The Lake Merced Goutfish are fresh off one of the most complete seasons in RDBL History, cruising to a RDBL Championship while producing the league's top offense and pitching staff, only the second such feat in League History. With a Regular Season Title in hand and more in their future, GM Ryan Atkinson has earned his second RDBL Executive of the Year Award.
Previously winning the prestigious award in 2014, his inaugural season in the RDBL, Atkinson took his club to new heights in 2021 and looks to have his club's eyes set on at least a 3-year window of title contention. The driving force behind the Goutfish's dominant season were largely found through the trade market as they built their club with 2021 in mind. Fernando Tatis, Jr., Matt Olson, Lance Lynn, Jose Berrios, Cedric Mullins, Freddy Peralta and Manny Machado all came to the club via trade and served in critical roles to put the club on top in a historic season with Peralta and Mullins ending the Regular Season as the team's leading scorers.
Equally impressive has been Atkinson's work in the Reserve Draft. Three of the club's 2021 selections (Noelvi Marte, Brennan Davis and Francisco Alvarez) were among the biggest prospect risers this season, each earning mid-season Top 25 rankings among the top publications while 2nd Round Pick Elijah Green is the current favorite to go 1-1 in the 2022 MLB Draft.
The club also scooped up Anthony DeSclafani at the end of the 5th Round in 2021 with the right-hander sitting in the Top-10 of pitcher scoring for much of the season as a Draft Day steal for the Goutfish.
Atkinson's eye for prospect talent also produced recently traded star Ronald Acuña and Yordan Alvarez who they held back under a Minor League deal but will finally activate for the 2021 Playoffs while securing a fourth year of production from the slugger.
While he would be the first to admit there's more work to be done, it's hard not to be impressed by the core Atkinson's built with the Goutfish making the award well-deserved for 2021.
Media Voting: 1. Ryan Atkinson, 2. Gary Falzon/Erik Nielsen, 3. Terry Shelley
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