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Conan 'Checkmate' Wilkerson
RHP - CAL
16-4 - 1.94 ERA - 203 K - 0.99 WHIP
1st Place - Conan 'Checkmate' Wilkerson (62) - CAL
2nd Place - Ivan Arellano (42) - DAV
3rd Place - Jayson McQueen (9) - VIR
Others Receiving Votes:
- Robert Abbott - WAS
- Keith McCoy - LAM
- Pancho 'Ironfist' Herrerra - VIR
- Hector Castre - CAR
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Was there ever any doubt?
After already taking home the hardware for IL Pale Ale Pitcher, it came as little suprise to hear Conan 'Checkmate' Wilkerson claim the title as the top IL Rookie in 1987. The 4th overall pick just last season went 16-4 on the year and easily brought home the honor receiving 20 out of 22 1st place votes.
What may have caught a few off-guard was a solid push for Davenport's Ivan Arellano. The speedy Nicaraguan CF was the only player to appear on all 22 ballots including two 1st place votes. Originally draft by Davenport in '82, he was shipped to Wilmington and eventually back to Davenport in a couple deals including some of the biggest names in the BLB. First, he was part of the deal that sent former Stout Slugger Dani Alvarez to Wilmington in May of '83. He then came back to the Davenport organization in 1985 in a deal for Harry Elliott. Making the big club this year, he hit 30 HR and drove in 101 runs for the Brawlers. One scout told us, "This kid may be the closest thing to a 5-tool player that we've seen in years. Not sure why they kept this kid from stealing this season, but he has 40-40 potential."
After the battle at the top, a shortlist of "also rans" developed with two Stout rookies separated by just 1 vote for 3rd. The honor went to Virginia Colonials Reliever Jayson McQueen. McQueen, who lead the in Holds and was 2nd in games and relief appearances, struckout an impressive 136 hitters. Hard to say what's next for the lefty hurler. While Virginia is keeping a tight lid on his future, many see him entering 87 as the setup man for Vernon Simmonds while others thing the kid may actually be a Starter in this league.
Washington's Robert Abbott finished 4th in the balloting just ahead of another Stout youngers Pancho 'Ironfist' Herrerra.
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