We covered the biggest busts in the 2022 season on Sunday and will even out the scale with the biggest breakouts for every RDBL Franchise over the last five months. From big money Keepers to mid-season Waiver Claims, every RDBL Front Office uncovered an asset that is shining brighter than expected while suddenly emerging as a key piece to future planning.
Here are the 2022 Breakouts across the RDBL:
Alamo Short Stacks
RHP Logan Gilbert (1R/$1)
Gilbert was hardly a lock for the 2022 Opening Day Roster after posting a 4.68 ERA through rollercoaster 2021 Rookie campaign. A strong Spring Training sealed his activation and he has rewarded the Stacks with a strong in-lineup 3.09 ERA while the club has worked around recent starts against the New York Yankees that have jumped his full season ERA. Gilbert remains under control with the Stacks through the 2024 season with the Stacks hopeful fellow 2021 1st Rounder Corbin Carroll can join him on the Active Roster next season.
Asti Grape Stompers
RP Ryan Helsley (1FA/$5)
While it's not great when your breakout player is a late inning reliever, Ryan Helsley has been electric this season while establishing himself as a surefire Keeper for 2023. The flame-throwing righty was named to the National League All-Star team and has posted a 0.76 ERA and 0.65 WHIP as a shutdown arm in the St. Louis Cardinals bullpen while earning 12 saves entering play Sunday.
Burlingame Blue Ducks
RHP Alek Manoah (1R/$1)
The expectations were high for Manoah entering the season, but the American League All-Star has clearly surpassed them with a 2.56 ERA and 1.02 WHIP entering Period 20. Manoah has been remarkably consistent, posting 17 quality starts in 22 chances with only a breakout season from Shane McClanahan potentially getting in his way of a Roger Dorn Baseball League Activation of the Year award.
Cloverdale Clovers
RHP Miles Mikolas (1D/$5)
Don't Mikolas' implosion in Coors Field (10 ER in 2 2/3 IP) get in the way of what has been a breakout campaign for the right-hander. Mikolas entered that start against the Rockies with a 2.92 ERA and backed up his breakout following the disaster with eight strong innings against the Brewers on Sunday. He remains on pace for a 550+ season and should sit at or near the top of a crowded Clovers Keeper Roster rotation for 2023.
Honolulu Hammerheads
3B Austin Riley (2R/$3)
Riley put together a breakout year in 2021, posting 475.5 points with 33 home runs but was still overlooked as one of the stars in the game. That's no longer the case as Riley has backed up his 2021 season with an even better 2022. He currently leads all third baseman in scoring while ranking fourth overall, slashing .292/.357/.578 while on pace for 520+ points this season.
Idaho Taters
RHP Spencer Strider (1FA/$5)
It hasn't all been doom and gloom for the Idaho Taters who scooped up a big piece of their 2023 plans with Spencer Strider. The flame-throwing righty has posted a 3.11 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over 24 appearances, 13 of which have come as a starter since his early season promotion. He's allowed just 60 hits over 89 2/3 innings while striking out an eye-popping 138.
Lake Merced Goutfish
C Alejandro Kirk (2/$1)
Kirk has been a monster from the jump this season providing exceptional value at his $1 contract, especially considering he was acquired from the Mission Viejo Maulers for 3rd and 6th Round picks while also receiving a 4th Round pick back. Kirk has slashed .299/.380/.450 and ranks third in catcher scoring entering Period 20 while serving as the starter behind the plate for the American League in the All-Star Game.
Las Vegas Aristocrats
3B Alec Bohm (2R/$3)
The arrow on Bohm wasn't exactly pointing up at the time of his acquisition before Draft Day as the Aristocrats Front Office was working to create as much cap space as possible to fit the $68 contract of Max Scherzer. Bohm looked like a bust through the early portion of the season but has been a monster since late June which included a 31 game span where he hit .393 and failed to record a hit in just three of those games.
Lunatic Fringe
RHP Sandy Alcantara (2R/$3)
It wasn't a stretch to view Alcantara as a Top-10 arm entering the 2022 season, but the dominant Marlins ace has far exceeded those expectations. Alcantara enters Period 20 leading the RDBL in pitcher scoring by 79.0 points with his 569.0 points already ranking 6th All-Time in Regular Season History. Alcantara is scheduled for three more starts before the Fringe are eliminated from the Playoffs with a chance to chase down Max Scherzer's 2018 record of 633.0 points in a RDBL Regular Season.
Maltese Falcons
LHP Nestor Cortes (1D/$5)
A surprising 2.90 ERA in 2021 put Nestor Cortes on the radar, but without much of a track record, he was released by the Asti Grape Stompers before the 2022 Draft. He made it through the Auction Draft and six rounds of the Reserve Draft before being selected 92nd Overall by the Maltese Falcons. The return has been exceptional as Cortes is on pace for 532.0 points entering play Monday with a 2.64 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and a trip to the All-Star Game.
Meinert Hops
LHP Shane McClanahan (1R/$1)
The Hops are having a historic season on the mound with Rookie activation Shane McClanahan leading the way. The 25-year-old ace has posted a 2.28 ERA and 0.87 WHIP over 134 1/3 innings and is currently on pace for an eye-popping 667.0 points. With the Activation of the Year Award in his sights, McClanahan hopes to be starting RDBL Playoff games in Period 22 for the first time in Hops Franchise History.
Mission Viejo Maulers
OF Aaron Judge (2/$31)
Is it possible for someone with a 584.0 point season already under their belt to be a breakout player? If so, Aaron Judge is that player as the outfielder has taken his game to new heights in 2022. He has slashed .300/.398/.678 with 46 home runs, just four short of the RDBL Regular Season Record. The Maulers star is on pace for 646.0 points and will carry the load for the club's offense through 2023.
Mt. Diablo Devils
RHP Merrill Kelly (1D/$5)
There were glimmers of hope in Merrill Kelly's 265.0 point season in 2021, but he has taken a major step forward this season with a 2.95 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 137 1/3 innings. On pace for 540.0 points this season, Kelly looks to be a stable force in the rotation which will pair with a young and talented offense for GM Jason Watson in 2023.
Spokane Fightin' Fish
LHP Martin Perez (1FA/$5)
In a rotation that includes Gerrit Cole ($73) and Shane Bieber ($58), Martin Perez is the one that leads the Fightin' Fish in pitcher scoring entering Period 20. The veteran left-hander has posted a 2.79 ERA in a team-high 142.0 innings and will be under team control through 2023.
St. Joseph Jokers
SS Gunnar Henderson (Minors)
The Jokers might have completed the trade of the year by landing Gunnar Henderson from the Mt. Diablo Devils for Kyle Hendricks, a move that quickly soured on the side of the Devils. Henderson has emerged as one of the top prospects in all of baseball and looks like he could be a potential impact performer as soon as 2023 for GM Rick Steen.
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