Pitcher of the Year: Gerrit Cole, Maulers

The 2023 Season was expected to be a rebuilding year for the Mission Viejo Maulers and General Manager Chris Ferraro. In March, the Maulers dealt away Justin Verlander and Aaron Judge, 2022's American League Cy Young and Most Valuable Player, to the Spokane Fightin' Fish to enter the season with a reloaded Farm System and blank slate on the Active Roster.

Carrying over just six players for $10, Ferraro cashed in $120 combined on Gerrit Cole and Luis Castillo to lead their rotation. Five months later, the duo finished the 2023 RDBL Regular Season as the top two pitchers in scoring with Cole edging out the Mariners ace for the Roger Dorn Baseball League Pitcher of the Year Award.

Cole was spectacular from start to finish, posting a league-best 474.0 points over 27 starts, logging 168.0 innings. He allowed just 132 hits with an elite 2.95 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. While the RDBL Award is handed out for the RDBL Regular Season timeframe, Cole hardly stopped producing for Ferraro and the Maulers in the Playoffs, ranking second in pitcher scoring while posting a 1.32 ERA and 0.73 WHIP over 41.0 dominant frames.

It's Cole's first RDBL Pitcher of the Year Award as he joins Justin Verlander (2019) as the second Mauler hurler to take home the honor. Cole joins Sandy Alcantara (2022), Walker Buehler (2021), Verlander (2019), Max Scherzer (2018, 2017), Madison Bumgarner (2016), Jake Arrieta (2015), Felix Hernandez (2014) and Clayton Kershaw (2013) as Pitcher of the Year winners.

The right-hander is expected to be back atop the Maulers rotation under his 2/$70 contract with Castillo (2/$50) right behind him to open 2024.

Honorable Mention for the Award included Castillo, Zac Gallen (Hops), Logan Webb (Hops) and Framber Valdez (Goutfish).

Maltese Falcons Reveal New Logo Set for 2024 Season

The Maltese Falcons unveiled a new set of logos for the 2024 Season on Tuesday as the club looked for refresh following the departure of Assistant General Manager Erik Nielsen last week. The Falcons feature a new red and gray color scheme pulled from the Malta flag, replacing the old pink and red toned Falcon.

The Falcons are one of the original 12 Roger Dorn Baseball League teams and have established themselves as one of the league's most consistent. Under President of Baseball Operations Gary Falzon, the Falcons have a RDBL-Record seven cash finishes along with four Division Titles while ranking fifth in Cash Winnings with $2,215.

While the Falcons are coming off their worst finish in Franchise History, there's plenty to be excited about entering 2024 with a stable of young assets and several prospects ready to join the Active Roster as soon as Opening Day next year. Falzon also holds three of the top 10 and six of the top 28 selections in the 2024 Reserve Draft, giving the Front Office plenty of pieces to play with this off-season.

State of the Franchise: Asti Grape Stompers

We continue our State of the Franchise series with the Asti Grape Stompers who are coming off a 14th Place finish overall while ranking 11th in hitting and last in pitching. Despite the results on the field, this is a Franchise headed in the right direction with a wave of young talent projected to join the Active Roster next season.

Franchise History Page

President of Baseball Operations: Terry Shelley

Headquarters: Asti, CA

Seasons: 10

Cash Finishes: 3

Lifetime Earnings: $1,525

Top Hitter: Freddie Freeman, 459.0 (2019)

Top Pitcher: Walker Buehler, 589.0 (2021)

2023 Season

The Grapes knew 2023 would be a season of transition and GM Terry Shelley, despite matching their worst finish in Franchise History, found multiple building blocks to aid their elite Farm System with the goal of returning to contention next year. As soon as Shelley held off from an Opening Day activation for Jordan Walker, it was clear the Front Office had their eyes set on 2024 and beyond.

The club aced investments in Spencer Steer and Masataka Yoshida while landing Pablo Lopez from the Honolulu Hammerheads for an expiring Brendan Donovan and a 2024 4th Round Pick turned out to be one of the steals of the summer. Lopez is set to return for his final season of control as the ace of the Grapes after posting a 2.75 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 68 2/3 innings after the deal while adding a pair of excellent post-season starts to his resume.

2024 Pending Free Agents

RHP Brady Singer, OF Mitch Haniger

Current Projected Keeper Roster Ranked by Value

1. SS/3B Bobby Witt, Jr. (3R/$5)

2. 1B/2B/3B/OF Spencer Steer (2/$1)

3. OF Jordan Walker (Projected Activation, 1R/$1)

4. RHP Pablo Lopez (3/$13)

5. C Francisco Alvarez (Projected Activation, 1R/$1)

6. OF Mike Trout (2/$58)

7. OF Masataka Yoshida (2/$23)

8. RHP Hunter Greene (2R/$3)

9. RHP Alex Cobb (2/$3)

10. LHP Kyle Harrison (Projected Activation, 1R/$1)

11. 3B Curtis Mead (Projected Activation, 1R/$1)

12. SS Jordan Lawlar (Projected Activation, 1R/$1)

13. OF Pete Crow-Armstrong (Projected Activation, 1R/$1)

14. RHP Shane Baz (2D/$5)

15. OF Colton Cowser (Projected Activation, 1R/$1)

The Grapes look poised to add as many as seven activations on Opening Day of 2024, giving GM Terry Shelley some extreme cap space flexibility, especially with Mike Trout's return not thought to be a lock. While the Grapes might not be that aggressive with all seven, the Keeper group is loaded at the top end with Bobby Witt, Jr. emerging into a star while Spencer Steer quietly posted a 429 point season while Walker, Lopez and Francisco Alvarez give them a legitimate top-five that's owed just $21 combined.

There's work to do in the rotation with a wide variance of health and/or consistency with Hunter Greene, Alex Cobb, Kyle Harrison and Shane Baz making the Grapes cap space likely a strong bet to be used with a top of the rotation starter.

Farm System

1. 3B Jordan Walker (Cardinals)

2. C Francisco Alvarez (Mets)

3. SS Jordan Lawlar (D'Backs)

4. LHP Kyle Harrison (Giants)

5. OF Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs)

6. 3B Curtis Mead (Rays)

7. C Ethan Salas (Padres)

8. RHP Dylan Lesko (Padres)

9. OF Colton Cowser (Orioles)

10. RHP Mick Abel (Phillies)

Next Best: OF Emmanuel Rodriguez (MIN), LHP Carson Whisenhunt (SF), SS Felnin Celestin (SEA), SS Kahlil Watson (MIA)

The Grapes have a case for the top Farm System in the RDBL with seven prospects finishing the 2023 season in the big leagues with five additional prospects already in the Top-100 led by young phenom Ethan Salas. As that group graduates, keep an eye on Emmanuel Rodriguez, Dylan Lesko and Carson Whisenhunt who all have big ceilings heading into 2024.

Off-Season Questions

1. How aggressive will Shelley be with Activations?

It's safe to assume Jordan Walker and Francisco Alvarez will be Opening Day activations in 2024. But GM Terry Shelley will be staring at potential activations for Kyle Harrison, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Curtis Mead, Colton Cowser and Jordan Lawlar who all could start next season with big league roles.

2. Cash in on some of the Farm System?

While Shelley would love to sit back and be patient with their loaded Farm System, superstar Bobby Witt, Jr. is entering the final season of control putting some pressure on the Grapes to build a winner in 2024. There's plenty of depth to the Grapes Farm, allowing Shelley to dip into the Trade Market this Winter for potential Active Roster upgrades.

3. How does the Starting Rotation shake out?

The rotation will be led by Pablo Lopez, a savvy pickup in 2023, but there are plenty of questions behind the right-hander. The group of Hunter Greene, Alex Cobb, Shane Baz, Casey Mize, Emmet Sheehan, Jon Gray and Kyle Harrison will likely be fighting for four spots next Spring.

4. Does Mike Trout return at 2/$58?

Trout has now played 140 games in just one season since 2016, not crossing the 400 point mark since 2019. Trout is likely worth the $58 he is owed in 2024, but it might not be the right fit for the Grapes who are likely to enter next season with the youngest roster in the RDBL and some major volatility on the mound.