walks (72, 8th in DMBL) and HR allowed (38, 5th).
RELIEVERS
One-year wonders in the bullpen can sometimes be a dime a dozen, which can be a challenge to make a serious case as Listach candidates. How about leading the DMBL in saves as a rookie? Hopatcong's Jimmy Herget had 35 saves to tie for the league lead with Sardine City's Daniel Bard and matched Joey Devine's 35 saves for Newark in 2009, which is likely the rookie record. His 42 save opportunities led the DMBL (.833 save %). In the more obscure yet important stats for relievers, Herget ranked 2nd in the league with .122 inherited runners scored (5/41). It was Hopatcong's rookie-filled bullpen that powered them to an 87-75 mark.
There was also Domingo Acevedo, who led the league with .100 IRS (4/40) to go with an impressive 0.94 WHIP. Yet another rookie, Ron Marinaccio, ranked 4th in the league in IR% (.167, 6/36) and led their 'pen with a 1.86 ERA. And there was Jhoan Duran, he of the 1.86 ERA and 5.5 K/BB.
But really, when it comes to the bullpen, it's all about the heat. That's where El Paso's Andres Munoz comes in. He led the rookies in strike percentage (.686) and 15.6 K/BB and his 12.5 K/9 trailed only Strider. He was 3rd among rookies with 21 saves, out of 25 opportunities for a .840 save percentage. Felix Bautisa led all rookies in Save % (.879), locking down 29 of 33 opportunities for Arkansas while sporting a 2.23 ERA and 11.5 K/9.
Both Arkansas and Sardine City might have relievers who get lost in the shuffle because they weren't the primarily closers yet played pivotal parts in their respective bullpens. Evan Phillips, an All-Star, only had 6 saves for the Straphangers but sported an 8-2 record and 1.71 ERA across 94.2 IP while leading rookies with 7.9 R/9. He also sported an .129 IR% (4/31). Meanwhile Alexis Diaz only had 5 saves but fashioned a 2.20 ERA and a league-high 33 holds (two shy of the single-season record). The pair topped rookie RPs with a stellar 0.80 WHIP.
Kudos to Chase DeJong of Erie for leading all rookie relievers with 134 1/3 IP.
BATTERS
Oscar Gonzalez of Rockland saw the most action, leading all rookies in plate appearances (723), just ahead of Marietta's Joey Meneses (708). He and fellow rookie teammate Jeremy Pena topped rookies with 16 GW RBI and Gonzalez (.282/.311/.439) also had the longest hit streak among rookies (20 games). He ranked 2nd overall in doubles (45) and hits (194).
It was Meneses, a 1st rounder, who topped rookies in hits (204, 2nd in DMBL) and batting (.304, 4th in DMBL), and tied among rookies in total bases (320, with Hoboken's Michael Harris) and doubles (47, with Adley Rutschman). Only Hopatcong's Julio Rodriguez and more RC and OPS than Meneses (96.3 and .818, respectively).
For those who like power, Blue Ridge's O'Neil Cruz had the most HRs among rookies (34, 10th in the DMBL) and finished tied for 7th in the entire DMBL in SLG (.509).
In addition to leading rookies with 320 total bases, Harris (.266/.295/.490) had the most RBI (99) - just ahead of Pena (95) and Gonzalez (93) - and extra base hits (76). In particular, the 15th-round pick in 2022 led all of DMBL with 95 RBI v. RHP. His 31 HR matched J-Rod for 2nd among rookies and his 14 SB were 2nd to Tucson's Jake McCarthy, who led the league with 29, and 2nd in runs scored (89), behind only Steven Kwan of Erie (97).
McCarthy also was 3rd among rookies in batting (.293) and with only 4 CS, his .879 SB% was better than anyone not named Jose Altuve (.882). He sported a sharp .293/.328/.445 line overall in 150 games.
Selected in the 9th round waaaay back in 2020, Julio Rodriguez (.281/.330/.494) led all rookies with 98.8 RC and .824 OPS, helping to pace the Hopatcong offense. He was 2nd to Harris and Meneses in total bases (304) but tops among rookies with 187 strikeouts in 155 games (148 starts in CF).
In addition to runs scored, Kwan (.296/.368/.412) led rookies in OBP (.368), ahead of Vinnie Pasquantino of Arkansas (.361) and Rutschman (.354), who also led rookies in walks (87). Kwan was 2nd in RC/27 (5.7) behind only J-Rod (5.8).
Rutschman quietly had a strong rookie year, especially after being dealt from Green Lake (.218/.332/.410) to Hoboken (.284/.397/.533). He ranked 3rd among rookies in extra base hits (68, 9th in the league) and OPS (.805) thanks to leading first-year players in doubles (47) and walks (87, tied for 5th in DMBL). He had the most doubles vRHP in DMBL, 45, one more than Erie's Jeff McNeil.
For other under-the-radar rookies, San Francisco's T.J. Friedl blasted 18 triples to lead the league and 20 HBP ranked 4th, 1st among rookies, though his .233/.301/.390 line in 162 games leaves something to be desired.
So, anyone one who's been left out? Remember, you can only choose 3!
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