Top 10 Players List
Subscribe to our Newsletter1. Davis Pierce
2012 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
Accolades: '06 MVP, '07 MVP, '07 Gold Glove, '08 MVP, '09 MVP, '09 Gold Glove, '09 Batting Title, '10 Gold Glove, '11 MVP, '11 Gold Glove
Championships: 2 - 2006 (Padres), 2011 (Padres)
Atop the list for the Top 10 BTWL Players, is 5x MVP and one of the "Top 15 Pitchers in America", Dave Pierce. Davis, one of the four founding captains, checks in at number 1 for pretty obvious reasons: he is the career leader in HRs, RBI, Hits, Doubles, Innings Pitched, Wins, Strikeouts, Saves, and Complete Games. He is also 2nd in career batting average, winning the batting title in 2009.
Even though the voting for MVP tries to ignore Pierce as much as possible, it is just an impossible task. He consistently dominates the league as the top pitcher, but also is arguably the toughest hitter to retire. The only year he did not win MVP was in 2010, as his teammate Cayden took the honors, but he still had an above average year with a .337 average at the plate and a 1.03 ERA on the bump.
He started slow in 2011, and many thought his reign at the top may be coming to an end. But he quickly turned it around and ended up winning the pitching Triple Crown, along with finishing 2nd in HR and RBI, and ultimately garnering his 5th MVP title. His efforts also landed him on the National Wiffleball League Associations lists as a 1st team pitcher, 2nd team hitter, and 2nd team fielder.
Pierce won his first title in 2006, but surprisingly didn't reach glory again until 2011, ending his infamous title drought. Regardless, he is one of 5 players with multiple titles, and that alone says it all.
Pierce is clearly the best player to ever take part in the BTWL, and his dominance year in and year out is all the proof anyone needs.
2. Greg Sullivan
2008-09 - Washington Nationals
2010-11 - Chicago White Sox
2012 - Montgomery Biscuits
Accolades: '06 Batting Title, '08 Batting Title, '09 Cy Young, '11 Batting Title
Championships: 3 - 2006 (Padres), 2009 (Nationals), 2010 (White Sox)
Joining the list at number 2 is perhaps the most unheralded superstar in the BTWL, lefty Greg Sullivan. Drafted 3rd overall in 2006, Sullivan has proved to be the only 1st round pick from the inaugural season worth his stock. He is a lifetime .434 hitter, which is tops all-time, and is 4th in hits, and 3rd in doubles, HR and RBI. Greg also checks in first in career OBP, SLG, and OPS. He is also the only player to win multiple batting titles, as he has done so three times.
But of course, the most impressive aspect of Sullivan's career is the 3 championship rings he boasts. He's proven to be a reliable, dominant commodity, who is capable of leading his team to a title, and he has done just that with 3 different squads, 2 of which were sub-.500 teams.
He is capable of being a shutdown pitcher, too, as he has 4 career regular season no-hitters, and an additional no-no in the playoffs. But his downside is that he tends to get a bit wild at times, leading to walks and limiting his potential on the mound.
Overall, the veteran southpaw is one of the greatest players to ever come through the BTWL, and has countless records, stats, and championships to prove so. He shows no signs of slowing down, and will prove to be a vital part of the Biscuits this season.
3. Cayden Bengtson
2012 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
Accolades: '07 Silver Slugger, '07 Rookie of the Year,'07 Batting Title, '08 Cy Young, '08 Gold Glove, '09 Silver Slugger, '10 Most Valuable Player, '11 Championship MVP
Championships: 1 - Padres (2011)
To the surprise of many, Cayden Bengtson lands at number three on the top 10 list. The only other MVP beside Dave Pierce, Bengtson is one of the most talented players in the league. Since his start in 2007, Bengtson is most noted for his power hitting abilities in the heart of the Padres lineup.
Bengtson has a career .394 batting average as he is second all-time in home runs (41), RBIs (121), and doubles (37). The one-two punch of him and Pierce has been the reason for the Padres regular season success, but it was in the postseason where their winning ways were halted. His four-year winless drought ended in 2011 when he captured his first championship and also the MVP of the series.
As a pitcher, Bengtson has thrived under the tutelage of his captain, developing many of the same pitches as the five-time MVP. In 35 games, he has compiled a 25-7 record with a dazzling 1.79 ERA. His 221 strikeouts are fourth all-time and he boasts a 1.32 WHIP. He also has four no-hitters and was apart of a combined no-no.
The three-time first overall pick Bengtson looks to push the Blue Rocks to back-to-back championships, as he and Pierce are reunited once again. Without a doubt, he is the fastest pitcher in the BTWL and his riser is arguably the hardest pitch to hit in the league.
Although some experts consider Bengtson the second best player in the BTWL, the one championship win in five years on the dominating Padres squads lowers his overall stock and therefore lands at number three.
4. Keith Leatham
2012 - Reno Aces
Accolades: '07 Silver Slugger, '07 Rookie of the Year, '07 Gold Glove, '08 Cy Young, '10 Gold Glove, '11 Cy Young
Championships: 2 - 2007 (Tigers), 2008 (Tigers)
One of the most consistent, and arguably one of the best players in the BTWL, Keith Leatham comes in at number four on our Top 10 list. Year in and year out, Leatham produces both on the mound and at the plate. A lifetime .360 hitter, he has 22 career homeruns, 85 RBIs, and is the all-time leader in triples (five).
Leatham is most talented however when it comes to pitching. His overall ERA is 1.76 in 164.1 innings pitched while his WHIP is 1.11 (both 2nd best). Leatham has been apart of teams with poor offenses, and as a result has a 14-13 record despite the overwhelming numbers.
In his 2011 Cy Young campaign, Leatham sported a 5-4 record with a 1.57 ERA in 46 innings. His 35:10 K/BB was a league best as he doesn't walk many batters.
This year, Leatham was selected number two overall in the 2012 draft by the Reno Aces, and it is the first year that he will not be apart of Tony Sciaraffa's squad. Leatham will begin the year as the ace of the pitching staff, a role he did not have in his years on the Tigers.
With Leatham, you know what you are going to get in a player and his talents place him at #4 on the Top 10 list.
5. Antonio Leatham
2009 - Detroit Tigers
2010-11 - Washington Nationals
2012 - Jamestown Jammers
Accolades: ’09 Comeback Player of the Year, ’10 Silver Slugger, ’10 Batting Title, ’11 Silver Slugger, '11 Gold Glove
Championships: None
The younger Leatham brother has had an interesting history in the BTWL. He played briefly in 2007 for the Nats and showed promise, but ultimately didn’t come back until 2009. He joined his brother Keith on the Tigers, and played well enough to be recognized as the Comeback Player of the Year with 5 HR and 13 RBI. He also looked solid on the bump, going 2-1 with a 1.36 ERA.
Galicia took another shot on him in the ’10 draft, and it’s paid off, as Leatham has arguably been the most dangerous hitter in the league the last two years. Since 2010, he’s led the league in both HR and RBI, and has run away with the Silver Slugger award each year. Leatham also became the only player to win the batting Triple Crown as he did so in 2010 with a .405/8/20 line. He also helped lead the Nats to the ’11 Championship Series, where he pitched dominantly and showed what he’s truly capable of on the bump. In the end, however, the Nats came up short, and that leaves Antonio still without a championship, not unlike Cayden of prior years.
Despite that, Antonio has shown that he is still one of the premiere players in the league, and a championship can easily be seen in his future. But he has had a smaller sample size as opposed to some of the 5 and 6-year veterans, and that’s why he’s checked in here at number 5.
6. Anthony Sciaraffa
2012 - Montgomery Biscuits
Accolades: '07 Cy Young, '08 Championship MVP, '10 Cy Young
Championships: 2 - 2007 (Tigers), 2008 (Tigers)
The third captain to crack the top 10, Tony Sciaraffa has been a cornerstone of his team every season. Arguably one of the best pitchers in the league, Sciaraffa has a 26-15 overall record in 57 games pitched. In 294.1 innings pitched, he has a 3.39 ERA and 327 strikeouts.
His best season on the bump was in 2010 as he went 5-1 with a 1.02 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP winning the Cy Young. He also has a no-hitter under his belt in 2007 striking out every batter in the contest.
He has also been one of the best overall hitters to play in the BTWL. He has a career .339 average with 23 homeruns and 88 RBIs. The free-swinging Sciaraffa also leads the league in strikeouts with 162.
Sciaraffa is one of two captains to win multiple championships, but he hasn't reached the promised land since 2008 which is the longest current drought.
However, 2012 will mark the first season since 2006 that he is without longtime running mate Keith Leatham. With no Leatham, Tony selected Antonio Leatham third overall, but traded him to Jamestown for longtime BTWL veteran Greg Sullivan and a 2014 second round pick.
Sciaraffa looks to be the ace again on this year's squad and with Sullivan now aboard he will have many chances help his team win. His ability on the mound makes him one of the most feared pitchers for opposing batters.
7. Jim Sarkisian
2010-11 - Chicago White Sox
2012 - Reno Aces
Accolades: '06 Cy Young, '07 Gold Glove, '08 Gold Glove, '10 Championship MVP
Championships: 1 - 2010 (White Sox)
Captain Jim Sarkisian enters this list at number 7. Never a real power threat, Sarkisian has consistently found ways to succeed individually in the BTWL, and often times it goes unheralded. In the inaugural season of the BTWL, Sarkisian dominated on the bump, leading the league with 58 strikeouts and hauling in his first Cy Young award.
Despite that, Sarkisian may have had his finest season in '09 going 4-3, striking out 46, and sporting a neat 1.94 ERA while falling just short of his 2nd Cy Young award because of the dominating season put together by Greg Sullivan. His performance has tailed off the last two years on the mound, but the potential is still there for Jimbo to bounce back to form.
At the plate, Sarkisian has been a consistent .300 hitter who gets on base for his teammates. He is a lifetime .333 hitter, and is 5th in career hits, and tied for 2nd in career doubles while entering 2012 with a 13 game hitting streak. He lacks big time power, but has some pop in his bat as he was the only batter to take Dave Pierce deep in 2011, and he did so twice.
Sarkisian also was at the helm of a remarkable run in 2010, as he led the 6-9 White Sox past the #1 seed Padres in the championship, as he briefly bounced back to form and pitched outstanding, allowing one hit in 15 innings.
Jimbo's quality pitching, reliable hitting, and impressive captainship throughout six years has landed him comfortably on this list at number 7 of our Top BTWL players.
8. Tyler Galicia
2012 - Jamestown Jammers
Accolades: '07 Cy Young, '07 Gold Glove, '08 Gold Glove, '10 Comeback Player of the Year, '11 Gold Glove
Championships: 1 (2009 - Nationals)
The first of the four captains on our list, Tyler Galicia was one of the co-founders of the BTWL and he ranks at number eight in the Top 10. Galicia has been apart of the starting rotation every year and is one of the best leadoff hitters in the game. He has career .301 average with 117 runs scored (2nd overall), and a .473 on-base percentage (4th overall).
The three-time gold glove winner has always been excellent defensively for his teams as he was apart of the National Wiffleball League Association Third-Team for fielders. As the ace of the Nationals/Jammers pitching staff, Galicia has had off years of 5.00+ ERAs and superb years with ERAs less than 3.00. Although he isn't a strikeout pitcher, he has the ability to force groundouts and fly outs to help his team win games.
Galicia and his Nationals squad was one win shy of capturing the 2011 championship and with the majority of last years team still intact, the newly renamed Jammers and Galicia look to capture their second championship. Galicia will be again the main run scorer atop the batting order with Conor Rogan and Antonio Leatham driving him in.
9. Conor Rogan
2008-11 - Washington Nationals
2012 - Jamestown Jammers
Accolades: '07 Comeback Player of the Year, '08 Silver Slugger, '09 Championship MVP, '11 Gold Glove
Championships: 2 - 2007 (Tigers), 2009 (Nationals)
Coming in at number 9 on our list of Top 10 Players for 2012 is the always dangerous Conor Rogan. Conor's remarkable BTWL career officially began in 2007, and he immediately impressed upon his arrival. He helped lead the Tigers to their first of back-to-back championships in his first year, while hitting .346 with 5 HR and 19 RBI during the season and earning the Comeback Player of the Year Award.
He was then drafted 6th overall by the Nationals in the '08 draft, and promptly became a key member of Galicia's squad for the next 4 seasons. His first season on the Nats saw him easily take the Silver Slugger by blasting 10 HRs and driving in 31 runs, both second to MVP Dave Pierce.
He suddenly dropped off in 2009, and struggled to hit all season long, that is until the playoffs began. Conor's .141 BA was quickly forgotten about as he helped drive the 4-11 Nats to their first championship while shocking the #1 seed Padres in the first round, and then taking care of the 2x defending champion Tigers in the championship. Conor earned Championship MVP honors for his 4 HR, 9 RBI outburst in the championship round.
The only knock on Rogan and perhaps preventing him from being higher on this list is his lack of pitching. He has made a few spot starts, and come on in relief when needed, but hasn't found a steady spot in any rotation yet.
Despite this, Conor is arguably the best fielder in the BTWL, and has perhaps won as many games with his slick fielding as he could win if he took the mound. He's always a power threat in the lineup, and fears no pitcher. He also knows how to get the job done in the playoffs, and for these reasons, Conor Rogan easily cracks the BTWL Top 10.
10. Kyle Cross
2006-07 - Washington Nationals
2008-09 - Oakland Athletics
2010-11 - Washington Nationals
2012 - Reno Aces
Accolades: '08 Silver Slugger
Championships: None
At number 10, Kyle Cross is one of the few remaining players left from the inaugural 2006 season. Known for his excellent hitting and defense, Cross boasts a .401 career average, with 21 homeruns, and 85 RBIs including a Silver Slugger winning campaign for the AL in 2008 (.352, six HRs, 22 RBIs).
In addition to his hitting, Cross is regarded as one of the most underrated pitchers in the league. He was only apart of a rotation during his stint in Oakland, but still has provided quality starts for his managers. He has a 10-10 record pitching over 110 innings in six years. Cross also passed the 100-strikeout milestone in 2011 as he now stands at 102 entering 2012.
Back with Jim Sarkisian for the 2012 season, Cross' offensive talents will be his main focus as he will headline the batting lineup with Keith Leatham. He was selected #7 in the recent BTWL draft that shocked the other three captains looking to snag Cross in the later rounds.
