2024 Pat Listach Award: Nolan Jones

Despite being traded midseason, Nolan Jones won the Pat Listach Award as the league's top rookie, becoming the second consecutive No. 1 overall pick to take home the award.

2024 Pat Listach Award contenders

Rookies are a funny bunch. Some are drafted in the 1st round and make an immediate impact. Others are drafted as prospects and may spend years on rosters before they even make an impact - if they ever do.

2023 Pat Listach Award winner: Spencer Strider

Almost a dozen rookies garnered support but in the end it was a runaway for the 2023 Pat Listach Award, honoring the DMBL's top rookie.

2023 Pat Listach Award candidates

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.

2022 Listach Award winner: Tanner Houck

Tanner Houck of Tucson edged Vancouver's Frank Schwindel to win the 2022 Pat Listach Award, honoring the DMBL's top rookie, in one of the closest votes in league history after several years of runaway winners.

2022 Pat Listach Award contenders

Batters usually outshine pitchers in the rookie race with gaudy power numbers but this year there seemed to be a bumper crop of 1st-year hurlers, ranging from the spectacular to solid.

2021 Listach Award contenders

The last few season have seen some tremendous rookie performances and not just one-year wonders but first-year players who have gone on to become cornerstones of their franchise.

2020 Pat Listach Award winner: Pete Alonso

Pete Alonso slugged 60 home runs and drove in a league-high 139 RBI on his way to the Pat Listach Award, honoring the DMBL's top rookie. It's a league-record fourth Listach Award for the Hillsborough franchise.

2020 Listach Award contenders - pitchers

Pitchers seem a little behind the 8-ball when it comes to the Pat Listach Award. First-year batters have put up such absurd numbers in recent years that they've runaway with the Listach and even contended for the Mitchell Award. But maybe this year is different.

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.

2019 Pat Listach Rookie of the Year Award

It seems the only suspense for the Pat Listach Award was who would finish second.

2019 Pat Listach Award ROY candidates

Recent drafts may have ushered in a new era, with a changing of the guard among some of the DMBL's stars upon arrival of some impressive youngsters. The 1st round in 2018 saw three ineligible prospects chosen within the first seven picks, including No. 1 overall for the first time ever, along with some fruitful late-round prospects selected the past two years.

2018 Listach Award Winner

Empire City OF Aaron Judge became the first Listach Award winner in franchise history and was a unanimous pick among the handful of DMBL owners who cast ballots.

2018 Listach Award candidates

The 2018 season has continued a trend in recent years of monster seasons from first-year players. These guys have put up not just Listach-worthy campaigns but have challenged for the Mitchell Award in their rookie seasons.

2017 Listach Award winner: Gary Sanchez

Hopatcong's Gary Sanchez blasted a league-high in home runs, a consistent power display that has earned him the Pat Listach Award as the DMBL's top rookie in 2017, outdistancing four other first-year players in official balloting.

2017 Listach Award candidates

There were some historically good rookie seasons on display in 2017 amid others that were remarkable yet pedestrian by comparison, that in any other season could warrant hardware like the Pat Listach Award.

2016 Listach Award winner: Miguel Sano

Miguel Sano became the third rookie of the year winner in franchise history and a near-unanimous pick after a power-laden first year.

2016 Listach Award Candidates: Pitchers

The Pat Listach Rookie of the Year Award is given to the top rookie in the DMBL. This week we take a look at the top candidates in 2016 among pitchers.

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.