The 2023 Atlantic League season was the 26th season of the Atlantic League. There was a ten-team 126-game schedule. The Spire City Ghost Hounds were introduced to the league.
The Lancaster Barnstormers defeated the Gastonia Honey Hunters in the championship series, capturing their second consecutive championship and 4th in franchise history.
Rules In April 2023, it was announced that the Atlantic League would be testing three rules for the 2023 season:
The "designated pinch-runner" rule will have clubs designate a pinch runner that is not in the starting line up. That player can be substituted into the game at any point as a baserunner, but unlike typical substitutions the player that is substituted for as well as the pinch-runner will be allowed to return to the game with no penalty. Pitchers will be allowed only one disengagement per at-bat. Any additional disengagements will be counted as a balk unless an out is recorded. The "double-hook" rule will continue being used in its 2022 form.
Regular season standings as of September 17, 2023
+ North Division Regular Season Standings Pos Team G W L Pct. GB1e – York Revolution1257154--2x – Long Island Ducks12466584.53e – Southern Maryland Blue Crabs12664627.54x – Lancaster Barnstormers12462628.55e – Staten Island FerryHawks124497521.5 Long Island won first half. Lancaster won second half. y – Clinched division x – Clinched playoff spot e – Eliminated from playoff contention
+ South Division Regular Season Standings Pos Team G W L Pct. GB1x – High Point Rockers1247846--2x – Gastonia Honey Hunters1267947--3e – Charleston Dirty Birds1265670234e – Spire City Ghost Hounds123497428.55e – Lexington Counter Clocks124497529 High Point won first half. Gastonia, High Point named second half South Co-Champs. y – Clinched division x – Clinched playoff spot e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Statistical leaders
Hitting Stat Player Team Total HR Thomas Dillard Lexington Legends 39 AVG Drew Mendoza York Revolution .346 RBIsAndretty Cordero Lancaster Barnstormers 116 SB Trey Martin York Revolution 46 Qualified leaders
Pitching Stat Player Team Total W Mickey Jannis High Point Rockers 14 ERA Danny Wirchansky Charleston Dirty Birds 3.28 SOZach Mort Gastonia Honey Hunters 147 SV Kevin Quackenbush Long Island Ducks 14
Qualified leaders
Playoffs Format In 2023, the winners of each the first and second half of both the North and South division played a best of five divisional series from September 19-24. The winners played a best of five championship series from September 26 through October 1.
Playoff bracket
Pitcher Brent Teller of Lancaster was named Most Valuable Player of the championship series.
Individual Awards Award Player Team Manager of the Year Mauro Gozzo Gastonia Honey Hunters Defensive Player of the Year Melvin Mercedes Lancaster Barnstormers Player of the Year Andretty Cordero Lancaster Barnstormers Pitcher of the Year Zach Mort, Nick Raquet Gastonia Honey Hunters, York Revolution Team Awards Award Person Team Joe Klein Executive of the Year Mike Reynolds Lancaster Barnstormers Ken Shepard Award for Promotional ExcellenceCharleston Dirty Birds Promotion of the YearStaten Island Ferry Hawks Mascot of the YearQuackerJack, Long Island Ducks Ballpark of the YearClipper Magazine Stadium, Lancaster Barnstormers Ray Cipperly Groundskeeper of the Year Mike Dunn Spire City Ghost Hounds Outstanding Community Service Award York Revolution
Red, White & Blue All-Defensive Team Position Player Team C Beau Taylor High Point Rockers 1B Drew Mendoza York Revolution 2B Shed Long Jr., Melvin Mercedes High Point Rockers, Lancaster Barnstormers SS Ruben Tejada Long Island Ducks 3B Trace Loehr Lancaster Barnstormers OF D. J. Burt High Point Rockers OF Braxton Lee Southern Maryland Blue Crabs OF Tomo Otosaka York Revolution P Mickey Jannis High Point Rockers
Atlantic League Postseason All-Star Team Position Player Team C Kole Cottam Spire City Ghost Hounds 1B Drew Mendoza, Thomas Dillard York Revolution, Lexington Legends 2B Shed Long Jr., Melvin Mercedes High Point Rockers, Lancaster Barnstormers SS Angel Aguilar Staten Island Ferry Hawks 3B Andretty Cordero Lancaster Barnstormers OF Leobaldo Cabrera Spire City Ghost Hounds OF Dwight Smith Jr. Charleston Dirty Birds OF Ben Aklinski High Point Rockers DH Jose Marmolejos Spire City Ghost Hounds Starter Zach Mort Gastonia Honey Hunters Reliever Jameson McGrane High Point Rockers Closer Ryan Dull High Point Rockers
References