For best friends Rick Steen and Terry Shelley, the 2017 trade that landed the Grapes young right-hander Walker Buehler for an overpriced and underperforming Adam Wainwright is often a touchy subject and one better left in the past. Unfortunately for Steen, Buehler's ascendance as one of baseball's best starting pitchers reached new heights as the Los Angeles Dodgers ace was at the top of the mountain in 2021 and earned the Roger Dorn Baseball League Pitcher of the Year Award.
Buehler, in his 2R/$3 season with the Grapes, completed the RDBL Regular Season leading all pitchers with 589.0 points with an 82.0 over the next best pitcher Zach Wheeler. In 26 starts, Buehler posted a league-best 2.02 ERA and 0.92 WHIP while not posting a negative start for Shelley all season.
Interestingly enough, the other right-hander that will forever be linked to him is having a 40-year-old breakout season himself as Wainwright completed the Regular Season ranked 5th in points.
Buehler will make his 2021 RDBL Playoff debut on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves.
Media Votes: 1. Walker Buehler (Grapes) 2. Zach Wheeler (Falcons) 3. Brandon Woodruff (Stacks)
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