While we are 70% of the way through the Roger Dorn Baseball Regular Season, Major League Baseball has hit their All-Star Break which allows us to have a quick check-in on League Awards.
Hitter of the Year: 1B Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Alamo Short Stacks
The Stacks certainly dodged a bullet with the COVID-shortened season pushing Guerrero, Jr.'s true activation to 2021. His production thus far is unmatched across baseball as Vladdy leads the next best hitter by 46.5 points heading into the All-Star Break and is on pace for a RDBL full-season record 662.0 points which would break the mark set by Mike Trout (625.5 in 2013). He will also look to eclipse the RDBL Regular Season record of 513.5 points set by Trout as well in 2019.
A pair of runner-ups were dealt for each other on Sunday night as Ronald Acuña's knee injury sparked a trade for Cedric Mullins.
Honorable Mention: OF Ronald Acuña (Goutfish), Shohei Ohtani (Grapes), Cedric Mullins (Maulers)
Pitcher of the Year: RHP Kevin Gausman, Idaho Taters
Gausman has been a monster from start to finish of the 1st Half, posting a 1.73 ERA and 0.82 WHIP over 114 2/3 innings. He has allowed just 64 hits over that span while punching out 133 and looks to be one of the league's top values on a $17 contract with control through 2023.
He will certainly face some pressure from Jacob deGrom on the 2nd Half for the award. While Gausman is outpacing deGrom by 23.0 points thus far due to 22 2/3 more innings, deGrom is having a historic season with a 1.08 ERA and 0.54 WHIP in 92.0 innings and ranks second in scoring with 418.0 points.
Honorable Mention: Jacob deGrom (Heads), Brandon Woodruff (Stacks), Zack Wheeler (Falcons)
Executive of the Year: Ryan Atkinson, Lake Merced Goutfish
The COVID gap year allowed Atkinson's young club an additional season of experience, immediately showing just how much talent and depth they had under team friendly deals. Fernando Tatis, Jr.'s activation alongside the newly traded Ronald Acuña produced an unmatched 1-2 punch for the offense while Yodan Alvarez waits in the wings for a Playoff Activation. Atkinson's club leads the RDBL in both hitting and pitching, seeking to be the second team in League History to do so over a full season (Grapes, 2019).
Honorable Mention: Ross Horiuchi (Heads), Michael Tirabassi (Fish)
Prospect of the Year: OF Yordan Alvarez, Lake Merced Goutfish
Alvarez shook off a knee injury that cost him almost all of the 2020 season and has turned right back into the middle of the order slugger that burst onto the scene in 2019. He is currently slashing .294/.362/.528 and has 44 home runs in 164 career games. Winner of the 2019 RDBL Hitting Prospect of the Year Award, Alvarez is seeking to join Ronald Acuña and Kris Bryant as the only two-time recipients of the honor. With a Playoff activation, Alvarez will be under team control through 2024.
Honorable Mention: Alek Manoah (Ducks), Noelvi Marte (Goutfish), Francisco Alvarez (Goutfish), Wander Franco (Devils)
Activation of the Year: 1B Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Alamo Short Stacks
On pace for a record-breaking season, Guerrero, Jr. could become the first Activation of the Year to also take home Hitter of the Year honors as well. His .332/.430/.658 slash line might be hard to maintain, but Guerrero looks well established as the face of the Short Stacks through 2023.
Honorable Mention: Fernando Tatis, Jr. (Goutfish), Julio Urias (Stacks), Bo Bichette (Devils), Austin Riley (Heads)
Farm System of the Year: Honolulu Hammerheads
Before their trade of William Contreras to the Mission Viejo Maulers, the Heads produced five players who have seen extensive time in the big leagues while also producing three activations for Opening Day. Their Farm System is also loaded with upper-Minors talent as Jarren Duran, Josh Lowe and Michael Busch each appear to not be far off from making their big league debuts.
The Goutfish will certainly look to push the Heads for the end of season award as the club looks to have nailed their selections of both Noelvi Marte and Francisco Alvarez, two of the biggest risers across all of baseball this season. Brennan Davis' two homer Future's Game highlighted his rise as well.
Honorable Mention: Lake Merced Goutfish, Idaho Taters, Maltese Falcons, Mt. Diablo Devils
Free Agent Claim of the Year: OF Cedric Mullins, Mission Viejo Maulers
While Mullins was dealt Sunday night to the Goutfish, we'll stick with GM Chris Ferraro getting the credit for his scoop up on March 31st. Mullins ranks fourth in hitting overall while slashing .314/.380/.541 with 16 home runs and 16 steals.
Honorable Mention: Josh Rojas (Falcons), JP Crawford (Maulers), Luis Garcia (Devils)
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