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(AP)
The 2035 season is over and congratulations are in order for the Wilmington Clowns. This is the Clowns first championship since their brand rename and the first in Wilmington since 2019. The Clowns went 91-71 in the regular season then beat Hartford in the Wild Card, Syracuse in the Division Series, Pittsburgh in the LCS, and finally the Seattle Pilots four games to three in the Brewmasters. It was also their GM's first Brewmasters Cup victory. He controlled the Indianapolis Clowns from their inaugural 1982 season until 2018 before taking a hiatus from the league. He was then hired by Wilmington in 2025 and has been in charge of them ever since. Congrats are in order for all!
The Brewski's
The Daily Keg is excited to announce the 6th annual Brewski Awards show. After pouring over the season the selection committee has announced the the winners for the following awards, some serious...some not so serious. So without further delay here we go.
Player of the Year
1B Johnny 'Big Stick' Swope, CAL - We might have to rename this award when 'Big Stick' retires. At 33 years old people wondered how much more he had in his tank when he signed a monster contract with the Kodiaks this off-season. He showed them it was plenty as he hit .288/.366/.625 with 48 HRs, 106 RBI's, a 157 OPS+ and 5.9 WAR. His continued dominance over IL pitching also helped lead California to an 89 win season and their first playoff appearance since 2023.
2030 winner: 3B Johnny 'Big Stick' Swope, SEA
2031 winner: 1B Turell 'Two Ton' Morris, MAI
2032 winner: 3B Johnny 'Big Stick' Swope, SEA
2033 winner: C Ian James, SDR
2034 winner: 1B Johnny 'Big Stick' Swope, SEA
Hitter of the Year
DH Ron 'Vampire' Hutchison, HAR - He's favored to win the Stout Slugger this season which would give him victories in 2031, 2033, and 2035. Not bad for the 28 year old who has now hit over 50 home runs in each of those Stout Slugger years. He's not just a slugger though as he hit .294/.367/.615 and drove in 140 runs while posting a 6.1 WAR. He came up biggest when Hartford needed him the most during August when he hit .364 with 16 HR's while the Whalers went 20-8 and solidified another playoff appearance.
2030 winner: 1B Turell 'Two Ton' Morris, MAI
2031 winner: RF Ron 'Vampire' Hutchison, HAR
2032 winner: 1B Jermaine Williams, IND
2033 winner: 1B Manny Quezada, PHO
2034 winner: LF Fred Falloon, IND
Pitcher of the Year
P J.J. Plumley, WIL - Goodness what a year for the former 2nd round pick. He finished the year by going 13-6 with a 2.53 ERA, 161 ERA+, and led the league once again with 260 K's in 30 starts. Since that doesn't quite sum up his season maybe this will...All-Star selection in July, signed an 8 year/$216m contract in August, pitched a Game 1 no hitter against Pittsburgh in the LCS in October, and then capped it off by winning the 2035 Brewmasters in November with a dominating game seven on the mound.
2030 winner: Manabu Hamada, DEN
2031 winner: Manabu Hamada, DEN
2032 winner: Noel Graham, MAI
2033 winner: Pat 'Baja' Arballo, WAS
2034 winner: JJ Plumley, WIL
Rookie of the Year
RF Robert 'Stretch' Jessee, TOR - He just turned 22 but that didn't stop him from crushing pitchers in his first full BLB season. Over the course of 158 games he hit .302/.376/.550 with 36 HR's, 101 RBI's, 14 SB's and a 5.6 WAR. He was selected to the All-Star game, and won Rookie of the Month and Player of the Week three times each.
2030 winner: 1B Pat Walton, HAR
2031 winner: 2B Alex Arana, SDR
2032 winner: 1B Dave Perry, PIT
2033 winner: 2B Tom Martin, NYK
2034 winner: CF Rory Elia, CAR
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All-State Hands Award
(Given to the player with the most total chances and no errors...who doesn't play primarily first base)
CF Mat Weir, NO - Playing center field for the Dukes he had 523 total chances to screw up and didn't do it once, one of only five players in the league who were perfect on the year. He also hit .299/.361/.473 with 21 HR's, 64 RBI's and stole 28 bases. Talk about a complete player.
2030 winner: RF Dusty Janson, DEN
2031 winner: LF Jamie Hendon, NY
2032 winner: CF Gil Banda, SEA
2033 winner: CF Tom White, SDR
2034 winner: RF Donnie Wilson, MON
Army Ranger Sniper Award
(Given to the catcher with the highest runner thrown out percentage with a minimum of 30 attempts)
C Micah Gordon, PIT - During the year 70 runners attempted to steal a base with Gordon behind the plate and he threw out 28 of them for a RTO% of 40.0, the only catcher higher than 35% and only one of two catchers higher than 30%.
2030 winner: C Micah Gordon, WIL
2031 winner: C Ian 'Pickles' James, SDR
2032 winner: C Landon McClelland, PHI
2033 winner: C Tristan Logan, SEA
2034 winner: C Dusty Akkerman, PAW
Frank Abagnale, Jr Award
(Given to the player who stole at least 20 bases and was caught the least)
CF Seth Blankenship, SYR - Coming in with 35 stolen bases in 38 attempts he barely beat out Kapper and wins his first Brewksi. He also happened to hit 49 HR's and was just five swipes away from being the first 40/40 player in the history of the league.
2030 winner: CF Pat Welch, BAT
2031 winner: LF Akiyuki Kimura, MAI
2032 winner: RF R.J. Kapper, PIT
2033 winner: RF R.J. Kapper, PIT
2034 winner: RF R.J. Kapper, PIT
Ludacris Award
(Given to the player who got hit with the most pitches)
2B Hideki Nakayama, MAI - He was beaned 18 times this year which tied him with robot-zombie Tatsuno from last season. At 36 years old the old guy got on base at a .328 clip, the lowest of his career since entering the league from Japan in 2028, but darned if he wasn't sacrificing his body trying.
2030 winner: 1B Geoff 'Mr. Reliable' Dail, MIA
2031 winner: 2B Dave 'Bulldog' Bickford, NY
2032 winner: 2B Tristan Hagen, HAR
2033 winner: 1B Joy-shan Guo, BAT
2034 winner: LF Benny Tatsuno, PIT
Broadside of the Barn Award
(Given to the player with the highest strikeouts per plate appearance)
C Jaden Stills, MAI - He was only player in the league above 30% as he struck out 194 times in 596 plate appearance for a 32.6 SO percentage. He didn't really make up for it by slugging the ball when he did connect as he hit .192/.258/.296 with 6 HRs and 42 RBI's. He now has the record for most strikeouts in a year by an active player and ranks 62nd all-time for a season.
2030 winner: LF Sayid bin Sariyah, LAD
2031 winner: C Sean Gallion, SYR
2032 winner: 1B Tom Lewis, MAI
2033 winner: C Jaime 'Dodo' Bushnell, CAR
2034 winner: 1B Dave Schaefer, NYK
Swing For Between the Infielders Award
(Given to the player with the most hits but no home runs)
2B Ricky 'Heartthrob' Figueroa, WC - Guess who's back, back again, 'Heartthrob' is back, tell a friend. After winning in 2030 and 2031 he went on a power surge and hit one home run in each of his last three seasons. This season though he once again failed to hit one out, his fifth time during his 11 year career. Word on the street is that the ladies still love him though.
2030 winner: 2B Ricky 'Heartthrob' Figueroa, DEN
2031 winner: 2B Ricky 'Heartthrob' Figueroa, DEN
2032 winner: 3B Ron Morgan, SDR
2033 winner: RF Tom Lyon, PHO
2034 winner: C Tony Solorio, HAR
Dickey's BBQ Beans Award
(Given to the pitcher who hits the most batters)
P Erik Martin, NYK - Four players beaned 16 batters this season but Martin did it in only 175 innings. It was the 28 year olds first time pitching in the BLB since 2032 where he only pitched in one game and it showed. On the year he was 9-16 with a 5.71 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and a 68 ERA+.
2030 winner: P Nate Bettis, PHO
2031 winner: P Pat Burgess, PIT
2032 winner: P Robby 'Bruiser' McEvoy, BAL
2033 winner: P Jarrod Peacock, PHI
2034 winner: P Robby 'Bruiser' McEvoy, BAL
The Milton Swingline Stapler Award
(The player who earned a check without deserving one)
1B Joy-shan Guo, BAT - Batavia breaks the streak as for the first time we have a non California or Toronto player win the award! This season Guo made a cool $34,000,000 and posted a -0.3 WAR in only 90 games. He was replaced at first base and he wisely chose not to opt out of his $36,000,000 due to him next season. Thank goodness for Batavia they have an opt out clause on their end as they can pay him only $4m and tell him to hit the road. The 31 year old was a 1st round pick back in 2024 and was absolute dominant for New Orleans before coming to the Red Jackets via free agency a few years back.
2030 winner: P Jerrod Blick, TOR
2031 winner: P Jerrod Blick, TOR
2032 winner: 1B Dylan Owens, TOR
2033 winner: 3B Erik Redding, CAL
2034 winner: 1B Dylan Owens, TOR
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