Image: Matt Slocum, Associated Press

Check out the other 2023 Gallardo Awards here.

The M-SABR Gallardo Awards, originally conceived by alumni Cam Cain and Sahil Shah, are given to some of the worst performing players in their respective categories each season.

This is the sixth and final article in this year’s series. Though Yovani Gallardo never had a chance to rebound after the awful 2018 season for which our award series honors, what may have happened if he had? The Redeem Team breaks from the others, honoring those who most improved in 2023 following a poor 2022 season. In effect, this is our All-MLB Team. The Stevie Wilkerson Award for Position Player Pitching Excellence (SWAPPPE) will also be given out.

Note – Hitters who qualified for this list had to record at least 300 plate appearances. Qualifying starting pitchers threw at least 100 innings, while 50 innings was the benchmark for relievers.

Manager

ARI Torey Lovullo (+10 wins)

In 2021, the Arizona Diamondbacks tied the Baltimore Orioles for most losses with a whopping 110. It took just two years for these two organizations to turn things around, the Orioles topping 100 wins to secure the American League’s best record and the D-Backs sneaking into the playoffs only to make a run for a World Series title.

A lot of credit is due to Brandon Hyde, who was the manager of last year’s Redeem Team. Potentially even more worthy, Torey Lovullo not only managed his team to a playoff berth but carried them to the World Series. Impressive? Yes, but there’s more.

Lovullo’s management of the pitching staff in the playoffs was undoubtedly one of the keys to Arizona’s fairytale run.  The Diamondbacks won seven out of ten games decided by three runs or less in the playoffs, with many of the victories attributed to the bullpen holding opposing hitters late. This was particularly noticeable in games three and four of the Championship Series versus the Phillies.

In game three, with the D-Backs down 0-2 in the series and the score tied at 0-0 going into the top of the seventh, Lovullo relieved left-handed rookie Andrew Saalfrank after giving up a walk to begin the inning despite a favorable matchup. Lovullo brought in Ryan Thompson, who allowed a single and a wild pitch leading to a Phillies score. However, Thompson weaved out of the jam with a double play and a strikeout. The Diamondbacks tied the game in the latter half of the inning, so there was no question as to who would be coming out of the pen for innings eight and nine. 

Playing the matchups is great and all, but Lovullo went to his most reliable options, Kevin Ginkel and Paul Sewald (let’s give Mike Hazen some credit for grabbing this bulldog at the deadline). Though not unexpected or irrational, Lovullo’s bullpen management allowed the game to remain tied to set up a Ketel Marte (featured on Lovullo’s Redeem Team below) walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth.

In game four, Lovullo was put in a tricky spot. He needed to throw a bullpen game despite being in a crucial, near-must-win situation (going down 3-1 in the series would have been less than ideal). Despite weaving a story of eight pitchers together to craft the game, Lovullo’s staff managed to allow just four earned runs in what finished a 6-5 victory. It could be the most minor of decisions which make or break a team in the postseason, and Lovullo managed well.

This was the story of the season for the Diamondbacks — finding ways to come out on top in close games (54-46 in games decided by three runs or less, enough to earn them a winning record). Though not the most talented or star-studded group of players, the Diamondbacks exemplified a true winning ball club with a winning manager to lead the way.    

Starting Pitcher

BAL Kyle Bradish (+4.4 fWAR)

What a massive jump Orioles starter Kyle Bradish took in his second major league season. He went from middle-of-the-line innings eater to one of the best starters in the entire sport, finishing fourth in American League Cy Young Award voting. So, what was the key to Bradish’s success?

He did what any professional does — tinker to see what’s working well and what’s not. Despite having a solid five-pitch arsenal, Bradish threw 45% four-seam fastballs in his rookie 2022 campaign. The run value against this pitch was -19, a product of poor vertical ride and missing over the heart of the plate.

This pitch wasn’t working, but what was? Bradish’s slider was far and away his best weapon with his curveball and rarely-thrown sinker as plus options as well. So, he took what he did best and made it better. Bradish added two inches of run to his slider and sequenced far better. His four-seam, slider approach to righties in ‘22 made a slight shift to sinker, slider — a more dynamic option.

Bradish’s sinker comes at a hitter with 95+ mph velocity to pair with a wipeout, flat-breaking slider. He threw his four-seam fastball only 22% of the time, while increasing his sinker usage from 4% to 21%. Bradish’s breaking stuff made up 48% of his arsenal and was the key to his success from start number one to start number 30 on the year. He finished the season with the number one-ranked breaking run value in the entire MLB.

Relief Pitcher

MIA Tanner Scott (+3.6 fWAR)

Four full seasons as a so-so reliever on the struggling Orioles from 2018-2021 was probably enough for baseball fans to brush Tanner Scott away as yet another failure of what was a poor system. However, the left-handed reliever showed flashes of greatness from time to time, though lacking consistency.

Year after year, Scott managed to put together a combination of low opponent exit velocity and high strikeout rate, signaling his ability to miss barrels. However, a high walk rate (5.5 BB/9 during his time in Baltimore) hindered his ability to limit opponents’ run production. Despite putting together a better overall season during his first year in Miami in 2022, Scott still finished in the basement of the league in walk rate.

Scott soared in 2023, though, as the veteran arm managed to cut this walk rate in half and find himself in the top 10% of the league in pretty much every other category. He did so while appearing in the second-most games among National League relievers. 

Despite possessing only two pitches, Scott mixes well between his 97-mph four-seam fastball and firm 89-mph gyro-slider. Just check out his 2023 Baseball Savant profile below. Scott put together a ridiculous season out of the Marlins pen.

Catcher

MIN Ryan Jeffers (+2.4 fWAR)

The Minnesota Twins had a fantastic 2023 season which included arguably the best pitching staff in the MLB. Though Ryan Jeffers is a fairly poorly rated defensive catcher, credit must go where credit is due. Jeffers can call a game and frame pitches with the best of them.

Jeffers is the catcher for this team, though, due to his uptick in offensive performance in 2023. While his opportunities were limited during the first three years of his career, Jeffers was unable to put together any positive work on offense. The 6’4”, 235-lb. catcher had shown to have some pop in his career but had yet to translate this into sustainable power statistics.

2023 proved different for the Twins backstop, collecting 31 extra base hits in just 286 at bats. This was good for a formidable .490 SLG to pair with a .276 batting average and 134 OPS+. Jeffers truly became one of the better hitting catchers across the league this past season; however, repeat above-average offensive seasons have been historically difficult to come by for catchers. Will Jeffers find consistency with the potential for more plate appearances?

First Base

DET Spencer Torkelson (+2.0 fWAR)

Ok, so Tork didn’t have to do much to find himself on the Redeem Team after earning himself -1.2 fWAR and an Aluminum Slugger Award in his rookie 2022 season. Nonetheless, he’s here after recording 31 home runs, 34 doubles, and 94 RBI in the ‘23 campaign. 

Even as a Tigers fan, I admit there’s little positive to say about Tork outside of the fact that he hits absolute bombs. The Tigers first baseman was one of the best of the best in all power categories and surprisingly put up a decent number of walks (67). As a true member of the three-outcome club (as founded by Joey Gallo), though, Torkelson strikes out a TON. Despite improving drastically in a number of areas in 2023, he managed to match the 25% K-rate he posted in his rookie year.

I’m excited for the power potential he brings to the Tigers lineup but am not a Tork-faithful like many of my fellow Detroiters. I have a feeling the 171 strikeouts he posted in 2023 aren’t a thing of the past.

As a quick note on Torkelson’s poor defensive metrics, though, first base is a difficult position to quantify since most statistics don’t take putout ability into account. Watching Tork save Javier Báez from at least 20 throwing errors throughout the season leads me to believe he is a better defender than given credit for.

Second Base

ARI Ketel Marte (+3.4 fWAR)

2022 was Ketel Marte’s worst offensive season with at least 300 plate appearances since his first full season in the league, 2016. However, he was still an above average hitter (105 OPS+) and certainly didn’t harm his team with strikeout or contact issues. The bar for Marte is just set particularly high, and he lived up to the standard in 2023.

In his age-29 season, Marte compiled 4.9 fWAR, the second-highest total of his career next to a 2019 6.9-WAR All-Star season. The switch-hitter added 25 home runs, 82 RBI, and a strong 71 walks en route to being in the 90th percentile among major leaguers in batting run value. Marte even legged out nine triples, showcasing the scary power-speed threat he presents.  

Over his career, Marte has collected nearly 25 fWAR and has yet to play a season in his 30s. Outside the confines of the Phoenix suburbs, this guy is severely underrated. Even defensively, he is average at worst when playing second base and is versatile enough to man the outfield if need be. Not to mention he is a career .344 postseason hitter in 90 at bats. Give Ketel Marte some love, baseball fans!

Shortstop

ARI Geraldo Perdomo (+1.6 fWAR)

Diamondbacks are everywhere! The improved efforts of Arizona’s middle infield significantly contributed to their late-season run and earning of the NL Pennant. For second-year shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, though, the first half of the 2023 season is where he thrived.

After producing a meager .195/.285/.262 line in his first full season as a big leaguer, Perdomo kicked off 2023 having immensely improved his contact ability. In April, he hit .390 and finished the season’s first month with a 1.082 OPS. From here, the Arizona shortstop’s production slowed, but a strong June solidified his All-Star candidacy.

Post-All-Star Break, Perdomo was never able to pick up the pace again, struggling to hit for any power and running out of luck in the way of hit placement. His final season line was .246/.353/.359, a clear step up from 2022 but disappointing considering the hot start he had. Perdomo did step it up during the playoffs, though, hitting a pair of home runs and posting a serviceable .392 SLG during Arizona’s miracle run.

Defensively, Perdomo is an absolute stud who uses his length and side-to-side agility to his advantage. To cap things off, he has a cannon which allows him to make strong, accurate throws on the run. The 24-year-old is a bundle of raw talent who has shown, like in April of this past season, what he is capable of. His lack of any form of power doesn’t play well in the modern-day game, but his services on defense and potentially elite ability to get on base should be enough to guarantee a long career in the pros.

Third Base

WAS/CHC Jeimer Candelario (+2.3 fWAR)

Ok, I’m not happy about this one. I understand newly-hired Tigers President of Baseball Ops Scott Harris wanted to come in and open the roster up for a fresh start, but Candelario was an extremely strong hitter for Detroit in 2020 and 2021 who simply had an off year in ‘22. For crying out loud, the man led the league in doubles in 2021 just to get DFA’d a year later.

The Candy-man is a smooth swinger from both sides of the plate whose value comes from his versatility in the lineup depending on who’s toeing the rubber. From the left batter’s box, Candelario brings gap-to-gap power, and from the right, he shows better contact skills and discipline. So, it’s almost like you get two different guys wrapped in one, which can be extremely valuable if used correctly.

Though his 2023 numbers aren’t eye-popping, they seem like something he can replicate moving forward. All told, he finished with 22 home runs, 39 doubles, 70 RBI, and a solid 119 OPS+. Much of this production came in the first half of the season with Washington, and his numbers were slightly less promising during his time with the Cubbies despite actually showing better plate discipline.

It may come as a surprise to many, but the Candy-man can pick it over at third base. His extremely quick reaction times and very smooth hands make up for any lack of athleticism he may possess. Throughout his career, Candelario has consistently finished as an above-average third baseman and has provided quite a few innings at first as well. The switch-hitter joins Cincinnati for the 2024 season, and with the bio-engineered Elly de la Cruz likely seeing a healthy share of third base play, expect to see Candelario manning first more often. 

Left Field

ATL Eddie Rosario (+2.7 fWAR)

Similar to Torkelson, Eddie Rosario’s 2022 campaign was so poor that it didn’t take much for him to find a spot on the Redeem Team. A share of injury troubles and lack of playing time caused Rosario, a particularly consistent producer throughout his career, to struggle immensely in ‘22, posting a career-worst .587 OPS (his previous low was .716 in 2016) and a career-high whiff rate.

When 2023 came around and there was no clear left field option for the Braves, Rosario was given the opportunity to rebound and return to old form. And on the surface, he did this fairly well. The left-handed hitter compiled 21 home runs, 24 doubles, 74 RBI, and a league-average .755 OPS. However, when digging deeper, Rosario showed sharp declines in hard hit rate (35%, 19th percentile), chase rate (44%, 2nd percentile), and whiff rate (30%, 23rd percentile) when compared to 2021 and earlier.

There is no denying father time as Rosario, age 32, enters the back half of his professional baseball career, but he has found ways to produce. What makes Atlanta such a strong offensive force year in and year out, though, is the way each hitter feeds off the energy of the rest of the lineup. Given his immense declines in various areas, I would be concerned for Rosario’s future as he looks for a new home in free agency. 

Center Field

PHI Brandon Marsh (+2.5 fWAR)

Well, this is my first time writing about Brandon Marsh, so I must take a minute to say…that beard is a national treasure. His mane, personality, and last name make him an MLB marketing opportunity waiting to happen. Philly fans, please give this man a nickname. I propose “the Swamp Monster” or even the long-winded “Beard of Brotherly Love.”

From beards to baseball, Brandon is a man of complexity. For one, you won’t find many big leaguers out there who are in the 80th percentile or higher in batting, fielding, and baserunning value. Marsh is a hard-hitting, 6’4”, 215-lb. lefty and an elite defender with top-tier range who should have gotten stronger consideration for a Gold Glove.

Despite finishing in the 87th percentile for barrel rate, Marsh only scratched across 12 home runs in 2023, likely due to his ground ball approach. His lack of a launch angle is the only thing holding him back from being a five-tool player. In just his third major league season, Marsh hit for an .829 OPS, a huge jump from .679 in 2022.

Marsh is the Phillies center fielder for the foreseeable future, and though it’s early on in his tenure with the team, this is the type of player you get into extension talks with before his value soars through the charts. He has yet to tap into his power and has taken a massive leap in each of his first two major league offseasons thus far. A breakout is on the horizon.   

Right Field

ATL Ronald Acuña Jr. (+5.5 fWAR)

Ok, no offense to every other guy who made the Redeem Team, but being here with Acuña isn’t fair to Acuña. Truthfully, we know what the Braves right fielder is going to do every year, so putting him on this roster might slightly go against the grain. However, the 5.5 jump in WAR coming off an injury-ridden 2022 was an undeniable addition.

If that one guy the Dodgers signed didn’t exist, I’d feel perfectly comfortable calling Acuña Jr. the best baseball player on the planet right now. He truly does everything at an elite level. If you want someone who will contact the ball consistently, walk as much as he strikes out, and wreak havoc on the basepath, Acuña’s your guy. If you’re looking for a bomber who sprays the ball from the gaps to the second deck, Acuña’s your guy. If you’re looking for an elite defender who won’t allow a ball to touch grass, Acuña is your guy.

Now, defense does happen to be his worst area, but if he enters a season fully healthy, expect elite work from Acuña in the outfield, especially in the arm department. The superstar has an absolute cannon, good for 98th percentile arm strength. There isn’t much more to say about the National League MVP. You gotta just look at the numbers and watch him play. Ronald Acuña Jr. is a generational talent who comes around every so often and will go down as one of the greatest to ever play the game…hands down.

Just look at this Baseball Savant page!

Stevie Wilkerson Award for Position Player Pitching Excellence (SWAPPE)

MIA Jacob Stallings (8.0 IP / 4.50 ERA / 1 K / 0.1 bWAR)

For a second-straight season, the league had a position player who was more valuable on the mound than in their natural position and in the batter’s box. Truthfully, Stallings didn’t even qualify as a position player, so he may as well have been the guy who toes the rubber while the fans are on the way home because the Marlins are trailing by 12.

Stallings produced a weak .565 OPS across 276 plate appearances, as the starting job he earned when the season began slowly faded away with Nick Fortes earning more opportunities. The Marlins have yet to make a move this offseason to fill the catcher role with someone other than the pair of backstops who combined for -0.7 WAR this past season.

But, Stallings is a part of our Redeem Team, as our backup catcher and more importantly, a crucial late-game innings eater when our team, unlike the Marlins, is blowing out its opponents. From the mound, Stallings has a league-best 0% walk rate, a substantial 34% whiff rate, and a low average exit velocity allowed of 87 mph. He comes at you with a blazing 73-mph fastball, a 54-mph low-spin changeup, and a wipeout 42-mph curveball (which is honestly just an eephus). What’s not to love?

Oh, and Stallings’ singular strikeout came against National League MVP and Redeem Team Captain Ronald Acuña Jr.!

Categories: 2023 Gallardo Awards, Articles, Season Analysis

Tags: 2023 Gallardo Awards