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They say you really can't grade a draft until a few years later but that doesn't stop the gasps and guffaws in the war room that some picks bring. And what better time to review last year's first round selections than on this revered holiday that is draft day. (The asterisk indicates the player was protected this past offseason.)
1. Lucas Duda*, OF, Amityville
 |
Duda arrived hoping his batting and some
fashion sense rubbed off on the Ant Slayers. |
The Ant Slayers maneuvered up to pry away the top pick from Hopatcong and move up just one slot, for the price of a 2013 second-rounder. Duda had a excellent rookie campaign, bashing 25 home runs and 32 doubles, with 96 RBIs and 90 runs scored (the latter two categories best among rookies). He hit a reasonable .261 while most all of his damage was done against righties, slugging .496, as the Ant Slayers primary first basemen.
Duda finished fourth in the Pat Listach Rookie Of the Year Award voting, earning a 1st-place vote and a 3rd-place vote (6 points). Amityville must still believe in the lefty power bat, protecting him in the offseason, but he's not likely to see action with the big club.
2. Brandon Beachy*, SP, Bridgewater
This pick originally started with Amityville but after a flurry of picks changed hands between the Ant Slayers and Hopatcong and Bridgewater, it was the Mallers who ended up with it. Beachy was impressive, finishing with a team-high 16 wins (leading all rookies) against 7 losses and a sketchy 4.84 ERA and 1.48 WHIP. Still an impressive year, mind you, with 220 Ks in 182.1 innings and 32 starts. Most of his success came in the first half, propelling the rookie into the starting role for the Diamond League all-stars, gaining 10 votes, just ahead of Philly's Roy Halladay, with nine.
Beachy tied for 5th in Listach voting (with Corey Luebke, Al Albuerqueue and Craig Kimbrel, all garnering one 1st-place vote (5 points). He was dealt to Las Vegas in the offseason for a slew of draft picks where he's expected to team with the likely top pick in this year's draft, Kris Medlen.
3. Jemile Weeks, 2B, Newark
The best thing you can say about Weeks was that he led all rookies in at-bats (662) and plate appearance, starting 160 games at 2B for the Sugar Bears. He did pop 36 doubles and collect 181 hits in an otherwise mediocre season that saw him hit .273. Weeks was a 50-50 chances to steal a base: he swiped 18 bags -- but also was caught 18 times! He was pretty aggressive at the plate too, striking out 115 times against just 25 walks.
4. Cory Luebke, SP/RP, Hopatcong
The Floating Fish ended up with the #4 pick after all the jockeying between Amityville and Bridgewater. And they probably couldn't be happier. Luebke turned it on in the second half of the season (10-2, 2.67 ERA, 133 Ks, 104.2 IP) to help Hopatcong to its first-ever division title. He finished the year 13-8 with a 3.74 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a league-leading 242 strikeouts despite 80 walks in 33 starts, good enough for someone to cast a 1st-place ballot for him in ROY voting. Unfortunately, it must have all taken a toll on the lefty because he will miss the 2013 DMBL season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
5. Philip Humber, SP, Arkansas
 |
Maybe he didn't duplicate his no-no but
Humber had a quality year for the Golden Falcons. |
Humber flew under the radar much of the year as Beachy, Luebke and others garnered the spotlight, but led all rookies in decisions, going 15-13, with a 4.21 ERA and 1.39 WHIP and logging 220 innings in 32 starts for the Golden Falcons. It wasn't enough to make a ROY ballot, but a successful season nonetheless, the only Arkansas starter to post a .500 record and leading the squad in wins. Someone did recognize his success, casting a 3rd-place vote for him in ROY balloting.
6. Vance Worley, SP, Blue Ridge
Worley was much in the same boat as Humber: not the stellar season of others, but quality for the Bombers. He went 12-10 with a solid 4.19 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. He had more wins than rookie teammate Jeremy Hellickson (11), but Hellickson like many of last year's ROY candidates was drafted as a prospect the previous year. Worley was rewarded with 4 votes on the all-star ballot, falling short of making the team.
7. Brandon McCarthy*, SP, Newark
McCarthy original broke in with Vancouver in 2006 as a second-round pick and then took a few years off., bouncing around reserve lists before getting tapped by the Sugar Bears. He finished with a rather pedestrian record at 10-8, despite a 3.57 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. He also got some love in all-star voting, with 4 ballots, but fell short. He logged 189.1 innings in 27 starts fo the Sugar Bears. The pick originally belonged to Marietta
McCarthy was protected but not by Newark. He was dealt to Sardine City in exchange for closer Jason Motte just before the deadline.
8. Emilio Bonifacio, SS, Hillsborough
The speedster was eligible in center as well but made 132 starts for the Hit Men at shortstop. He swiped 16 bags but was caught 12 times and scored 61 runs. He batted .250 with just 16 doubles and same number of triples as home runs -- 4. The switch-hitting Bonifacio was impressive against lefties, hitting .325 with a .392 OBP but struggled versus right-handers, hitting just .224 with an equal .273 in OBP as well as SLG in 362 at-bats.
9. Brett Lawrie*, 3B, Livingston
 |
Lawrie was ineligible for Livingston
last season anyway, so WTF, why not? |
There are no stats to review for the third-base prospect, since the expansion Livingston franchise went with an ineligible selection for its first-ever draft pick. At a minimum, he's expected to platoon at third base against left-handers.
Unless the franchise -- which changed its name from Last Place to the Lords of Swing since last year's draft -- selects another third basemen today, Lawrie could very well be thrown out to the hot corner in his rookie campaign and just plug away.
10. Ivan Nova, SP, St. Louis
Nova put together a season as good as you could hope for from a rookie starter for an expansion team. He finished 13-9, leading the team in wins, to go along with a 4.63 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. He also made 31 starts, which included two complete games and a shutout, nearly reaching the 200-inning plateau (196.1).
11. John Mayberry, CF/1B, Vancouver
His power numbers were similar in some respects to the top pick, Duda, and even outhomered him by one (26) to lead all rookies in long balls. He also drove in 60 RBIs and scored 63 runs, along with whacking 18 doubles. Overall, he hit .257 and slugged .489, with an OPS of .833.
Mayberry was serviceable against right-handers with a .766 OPS (.239/.342/.424), but was a lefty killer with a .993 OPS (.298/.352/.641), though interestingly, he split his 26 homers evenly between both sides of the plate. He mainly patrolled right field for the Fisters but also saw some spotty time in the corner outfield positions, figuring in 123 games overall.
This pick originally belonged to the Carolina Mudcats (who have since been renamed Rowdy Roddy Pipers), but sent to Vancouver along with a 5th rounder this year in exchange for center fielder Adam Jones.
12. Javier Vazquez, SP, Sardine City
It was a season full of surprises for Vazquez. First, he was taken in the first round pick, then the 35-year-old made the all-star team. Overall, he finished 9-12, tossing 189.3 innings in 31 starts. He logged a 1.22 WHIP and 3.90 ERA. He added to his career numbers, breaking into the top 25 in several all-time categories, including wins, game starts and innings.
He found success in Sardine City, where he fashioned an 8-5 record with a 2.90 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 20 starts (13 quality starts). But it all came apart after he was shipped to Bridgewater in exchange for Doug Fister, who had struggled for the Mallers. What ensued was perhaps the biggest reversal of fortunes in recent memory.
Vazquez went just 1-7 in 11 starts (3 quality) for the Mallers, including a 6.45 ERA and 1.55 WHIP. Meanwhile, Fister twirled 10 quality starts among his 13 starts for the Straphangers, including two shutouts, going 7-3 with a 2.29 ERA and 1.09 WHIP, keeping Sardine City in the playoff hunt until late in the season.
13. Mike Carp, 1B, Vancouver
Carp saw action in the outfield and first base for the Iron Fist but primarily served as the DH during his 44 games in Vancouver. There wasn't much to distinguish his 2012 season: .245/.307/.358, with 3 home runs and 22 RBIs, and it didn't make much difference whether he was facing a left-hander or a righty.
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Marco Scutaro was just pscyhed to remain
with Hoboken this offseason, |
14. Marco Scutaro*, SS, Hoboken
If you had to guess which first-rounder would most likely be protected in the next offseason, it's a safe bet you would not have gone with the 36-year-old journeyman utility infielder. Scutaro had his moments for the Cutters, starting 111 games at shortstop, splitting time in a platoon with Ramon Santiago, who played against lefties. But eventually he lost playing time to J.J. Hardy after he was acquired from Philly in a deadline deal.
Scutaro's overall line wasn't pretty (.233/.287/.328) but he did smack 24 doubles. Most of his success was found against lefties, with an .813 OPS (.329/.356/.457), despite limited action (70 at-bats). This season he's also eligible at 2B.
15. Aaron Crow, RP, Arkansas
The young fireballer struck out 86 batters in 77.1 innings but only managed a 4.89 ERA and a dreadful 1.68 WHIP (thanks to 51 walks). He appeared in 58 games, logging two saves, and going 1-4 for the Golden Falcons.
Philly originally held this pick but handed it over just before the 2012 midseason trade deadline in a blockbuster deal that brought them David Wright and Johan Santana, among others.
16. Josh Collmenter, SP, Hopatcong
After the dust settled in the Hopatcong-Las Vegas-Bridgewater exchange, the Floating Fish ended up with two first-round picks, including the final pick in the round.
Collmenter teamed with Luebke and Josh Tomlin to give the Floating Fish an impressive, if improbable, no-name rotation that rewarded the franchise with a deep run into the playoffs. Collmenter wasn't going to win any award with his numbers but every rotation needs an innings-eater. He was 13-12 despite a 4.47 ERA, and twirled three complete games among his 32 starts. He ranked second on the team in innings pitched (217.1) and had a respectable 1.24 WHIP. Interestingly, three of Hopatcong's starters finished with 13 wins.
So, what say you, a year later, who was the best pick of the 2012 first round? The worst?
Let's take a look at who is eligible for the upcoming 2013 season.
BATTERS
The total number of eligible batters this season is 315, up from 313 last season. Remember, to be eligible as a batter, the player must have at least 250 plate appearances (catchers must have at least 200 plate appearances). A player needs to have at least 10 games at a position to be eligible to play that position in DMBL. Players with at least 10 games played in left field or right field can also play the other corner outfield spot; players who played at least 10 games in center can play anywhere in the outfield. Anyone with 250+ plate appearances can be a Designated Hitter, but a player who didn't have 10 games played at any position can only be used as a DH.
There are 48 eligible catchers this season. Of those, 13 are only eligible as "catcher only" (they have more than 200 plate appearances but less than 250 and therefore can't be used as a DH or at another position even if they had 10 games played there), and five are eligible at catcher and one other position.
So in theory, all 16 teams could have three eligible catchers on the roster this year. By way of comparison, last year we had only 41 eligible catchers, and we did fine.
But this year, catcher isn't the scarcest position. It's shortstop, with only 47 eligible players this season, and of those, 21 are also eligible at another position. Last year there were 51 eligible shortstops.
Breaking down the other positions, there are 63 players eligible at first base, with 33 eligible at one or more other positions; 52 players eligible at second base, including 31 with second and one or more other positions; 58 at third base, with 35 having multiple position eligibility; 58 in center field, with 5 eligible at other positions; and 131 in corner outfield, which includes 23 eligible at other positions (and all 58 center fielders). There are three batters who can only be used at Designated Hitter.
If we ran out of players eligible at a position, what would happen?
The Commissioner's Office would have to invoke the Tom Prince Rule. Under this rule, if no free agents are available who can play a specific position and a team had to fill that position due to an injury (and didn't have another player on its roster able to play that position), the ineligible player with the most plate appearances who has 10 or more games played at that position would become eligible. (If another team dropped an eligible player, the Tom Prince player would automatically be released and that player picked up instead.)
This year's Tom Prince players are:
Catcher: Jose Lobaton, .222/.323/.317 in 197 plate appearances.
First base: Jose Lopez, .246/.270/.356 in 248 plate appearances.
Second base: D.J. LeMahieu, .297/.332/.410 in 247 plate appearances.
Third base: Also Jose Lopez.
Shortstop: Marwin Gonzalez, .234/.280/.327 in 219 plate appearances.
Corner outfield: Lorenzo Cain, .266/.316/.419 in 244 plate appearances.
Centerfield: Also Lorenzo Cain.
PITCHERS
As for moundsmen, there are 395 eligible pitchers this year, including 168 starters, 211 relievers, and 16 pitchers who can be used either as a starter or a reliever. If all 16 teams carried 10 starters, we'd still have eight left over... and that doesn't include the 16 swingmen.
To be eligible as a starting pitcher, a player must have at least 10 games started. To be a reliever, a player must have at least 10 games in relief and either 30+ appearances or 50+ innings pitched.
You've got to feel bad for former Iron Fist pitcher Ben Sheets, who hasn't pitched in the DMBL since 2009. Sheets just missed the cut with 9 starts this year, but with a 3.47 ERA and 1.32 WHIP, maybe someone would have given him a shot! Better luck next year, Ben.
The 395 eligible pitchers includes those relievers who qualified by pitching 50 or more innings. The Wickstrom Rule was adopted a few years ago and gives eligibility to pitchers with at least 10 relief appearances who had 50+ innings pitched, even if they didn't have 30 overall appearances. (For many years, the rule was simply 30 appearances, at least 10 in relief.)
This year, eight pitchers qualify as relievers under the Wickstrom Rule. Four of them would have been eligible as starters, but now are swingmen; the other four wouldn't have been eligible at all, but can now be used as relievers.
The Wickstrom Relievers are: SP/RP Travis Blackley; RP Brett Cecil; SP/RP Josh Collmenter; SP/RP Jeremy Hefner; SP/RP Philip Humber; RP Wade LeBlanc; RP Guillermo Moscoso; and RP Everett Teaford.
One league record fell this year, and another was tied! Plus there were several new additions to the leaderboard. Check out all the single-season team records here.
Here's an in-depth look:
New League Records
Pythagoras believed that the best way to determine a team's true level of ability is not won-lost record, but rather the number of runs scored and runs allowed. By this standard, Livingston Last Place may be the worst team of all time. They scored 600 runs and allowed 982 runs for a -382 run differential -- good enough, or rather bad enough, to set a new league record. The previous record of -323 was set in 2007 by the Las Vegas Rat Pack. (Interestingly, the 2008 Rat Pack won 106 games, so maybe there's hope for Livingston after all.) Note that team runs scored/runs allowed data is not available before the 1997 season, so it's quite likely that the 1993 Waikiki Keys, who went 33-129, or even the 1993 Charleston Chiefs, who went 46-116, may have had even worse run differentials. But those stats are lost to history, so the league record now belongs to Livingston.
The Amityville Ant Slayers tied the league record for the best fielding percentage at .990. The Ant Slayers tied the record set in 2002 by the Wanaque Wolverines. Two other teams, the Newark Sugar Bears and Matthew's Mighty Men of Marietta, joined a log jam of 10 teams tied for the 5th-best fielding percentage of all time at .988.
New DMB Era Records
The worst road record was set by Livingston Last Place, who went 17-64 (.210), setting a new DMB Era (1997-present) record! The previous modern record was set in 2006 by D.C. Bushslappers, who went 19-62 in 2006. The all-time record is still held by the Waikiki Keys, who won just 15 road games (.188 W%) in 1993.
New In The Top 5
The 600 runs scored by Livingston Last Place was the second-fewest runs scored in league history, behind only the 572 runs scored by the Hawaii Volcanoes in 1999. The previous second place mark was held by the 2003 Columbia Rattlesnakes, who scored 617 runs.
The 623 runs allowed by the Newark Sugar Bears was the third fewest of all time, just eclipsing last year's Vancouver Iron Fist, who allowed 624 runs. The all-time record is 587 runs allowed by the Iron Fist in 1998.
The 47-115 performance by Livingston Last Place tied with the 1999 Norfolk Ewes for the fourth-worst record in league history. The worst record in history was set by the 1993 Waikiki Keys, at 33-129; the modern record was the 44-118 record of the Phoenix Dragons in 1997.
Joining the leaderboard in best team quality start percentage were the Newark Sugar Bears, with a .617 QS% for fourth-best all-time. The Hopatcong Floating Fish had a .605 QS%, which ranks 6th all-time, just behind the 2004 Carolina Mudcats (.611).
The Bridgewater Mallers led the league in pitchers' strikeouts with 1,467, good enough for 5th all-time. Bridgewater knocked the 2009 Las Vegas Rat Pack and their 1,448 Ks out of the top 5. The 2008 Rat Pack still hold the all-time record with 1,549 Ks.
Records That Didn't Fall
Matthew's Mighty Men of Marietta's league-best 107-55 record didn't make the leaderboard; it tied the 1994 Vancouver Iron Fist for the 13th best record of all time. The 2002 Arkansas Golden Falcons still have the best all-time record at 120-42.
The longest winning streak of the year was 10 straight wins, posted by Matthew's Mighty Men of Marietta, but it didn't crack the top 5. The 2006 Newark Sugar Bears and 2011 Las Vegas Rat Pack each won 13 straight games to tie for 4th place. The longest streak of all time is 17 games set by the 2009 Sugar Bears.
The Arkansas Golden Falcons lost 10 straight games, and Livingston Last Place ended the season with 10 straight losses. It would take 13 straight losses to reach the leaderboard, set in 1998 by the Columbia Crusaders and tied in 2006 by the Honolulu Sharks. The all-time record was set in 1999 by the Crusaders.
The best home record this year was set by Matthew's Mighty Men of Marietta at 57-24 (.704). A team would have to win 62 games at home to reach the leaderboard by tying the Newark Sugar Bears' home record in 2006; the all-time record of 65 home wins was set in 2008 by those same Sugar Bears.
This year's worst home record of 30-51 (.370) was set by Livingston Last Place. To crack the top five a team would have to win just 25 games at home to crack the top 5; the worst home record of all time was set in 1993 by the Waikiki Keys, who won just 18 games at home. The modern record was set in 1997 by the Phoenix Dragons, who went 22-59 at home.
Matthew's Mighty Men of Marietta had the league's best road record this year at 50-31 (.617). To break into the top 5, a team would have to win at least 55 games to tie the 5th-best record, set in three different seasons by the Newark Sugar Bears. The all-time best road record was set in 1997 by the Vancouver Iron Fist, who went 60-21.
The most runs scored this year was 883 by Rowdy Roddy's Pipers. A team would have to score 1,123 runs to tie the 1997 Arkansas Golden Falcons for 5th place; the all-time record belongs to the Newark Sugar Bears, who scored 1,383 runs in 2007.
The most runs allowed was by Livingston Last Place, who gave up a whopping 982 runs -- more than a hundred runs more than the next worst team. But that wasn't good enough for even 5th place all-time, currently held by the 2001 Honolulu Sharks (1,021 runs allowed). The all-time record is 1,111 rusn allowed by the Phoenix Dragons in 2000.
The best run differential was set by Matthew's Mighty Men of Marietta, with a +171 run margin. Fifth place is currently held by the Arkansas Golden Falcons, who posted a +332 run differential in 2002; the record of +549 runs was set by the 2007 Newark Sugar Bears.
The most home runs hit this year were by the Hoboken Cutters with 231. To reach the top 5, a team would have to hit 288, set by the Jerusalem Rabbis in 1996. The all-time record is 330 by the Newark Sugar Bears in 2007.
The Sardine City Straphangers led the league this year with 101 stolen bases. To make the leaderboard, a team would have to steal 192 bases; the record was set in 1998 by the Phoenix Dragons with 228.
Hopatcong Floating Fish led the league with 353 doubles, but that's a long way from the 393 doubles hit by the Louisiana Lightning in 1997 for 5th place, or the league record 426 doubles hit by the Newark Sugar Bears in 2008.
The 47 triples hit by Sardine City Straphangers led the league, but it would take 57 triples to tie the Toledo Mutthens (1997) for 5th most all time. The record of 80 triples in a season was set by Cheyenne Warhawks in 1993 (thanks to Deion Sanders and his 62 triples that year).
The highest OPS this year was set by Rowdy Roddy's Pipers at .804; it would take a .902 OPS to reach the top 5, and a .995 OPS to set the all-time record, set by the Newark Sugar Bears in 2007.
Rowdy Roddy's Pipers also led the league with 851 RBIs, but it would take 1,121 to reach the leaderboard by tying the 1994 Arkansas Golden Falcons. The all-time record of 1,335 RBIs was set by the Newark Sugar Bears in 2007.
The lowest team ERA was set by the Newark Sugar Bears at 3.54; fifth-place still belongs to the Vancouver Iron Fist at 3.32. The all-time record is 3.08 set by the Arkansas Golden Falcons in 1992, and the DMB Era record is 3.10 set last year by the Philadelphia Endzone Animals.
Hopatcong Floating Fish just missed making the leaderboard with a 1.22 WHIP; to make the leaderboard, they needed a 1.21. The all-time record is 1.16, set last year by the Philadelphia Endzone Animals.
Another near-miss: the Vancouver Iron Fist had a league-best .685 OPS. A .684 OPS would have tied for 5th place and put them on the leaderboard. The lowest OPS allowed of all time (.653) was set in 2011 by the Philadelphia Endzone Animals.
Sardine City Straphangers posted a league-best .780 save percentage, which almost cracked the top 5. The Hillsborough Hired Hitmen in 2011 and the Honolulu Sharks in 2004 tied for a .784 SV%, tied for 4th place. The all-time record of an .836 SV% was set by the Straphangers in 2010.
This year's worst fielding percentage of .981, turned in by Livingston Last Place, was nowhere near the leaderboard. Six teams are tied at .975 for fourth-worst; the worst fielding percentage of all time, .973, was set by the Phoenix Dragons in 1998 and tied by those same Dragons in 2003.
Former DMBL player Ryan Freel died today at the age of 36, apparently after shooting himself in the head with a shotgun inside his Florida home, according to an ESPN report.
Freel had played for five DMBL organizations over a four-year career as a utilityman. He retired following the 2008 season with a career .254 BA (.322 SLG, .313 OBP) in 1,760 AB.
Freel came into the league in 2005 with the Columbia Rattlesnakes after being drafted in the 4th Round (#50 overall), but he disappointed after hitting .242 (.600 OPS) in 529 at-bats. The following year he was taken in the 5th Round (#62) by the Las Vegas Rat Pack and had his best season, hitting .287 (.714 OPS) with 74 R, 19 2B, 5 3B, 3 HR, and 14 SB in 551 AB. The Honolulu Sharks drafted him the following year in the 9th Round (#113) of the 2007 draft and he had his worst season, hitting just .225 with a .598 OPS in 502 AB. He went undrafted in his final season, 2008, but the Hoboken Cutters signed him in May after an injury to Travis Buck. Freel hit .270 (.587 OPS) in 37 AB with the Cutters before he too went down with an injury. He was released a month later but was picked up a month later by the D.C. Bushslappers, where he would hit .270 (.602 OPS) in 35 AB.
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).
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.
I know, I know... you want to vote for the Pat Listach Rookie of the Year, but you're not sure who is a rookie and who isn't! Don't worry... I got your back.
Here are the top 10 rookie batters, at least according to me. There are other rookies but no one better than the guys on this list.
Remember, the ROY is for batters and pitchers, so don't just vote for all batters! The pitcher list is coming up next.
2B Dustin Ackley (SAR): Drafted in the 3rd Round (#41 overall) way back in 2010 and then traded in 2011 along with a 1st Round pick for Cole Hamels, the long wait for the 24-year-old Ackley finally ended in 2012. He hit .244/.329/.356 (.685 OPS) with 22 2B, 5 HR, 57 R, and 52 RBI, and led all rookies with 65 walks.
CF Peter Bourjos (NWK): The 25-year-old came out of nowhere (7th round pick) to hit .288/.356/.490 (.846) with 26 2B, 12 HR, 74 R and 47 RBI while playing terrific defense in center field. Bourjos led all rookies in triples with 13.
1B/OF Lucas Duda (AMI): The #1 pick in this year's draft, the 26-year-old Duda hit .261/.341/.453 (.795 OPS) with 32 2B, 25 HR, 90 R, and 96 RBI. He led all rookies in runs and RBIs.
1B Jesus Guzman (BRI): The 28-year-old Guzman hit .300/.369/.448 (.816 OPS) with 47 2B, 12 HR, 85 R, and 82 RBI. The 2nd Round pick (#18 overall) led all rookies in BA, OBP, H, 2B, and total bases, and led the DMBL in SB% (22 steals in 24 attempts, .917).
1B Eric Hosmer (SAR): Drafted in the 3rd Round (#35 overall) of the 2011 draft, the 22-year-old Hosmer made his debut this year and lived up to the hype, hitting .287/.345/.537 (.882 OPS) with 33 2B, 26 HR, 70 R and 85 RBI. He led all rookies in SLG and OPS, and tied for the lead in HRs and extra base hits (63).
OF Desmond Jennings (MAR): Drafted in the 7th Round (#98 overall) in 2010 as an ineligible prospect, Jennings finally made his debut this season and hit .253/.354/.437 (.791 OPS) with 17 2B, 17 HR, 73 R and 68 RBI. He led all rookies with 24 stolen bases.
1B/CF John Mayberry Jr. (VAN): The #11 pick hit .257/.345/.489 (.833 OPS) with 18 2B, 26 HR, 63 R and 60 RBI. The 28-year-old tied for the rookie lead in homers.
C Wilson Ramos (AMI): Taken in the 2nd Round (#22 overall), the 24-year-old Ramos hit .254/.324/.451 (.775 OPS) with 26 2B, 20 HR, 67 R, and 70 RBI. He pounded lefties for a rookie-best 1.092 OPS vs LHP.
OF Eric Thames (LIV): This 8th round pick was an unexpected power source for the Last Place, hitting .255/.295/.457 (.752 OPS) with 33 2B, 20 HR, 56 R and 67 RBI. He tied for the rookie lead in extra base hits with 63.
2B Jemile Weeks (NWK): Drafted #3 overall, Weeks hit .273/.302/.387 (.689 OPS) with 36 2B, 9 HR, 67 R, and 64 RBI. He led all rookies in at-bats and plate appearances.
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