2025 Listach Award contenders

The Listach Award ballot is always a tight fit with only 3 slots to vote for the top rookies.

This year could make the case to separate the Listach into two awards: one for batters and another for pitchers. It's usually a tough choice, between longtime prospects that finally got the call and sometimes one-year wonders who put up gaudy numbers for one glorious season. The ballot is based on a 5-3-1 points system.

Still, let's have a look at way more potential candidates than you need for the Listach Award. We'll present differently this year, with those listed below are in the order of when they were drafted, starting with the oldest (To be clear, there were other rookies in 2025 but these are the ones who put up numbers and enough playing time to at least warrant a mention):

Jackson Chourio, OF, Green Lake, 3rd round, 2023

The highly regarded prospect spent not one but two seasons in the Green Lake system before debuting this season in an all-rookie outfield for the Gators (along with Wyatt Langford and Wilyer Abreu). He makes the strongest case of the three with 34 HR, 76 RBI and 94 runs in a full slate of 162 games. He matched Newark's Jackson Merrill with 32 doubles, along with 4 triples. Chourio ranked right behind him among rookies in total bases (311), EBH (70), and runs created (90.0), along with 46 RC/27. Still just 21, the Venezuelan fashioned a solid line of .251/.290/.461 with a .751 OPS overall but struggled vLHP (.240/.278/.352). He led all rookies with 14 GWRBI while compiling 175 strikeouts against 38 walks (4.6 K:BB).

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, SP, Poovey Farms, 14th round, 2023

The 27-year-old Japanese import also spent two seasons in the Dairy Cows system before debuting in 2025. Going 13-11, 4.04 ERA for a rookie is more than acceptable though the 1.27 WHIP. He made all 33 starts, though only 11 qualified as quality, but he did rack up 222 strikeouts across 180.7 innings, which could draw some voters' interest. That 11.1 K/9 ranked 2nd among rookies behind Empire City's Paul Skenes (11.4).

Paul Skenes, SP, Empire City, 1st round (5th overall), 2024

Skenes led all rookies with a 2.32 ERA and nearly caught Zack Wheeler (2.28) for the ERA title. Thanks to a strong 2nd half, he sported a sterling 16-6 mark for the defending champion Trojans and eclipsed 200 innings (205.3) across a full 33 starts, with 1 complete game. Where Skenes might put forth his strongest case is in the power department. He ranked 2nd behind only Tyler Glasnow (268) in strikeouts with 260 and topped rookies in K/9 (11.4), which was 4th in the DMBL. His .572 OPS against was a fraction behind Blake Snell of Mountain Top (.571) for best in the league.

Jackson Merrill, CF, Newark, 5th round, 2024

On the batting side, Merrill led rookies in most categories, often edging out another Jackson (Green Lake's Chourio). He slashed .286/.306/.514, with an .820 OPS (including an impressive .558 SLG and .868 OPS vRHP), with 188 hits while swatting 36 HR, 32 doubles, and 5 triples, and scoring 96 runs, all among rookie leaders. The 338 total bases led all rookies as did his 73 EBH, 103.0 RC, and 5.7 RC/27. All but 5 of his starts were in CF too. He compiled 124K and 20 BB (6.2 K:BB), along with 12 GWRBI.

SP Shota Imanaga, Newark, 10th round, 2024

The lefty Japanese import is technically a rookie at 32. He had a losing record (10-14) but there's something to be said for a rookie who logs 196 innings and makes 33 starts even if fewer than half were of the quality variety (15, .455). He fashioned a 4.45 ERA and 1.29 WHIP to go with 176 Ks but was a little prone to the long ball, yielding 42 HR.

OF Colton Cowser, OF Philly, 13th round, 2024

Cowser had a good news/bad news season. The 205 strikeouts led all rookies and ranked 7th in DMBL but he can hang his hat on the fact that his 41 doubles were 2nd among rookies to only Green Lake's Wilyer Abreu. He matched his fellow rookie with 227 total bases despite a .227/.288/.394 slash line. He compiled a respectable 15 HR, 63 RBI and 73 runs scored. The 61 extra base hits (EBH) tied Tucson's Lawrence Butler for 5th among first-year players. The 3.7 RC/27 were a little on the weak side along with a respectable 63.8 RC.

RP Mason Miller, San Francisco/Hoboken, 14th round, 2024

Miller made the Experience's keeper list and debuted in 2025 but finished out the year in Hoboken after a deadline deal. While in Frisco, he collected 8 saves and 99 strikeouts in 55+ innings before being arguably better with the Cutters, fashioning a 0.66 ERA and 0.70 WHIP with 14 saves compared to his 2.12 and 0.94, respectively, with Frisco. Combined, Miller was a perfect 22-for-22 in saves (tied for 6th in DMBL in saves) across 82.7 IP in 63 appearances while striking out an absurd 141 batters (15.3 K/9). 1.64 ERA and 0.86 WHIP. 

Spencer Schwellenbach, SP, Green Lake, 1st round (2nd overall), 2025

Seeing as how he's a leading candidate for the McDonald Award, it's hard to fathom that he's not among the leading contenders for the Listach too. His 2.49 ERA ranked 4th in the entire league -- yet did not lead rookies. That was Paul Skenes (2.32), so maybe it's not a foregone conclusion. Still, Schwellenbach led rookies in plenty of other categories, including innings (227.3, 2nd in DMBL and 20+ more than Skenes), and topped the league with 8 CG and 5 shutouts (both among the highest totals in almost a decade), and 0.86 WHIP. He logged 22 quality starts out of 32 starts overall, which was again among the top 10 in the league. If there is a weakness for his case, maybe it's that he didn't overpower batters the way Skenes did with "only" 201 strikeouts, for 8.0 K/9. Did we mention his 22-5 record, which is a top 10 all-time win total and one short of the rookie record (set by Durham's Sonny Gray in 2014)? Oh, and don't forget his no-hitter. 

Luis Gil, SP, Mountain Top, 1st round (4th overall), 2025

Gil is on this list more as an honorable mention than anything as he's probably not going to find his way on one of the 3 spots on the ballot. The 9-13 mark (thanks to 3.7 runs/game by the Chili Dogs in his start) doesn't help though the 1.13 WHIP and 3.69 ERA are solid. The 27-year-old Dominican did make 32 starts and compiled 189 Ks across 183 IP, which for a rookie is more than respectable and most years would find some support. 

Xavier Edwards, DH/SS, VAN, 1st round (6th overall), 2025

The 30 extra base hits (EBH) may not look like much when other rookies had twice that but Edwards was the table settler for a potent Vancouver offense. Where he made his mark was a rookie-best 53-18 on stolen bases, behind only league leader Victor Robles of Allentown, who finished with 55. His 7 triples led all rookies, besting a number of others who had 5. Edwards also challenged for the batting title for parts of the season, finishing .293/.364/.356 in 155 starts (96 at DH, 59 at SS).

Edwards' 188 hits trailed only Merrill among rookies and his 5.1 RC/27 was 3rd among those who qualified while his 88.2 RC ranked 4th. His 66 BB was 2nd among rookies, behind only Sardine City's James Wood (68), who was drafted in the 7th round of 2023.

Lawrence Butler, OF, Tucson, 1st round (13th overall), 2025

You're not going to win many awards batting .225/.267/.439 but you will if you crank 33 HRs, which ranks right up there with other rookies, trailing only the two Jacksons. In 153 games, Butler also drove in 88 RBI and scored 72 runs while adding 14 SBs (against 3 CS). That free-swinging power stroke showed in his 187 strikeouts (2nd most among rookies) and 32 walks (5.8 K:BB). His 71.4 RC was 5th among rookies, just behind Wilyer Abreu of Green Lake (71.8).

Wilyer Abreu, OF, Green Lake, 1st round (19th overall), 2025 

Abreu had a more than solid first season in Green Lake. He first was drafted by Blue Ridge in the 15th round of the 2024 draft but was released in late March of that season. The 26-year-old Venezuelan led all rookies with a team-high 49 doubles (3rd in all of DMBL) to go with 5 triples, 14 HR, 63 RBI, and 61 runs, which helped him rack up 68 EBH, just behind teammate Jackson Chourio. He trailed other rookies with 71.8 RC but made up for it with 5.0 RC/27, playing a strong side platoon, with 142 starts. Abreu compiled 227 total bases while sporting a solid .253/.319/.455 slash line and .774 OPS. The 3.5 K:BB is among the better ratios among rookies, with 160 Ks to 46 BB overall.

RP Edwin Uceta, RP, Livingston, 2nd round (31st overall), 2025

There's usually a standout rookie reliever or two that has an outstanding first year and then goes dark for awhile. On the former, that's Uceta; on the latter, that's still be determined. There's also Cade Smith, who did a little bit of everything out of the Blue Ridge bullpen after being drafted 3rd overall this year. he went 5-3 with a 1.44 ERA, logging 3 saves, and putting up 123 Ks in 93.7 IP (11.8 K/9), oh, and a 0.96 WHIP.

But it was Uceta who led relievers in wins (13-7, 2.64 ERA) and topped rookies in games finished (51, tied for 4th in the league). He converted on 21 of 28 save opportunities and ranked 2nd in DMBL in inheritaged runners scored (.103). The 27-year-old Dominican logged a workman-like 101 games and 136.3 innings while striking out 190 batters (12.5 K/9) while compiling a 0.85 WHIP.

Tyler Fitzgerald, SS/OF, Vancouver, 2nd round (37th overall), 2025

Fitzgerald was among the last of the top-tier bats taken in the draft and he did a little of evertyhign for the Iron Fist, with 95 starts at SS and another 46 in RF. He tied for 6th in DMBL with 25 SB against 6 CS, which was 2nd among rookies to teammate Xavier Edwards. The 28-year-old trailed some other rookies in the power department but was still respectable: 29 HR, 77 RBI, 76 runs scored, and 35 doubles. He had a productive line of.270/.317/.496 and was particularly effective v. LHP (.604 SLG ranked 4th in DMBL and 2nd among rookies to San Francisco's Heliot Ramos, .750). Where Fitzgerald makes his case is his RC/27 (5.8) which topped all rookies and his 92.7 RC trailed only Merrill, along with 67 EBH and 281 TB, which were among rookie leaders.

Otto Lopez, 2B, Merrill Creek-Philly, 3rd round, 2025

I'm not gonna lie, the .394 SLG is not inspiring except that Lopez was a top-of-the-order guy who, despite that meh SLG, still smacked 38 doubles, which was 3rd among rooks. Where he really shined though was on the basepaths. The 19 SB were just shy of the DMBL top 10 but 3rd among rookies and he was only caught once! That made for a brilliant .950 SB% to lead DMBL. Most of those numbers were compiled during 80 games for Merrill Creek before Lopez was shipped to Philly where he started 46 at the keystone.

D.J. Herz, SP, Tucson, 5th round, 2025

Talk about unheralded. The 5th rounder put together a better season than some pitchers taken much earlier. Sure, the lefty enjoyed 5.2 runs of support per game by the Tucson offense but you can't discount a 3.20 ERA and 1.18 WHIP.  The 15 wins ranked 7th in the league and 3rd among rookies while his .750 win percentage edged Skenes for 2nd among first-year pitchers. The 10.3 K/9 (180 in 157.3 IP) led King Snakes starters and fell just outside the DMBL top 10. One knock on the 25-year-old North Carolina native might be that IP total and just a .500 quality start percentage (14 of 28).

Honorable Mentions

Not everyone can fit on the ballot and these players won't challenge anyone for the Listach but they at least warrant a mention for the numbers they put up in 2025.

James Wood, OF, Sardine City: Among those on this list, only Jackson Chourio was drafted earlier. Wood went in the 7th round of the 2023 draft. The Straphangers gave the 23-year-old plenty of playing time with 120 starts, all but 6 at DH, and making it into 155 games overall. He led rookies with 68 walks and put up a respectable 12 HR and 59 RBI with 71 runs. His 65.4 RC and 4.8 RC/27 ranked in the top 10 among rookies.

Romy Gonzalez, UT, Hoboken: The penultimate pick of the 6th round compiled an impressive slash line of .310/.363/.574 and .937 OPS thanks to a focus on left-handers. Gonzo blasted 11 HRs in just 55 games and 168 PAs. The 29-year-old out of Florida was eligible all over the infield but made all 43 starts as part of a 1B platoon in which he bludgeoned lefties to the tune of .331/.386..661 and 1.048 OPS. He compiled 7.5 RC/27 (which would rank 7th in DMBL if he did it in more playing time) but only 31.5 RC while adding 8 SB against 4 CS.

Jonah Bride, 1B, Livingston: Drafted in the 2nd round, the 29-year-old out of Milwaukee put his name in the DMBL record books when he hit for the cycle in April. He was 5th among rookies with 24 HR and 74 RBI and ranked in the top 10 among first-year players in EBH (43), TB (218), RC (64.3), and RC/27 (4.6) as part of a strong-side platoon at 1B where he made 116 starts.

Ivan Herrera, C, Livingston: The first catcher off the board in the 2025 draft at No. 11 overall, Herrera had the highest batting average of any rookie (.300/.362/.439) but his 403 PAs fell short of qualifying. Another 109 PAs and it would have ranked the 25-year-old Panamanian 6th in league's batting race. The 8 HR and 35 RBI don't look like much but consider he's a catcher. Plus, he scored 50 runs and cranked .801 OPS. More impressive may be his 5.9 RC/27 and 58.4 RC. 

Heliot Ramos, OF, San Francisco: Another lefty-killer, the 26-year-old from Puerto Rico was drafted just ahead of Herrera at No. 10 overall. He made 67 starts in CF for the Experience, putting up 6.6 RC/27 and 52.7 RC. He compiled 24 HR and 46 RBI with 54 runs scored while slashing .270/.323/.574 for an .893 OPS. But against lefties, he was downright lethal: .327/.399/.750 and 1.149 OPS. That's probably why he led rookies with 7 intentional walks (2 more than Cowser).