Hitter of the Year: Aaron Judge, Maulers

It was a historic season for Mission Viejo Maulers slugger Aaron Judge who figures to pick up his fair share of hardware in the coming weeks. The first award he will take home is the 2022 RDBL Hitter of the Year award after posting the 13th most productive RDBL Regular Season for a hitter in League History.

Judge smashed 49 home runs through the first 21 periods of play, trailing only Giancarlo Stanton's 50 home runs as a Miami Marlin in 2017 for the RDBL Record. Over those 21 periods, Judge slashed .293/.393/.655 with 20 doubles, 14 steals and those 49 home runs.

His dominance at the plate helped the Maulers finish as the league's second best offense while hitting a league-high 271 home runs, 32 more than the next highest RDBL club.

Judge is the ninth different winner of the RDBL Hitter of the Year Award in nine seasons, joining Mike Trout, Michael Brantley, Bryce Harper, Jose Altuve, Charlie Blackmon, Mookie Betts, Christian Yelich and Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.

Honorable Mention: Paul Goldschmidt (Hammerheads), Freddie Freeman (Ducks), Austin Riley (Hammerheads), Manny Machado (Stacks)

Looking Ahead: Lake Merced Goutfish

GM Ryan Atkinson poured everything he could into a chance to become the first team in RDBL History to repeat as Champions. Ultimately, a rash of injuries and the suspension of Fernando Tatis, Jr. proved too much to overcome as a race to the final day of the RDBL Regular Season left the Goutfish one spot out of the RDBL Playoffs.

With some time to let those wounds heal, Atkinson is focused on building yet another contender for 2023 and has plenty of young pieces to build around with Tatis, Jr. slated to return when his suspension wraps up in May next season.

Catching

The Goutfish nailed their pre-season acquisition of Alejandro Kirk (3/$1) who entered Tuesday slashing .289/.376/.420 while ranking third in scoring among catchers. Their mid-season addition of Yasmani Grandal (2/$19) didn't work as smoothly as Grandal and is expected to be released this off-season.

Infield

With all of the player movement on the Goutfish roster this season, Atkinson will face some difficult decisions entering 2023 in the infield. Tatis, Jr. (3R/$5) will be back despite being out for the first 30+ games as he wraps up his suspension and now recovers from recent shoulder surgery. Tim Anderson (3/$25) will also man a middle infield role despite an injury-plagued season that limited him to 206.5 points in 2022.

Tommy Edman (3/$6) will also be a lock to a return with a strong 2022 campaign while offering positional flexibility and 3B, 2B, OF and SS.

The decision at first base could be an interesting one for Atkinson as a red-hot start from Matt Olson (2/$46) had the look of a franchise player that would be with the Goutfish through 2024. His production dipped after that hot start, but he's still on pace for a 400 point season while waiver Christian Walker (2FA/$5) has produced at almost the same clip for $41 less.

Multiple injuries to Ozzie Albies (2/$37) limited him to 247 at-bats. While he's unlikely to return, he could fetch some trade interest in the off-season.

Prospect Oswald Peraza earned a late season big league promotion and could play his way into an early 2024 activation.

Outfield

As one of the elite values in the RDBL, Yordan Alvarez (2R/$3) is set to lead the outfield unit in 2023. He could be joined by Josh Bell (3/$27) after another strong season under the radar, though the cost-conscious Goutfish could also look to move his contract for a cheaper alternative.

Chris Morel (2FA/$5) had some strong runs of success in 2022 and could be in the mix for a spot as well.

Pitching Staff

Dylan Cease (2R/$3) will enter 2023 as the clear ace of the club following a near 600 point season where he posted a 2.20 ERA with 227 strikeouts in 184.0 innings. He will be joined by a pair of affordable contracts as George Kirby (2R/$3) and activation Roansy Contreras (Minors) are likely to join him.

Late season acquisition Chris Bassitt (2/$27) is certainly keeper-worthy at his contract level, though his return would likely push Olson and/or Bell to the trade market.

Edwin Diaz (2/$7) has never known another RDBL Franchise and won't again in 2023 as he's a lock to return at the front-end of the bullpen.

Bobby Miller (Minors) will be one to watch in Los Angeles with a potential early season activation next season.

Farm System

While the Goutfish parted with top level prospects like Francisco Alvarez and Alek Thomas in their pursuit of a Playoff berth, some top tier talent remains led by infielders Oswald Peraza and Ronny Mauricio at the plate and Roansy Contreras and Bobby Miller on the mound.

While they come with longer ETAs, the trio of Kevin Alcantara, Elijah Green and Andy Pages come with excellent upside.

Yet another surgery for Sixto Sanchez (shoulder) could end his time as a Goutfish prospect though he is currently expected to return for Spring Training next season. Sanchez hasn't made a big league appearance since 2020.

Current 2023 Goutfish Projected Keepers

*With 2023 Contract Status, Ranked by Value

1. RHP Dylan Cease (2R/$3)

2. OF Yordan Alvarez (2R/$3)

3. IF/OF Fernando Tatis, Jr. (3R/$5)

4. C Alejandro Kirk (3/$1)

6. SS Tim Anderson (3/$25)

7. RHP Chris Bassitt (2/$27)

8. RHP George Kirby (2R/$3)

9. OF, 1B Josh Bell (2/$27)

10. IF/OF Tommy Edman (3/$6)

11. RP Edwin Diaz (2/$7)

12. RHP Roansy Contreras (1R/$1)

13. 1B Christian Walker (2FA/$5)

2023 Draft Picks Trades

- Traded Away 1st Round Pick to Jokers (Grandal)

- Acquired 2nd Round Pick from Fish (Garver)

- Traded Away 2nd Round Pick to Fringe (Lindor)

- Traded Away 3rd Round Pick to Grapes (Buehler)

- Traded Away 4th Round Pick to Fish (Garver)

- Acquired 4th Round Pick from Fringe (Lindor) - Traded Away 5th Round Pick to Clovers (Bassitt)

- Acquired 5th Round Pick from Grapes (Buehler)

Farm System of the Year: Cloverdale Clovers

For the third time in Franchise History, the Cloverdale Clovers have been honored as the Roger Dorn Baseball League's top Farm System. GM Chris Shelley took home the same honor in 2017 and 2018 marking the third honor as the top Farm System in the last six seasons. While the talent is abundant, player development was the overwhelming theme of the group as almost every prospect under a Minor League deal with the Clovers took significant steps forward in 2022.

While the Clovers were sellers this season and saw an infusion of young talent into their prospect group, Shelley's most notable prospects were home-grown led by 2019 3rd overall selection Adley Rutschman. Following a slow start to his big league career, Rutschman has been stellar, leading all catchers in scoring over the last month while looking like a potential top 3 backstop heading into his activation season in 2023.

Rutschman was far from the only Clover prospect to see big league time as Oneil Cruz, Alek Thomas, Edward Cabrera and Nick Pratto all spent varying amounts of time in the major leagues with each in the mix for Opening Day activations in 2023.

Mid-season acquisition Marco Luciano is just one of a handful of prospects with sky high potential, joined by fellow middle infielder Elly de la Cruz who was arguably the most exciting player in Minor League Baseball in 2022.

Shelley is most proud of the development of elite arms Riky Tiedemann and Taj Bradley, each of which are knocking on the big league door. While both have excellent upside, mid-season acquisition Andrew Painter, the 2022 Baseball America Minor League Pitcher of the Year, might have the most of the group. Painter dominated his way through three level of the Minor Leagues, reaching Double-A at just 19 years old in his first full season of professional baseball.

With a strong Keeper Roster and substantial cap space, the Clovers look well positioned for title contention for years to come as they look to add a second Championship banner in Cloverdale.

Honorable Mention: Asti Grape Stompers, Lunatic Fringe, St. Joseph Jokers