Hitter of the Year: Ronald Acuna, Fringe

Entering 2022, no hitter in the Roger Dorn Baseball could surpass Mike Trout’s 625.5 point performance from 2013, the league’s inaugural season. It took a record-breaking home run season from Aaron Judge in 2022 to set the new benchmark for the league, reaching a mark of 652.5 points that looked to be virtually untouchable.

12 months later, we are staring at a new record holder as Lunatic Fringe outfielder Ronald Acuna, Jr. reached heights not seen before in Major League Baseball History. The first member of the 40 home run, 70 steal club, Acuna finished the full RDBL Season with 696.5 points, breaking Judge’s mark by 44.0 points.

The outfielder never let up, setting a RDBL Regular Season Record with 541.0 points, breaking Trout and Charlie Blackmon’s mark of 513.5 set in 2019 and 2017. His 59 Regular Season steals and 72 Full Season steals were the most in RDBL Regular Season History, taking full advantage of MLB’s rule changes to favor the base runner.

Acuna hardly let up when the calendar flipped to the RDBL Playoffs, slashing .368/.429/.736, leading all hitters in scoring with 155.5 points, the second most in League History.

After a down season in 2022 while coming off knee surgery, Fringe GM Tony Guglielmi certainly hit the nail on the head with their $66 investment in Acuna, the 7th highest contract in RDBL History. He’ll be under team control through 2026, but it will be hard pressed for him, or any other player, to match his 2023 production in future seasons.

Acuna joins Judge (2022), Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. (2021), Christian Yelich (2019), Mookie Betts (2018), Charlie Blackmon (2017), Jose Altuve (2016), Bryce Harper (2015), Michael Brantley (2014) and Mike Trout (2013) as Roger Dorn Baseball League Hitter of the Year Award winners.

It was a historic season for hitters in 2023 as Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman finished with the second and third most productive RDBL Regular Seasons in League History, making them each candidates for the award.

RELEASE: Nielsen Awarded RDBL Franchise, Reveals San Mateo Oppo Tacos

ALAMO, CA -- The Roger Dorn Baseball League is thrilled to announce that Erik Nielsen has been awarded a Franchise, replacing the Idaho Taters following the retirement of Mike Friedrich this week. Nielsen, formerly the Assistant General Manager of the Maltese Falcons, unveiled the San Mateo Oppo Tacos, becoming the 17th Franchise since the league was formed in 2013.

Nielsen has served as second in command for the Falcons since March of 2017, helping oversee four Playoff berths in six seasons including a pair of Peninsula Division Titles. From 2017-2022, the Falcons never finished worse than 9th in either Pitching or Hitting, a mark of a consistent contender built with President of Baseball Operations Gary Falzon.

Reached for comment late Wednesday, Falzon expressed his gratitude for Nielsen, stating "The departure of Assistant GM Erik Nielsen is bittersweet for the Falcons organization. Eric was a key contributor to the Falcons success over the years, with Erik taking on more and more responsibilities each year. He's navigated and executed numerous trades across the years and identified strong prospects and auction values. This past season although not a banner year for us, he brought a tremendous amount of value to our farm season as well as multiple early round draft picks to set us up for success in 2024. While this is a big blow to our front office, we are thrilled for Eric to have the opportunity to run his own organization. We know he'll transform his new team into a contender quickly and Erik running his own team will only strengthen the competitiveness of the RDBL. We wish Erik success in his new role and thank him for his many contributions to the Falcons organization."

The Oppo Tacos carry on a Franchise formerly owned by Dave Adler (Adler's Man Crush) and Friedrich (Idaho Taters). The Taters played three seasons under the leadership of Friedrich, originally announcing their plans to return after the 2022 season when Nielsen was approached about the opening. Friedrich reneged on the announcement, instead coming back for the 2023 season. The Taters put together their best season, finishing as one of three Wild Card Winners before sputtering in the Playoffs.

Friedrich leaves behind a solid group of Keeper options for 2024, giving Nielsen ammunition to build around. Much work will need to be done in the Farm System which sat as the league's best in the middle of 2023 before it was stripped down in the Taters' effort to win a RDBL Title.

Nielsen met with the media Wednesday night, expressing his excitement for the challenge ahead. “I am grateful for the 6 RDBL seasons co-managing the Falcons with the Belmont legend, Gary Falzon. The opportunity to manage the San Mateo Oppo Tacos was too good to pass up. The roster has a solid big league core and we look forward to our first offseason. It’s Taco Time!”

Commissioner Greg Shelley shared his excitement about the Nielsen's addition and health of the league, stating "The health of the Roger Dorn Baseball League is evident with immediate widespread interest in the Franchise vacancy. Erik has demonstrated his value to the RDBL since his addition to the Falcons Front Office in 2017 and ranks among the most interactive Executives we have which will be a key focus for an addition moving forward. We are thrilled to welcome Erik to the Ownership group and look forward to the future of the Oppo Tacos."

State of the Franchise: Idaho Taters

With news of Mike Friedrich's retirement on Tuesday, the Idaho Taters are a Franchise influx with the Roger Dorn Baseball League Commissioner's Office reportedly set to make a decision on a new Ownership Group as soon as this week.

We'll take a look at the State of the Franchise that someone will be taking over and where they stand as a contender heading into 2024.

Franchise History Page

President of Baseball Operations: Mike Friedrich

Headquarters: Coeur d'Alene, ID

Seasons: 3

Cash Finishes: 1

Lifetime Earnings: $175

Top Hitter: Marcus Semien, 386.0 (2023)

Top Pitcher: Kevin Gausman, 480.0 (2021)

2023 Season

The Idaho Taters put together their best season in Franchise History in 2023, relying on a mix of veteran carry overs and in-house activations to capture one of three Wild Card spots. A bounceback season from Marcus Semien led the way on offense as the Rangers slugging middle infielder posted the most hitting points in Franchise History while homegrown young stars Josh Jung and Sean Murphy helped the club get off to a hot start.

Friedrich seized on the club's 2023 chances, leaving no stone unturned on the trade front. The club brought in the likes of Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Clayton Kershaw, Justin Steele, Juan Soto, Trea Turner, Julio Urias and Will Smith, but it cost them elite prospects Jackson Holliday, Junior Caminero, Evan Carter, Marcelo Mayer and Gavin Williams, all considered Top 15 prospects in the game, as well as the first three rounds of draft picks for 2024.

In the end, the Taters would sputter in the Playoffs after a hot start as their rotation would produce a RDBL-record low 10 quality starts in 35 chances, posting just 401.0 pitching points, the lowest mark in RDBL Playoff History.

2024 Pending Free Agents

OF Brandon Nimmo, 1B Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., OF Austin Hays, RHP Spencer Strider, SS Trea Turner

Current Projected Keeper Roster Ranked by Value

1. C Sean Murphy (3R/$5)

2. LHP Justin Steele (2D/$5)

3. C Will Smith (3/$30)

4. SS/2B Marcus Semien (2/$37)

5. 3B Josh Jung (2R/$3)

6. OF Juan Soto (2/$65)

7. OF Adolis Garcia (3D/$15)

8. 2B Nolan Gorman (2R/$3)

9. OF/1B Josh Naylor (3D/$15)

10. LHP Clayton Kershaw (2/$23)

11. RHP Ryan Pepiot (2D/$5) 12. RHP Dean Kremer (2FA/$5)

While the above list is certainly formidable, the salary cap implications are hardly manageable as the group above would leave the next Architect of the Taters Franchise with just $38 to fill 11 spots in the 2024 Auction. Justin Steele, Josh Jung and Sean Murphy are locks to return given their cost, but the off-season will likely begin and end with a decsiion on the future of Juan Soto who carries a lofty 2/$65 option.

Farm System

1. OF Walker Jenkins (Twins)

2. OF Spencer Jones (Yankees)

3. OF Gavin Cross (Royals)

4. 3B Brock Wilken (Brewers)

While the Farm System is depleted following Friedrich's pursuit of a RDBL Title, Walker Jenkins is not a bad block to build on top of as the next General Manager looks to build a consistent winner. The remaining three prospects all carry strong ceilings with Gavin Cross the closest to making a big league impact.

Off-Season Questions

1. Who takes over as the new Owner of the Franchise?

The story of the off-season in the RDBL will be the Commissioner's choice to fill the vacancy left by Friedrich's retirement this week. This will be just the second Owner turnover in RDBL History through 10 seasons, both coming with this Franchise.

2. Does Soto return at 2/$65?

The current Taters Active Roster has the clear look for a contender with top-flight talent at the plate and on the mound. The problem is that it comes with a lofty price tag that likely isn't manageable to build a true contender for 2024. That will put all eyes on Juan Soto's $65 option. He's certainly worth the price after putting up 536.0 points in 2023, but will it be here or with another Franchise?

3. 3D/$15 Keepers for first time in RDBL History?

Instituted in 2022, the RDBL Commissioner's Office added a 3D/$15 option to big league players selected in the Reserve Draft. That option is now available with Josh Naylor and Adolis Garcia who could be in the first group to receive the new contract.