While the All-Star Break marks the (almost) midway point of the Major League Season, the Roger Dorn Baseball League Regular Season is 68% complete with just seven weeks remaining. We'll still use the break from games to check in on the RDBL Awards and races to watch down the stretch.
There's plenty of time for things to change, but here are the current leaders for the major RDBL Awards that will be announced later this season.
Executive of the Year: Michael Tirabassi (Fish)
Honorable Mention: Jason Watson (Devils), Ryan Atkinson (Goutfish), Mike Friedrich (Taters)
The race for the Regular Season Title will likely determine this Award, but Michael Tirabassi has to be lauded for the club’s production through the first fifteen periods of the RDBL Regular Season. Tirabassi has been aggressive in the trade market while building a stable of pitching options that make his club a favorite for a RDBL-leading third League Championship. With $3,900 already pocketed in lifetime earnings, Tirabassi could be the first to cross the $4,000 and $5,000 mark this year.
Pitcher of the Year: Nathan Eovaldi, Devils
Honorable Mention: Framber Valdez (Goutfish), Zac Gallen (Hops), Gerrit Cole (Maulers), Lohan Webb (Hops), Marcus Stroman (Goutfish)
A week prior to the 2023 Draft, the Devils acquired Nathan Eovaldi in a move that would vault GM Jason Watson's squad to the top of the East Bay Division. The cost was a pair of early pick swaps with Watson also netting a pair of middle round picks. The biggest benefit was Eovaldi who enters the All-Star Break leading all pitchers in scoring while posting a 2.83 ERA and 1.02 WHIP and is on pace for a 600+ point season while earning just $1 on the final year of his contract.
Hitter of the Year: Shohei Ohtani, Hops
Honorable Mention: Ronald Acuña (Fringe), Freddie Freeman (Clovers), Mookie Betts (Devils), Luis Arraez (Fish)
While Ronald Acuña is equaling deserving, leading the RDBL in hitter scoring, the contributions of Shohei Ohtani are too hard to overlook. Ohtani is having a career-best season at the plate, slashing .302/.387/.663 with 32 home runs. After posting 985.5 points in 2022, Ohtani is on pace to easily surpass 1,000 points between his work at the plate and on the mound.
Reliever of the Year: Felix Bautista, Goutfish
Honorable Mention: Alexis Diaz (Hops), Camilo Doval (Clovers), Ryan Pressly (Goutfish), Josh Hader (Fringe)
In an age where relievers can be unpredictable one season to the next, Felix Bautista has picked up right where he left off after a dominant 2022. Bautista leads all relievers with 241.0 points, carrying a 1.07 ERA and 0.93 WHIP over 42.0 innings while notching 23 saves.
Activation of the Year: Corbin Carroll, Stacks
Honorable Mention: Josh Jung (Taters), Adley Rutschman (Clovers), Nico Hoerner (Maulers)
Carroll has met and exceeded every expectation he had coming into 2023, even when ranked as a consensus top-2 prospect entering the year. Carroll is slashing .289/.366/.549, showing more power than expected at this point in his career with 18 home runs, 20 doubles and three triples with 26 steals. He's on pace for almost 500 points in his activation year and ranks among the best contract values in the RDBL at present.
Trade of the Year: Devils Acquire RHP Nathan Eovaldi
Honorable Mention: Yelich (Devils), Olson (Fringe)
When a pair of early round Draft swaps lead to acquiring the most productive starting pitcher at the All-Star Break, and he costs just $1, it's the clear deal of the year. The amazing part for GM Jason Watson is that he might have the second best move of the year, acquiring Christian Yelich from the Spokane Fightin' Fish for a 5th Round Pick. Yelich is on pace for 464.5 points with a return to start-level performance in Milwaukee.
Free Agent Claim of the Year: Bryce Elder, Fightin' Fish
Honorable Mention: Dane Dunning (Jokers), LaMonte Wade (Jokers)
Six shutout innings from Bryce Elder on 4/5 led seven bids in the Period 3 Waivers. A $9 bid from the Spokane Fightin' Fish was matched by the Alamo Short Stacks, but the Fish were behind the Stacks at the time of the waivers which secured Elder. The right-hander rewarded the bid with a 270.0 point first half and is on track for over 500 points this season.
Pitching Prospect of the Year: Paul Skenes, Ducks
Honorable Mention: Eury Perez (Falcons), Gavin Williams ('Crats), Tanner Bibee (Heads), Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Goutfish), Carson Whisenhunt (Grapes)
While Eury Perez is equally deserving given his 2.36 ERA in 53 1/3 big league innings of work, no pitching prospect did more to add value to himself than Paul Skenes who had a legendary Junior season and LSU and became the top overall pick in this week's MLB Draft. Skenes, like Perez, lines up as a 2024 activation and should immediately step in as a frontline starter in Pittsburgh.
Hitting Prospect of the Year: Elly De La Cruz, Clovers
Honorable Mention: Dylan Crews (Ducks), Colton Cowser (Grapes), Jackson Holliday ('Crats), Junior Caminero (Stacks), Matt McLain (Jokers)
It only took a month, but Elly De La Cruz is already the most exciting player to watch in baseball. With 30 games under his belt, De La Cruz has already collected 40 hits and 15 steals and is fresh off a league-high 41.5 points in Period 15. He'll join the Cloverdale Clovers Active Roster for the Playoffs before stepping in full-time on a 1R/$1 deal in 2024.
Farm System of the Year: Alamo Short Stacks
Honorable Mention: Asti Grape Stompers, Maltese Falcons, Lunatic Fringe, Lake Merced Goutfish, Cloverdale Clovers, Burlingame Blue Ducks
Waving the white flag early, the Stacks have reloaded their Farm System with the additions of Marcelo Mayer, Evan Carter, Junior Caminero, Colson Montgomery, Adael Amador and Tyler Soderstrom. With 16 prospects under contract, the Stacks are likely to have 14 of them rank within Top 100 Lists this off-season with Tommy White expected to be a Top-10 pick in 2024 as he completes his Junior season at LSU.
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