MLQ’s Midseason Rookie Standouts

Author: Brandon Borges

Introduction

Breaking into Major League Quadball is no easy feat. The league is stacked with elite talent, including veterans with nearly a decade of experience navigating its pace, physicality and tactics. For rookies, the challenge isn’t just making a roster, it’s catching up to the speed of the game and finding ways to contribute against the best competition the sport has to offer. Many first-years spend an entire season adjusting before they find their footing, if they’re able to at all.

But already this season, a standout group of newcomers has skipped the learning curve. These rookies have made immediate, tangible impacts, elevating their teams with scoring bursts, defensive grit and game-changing plays that belie their limited experience. Whether through physical dominance, smart decision-making or relentless energy, they deserve special recognition for thriving in a league that operates at a level of speed and difficulty far beyond their spring and fall seasons.Here are some of those players.

North Division

Delaney Lindberg (Cleveland Riff, Chaser, QC Pitt)

Statline so far: 3 goals, 3 assists, 7 stops

There’s a different energy to Cleveland this season, a grit and persistence that’s reshaped the team’s identity, and Delaney Lindberg is at the heart of it. From the first whistle, Lindberg brings a physical edge that defines every possession, delivering hard tackles, scrapping for loose balls and refusing to let plays die. On defense, their impact is immediate: forcing errant passes, breaking up fast breaks and constantly inserting themselves into the action. Offensively, Lindberg plays with the same tenacity, driving through contact and keeping possessions alive through sheer will. Every game, Lindberg’s presence feels like a statement, a reminder of Cleveland’s new credo. The Riff is no longer a team that backs down, and much of that newfound fight starts with their rookie chaser.

Jackson Neofes (Cleveland Riff, Chaser, QC Pitt)

Statline so far: 6 goals, 2 assists, 3 stops

Where Lindberg provides the spark, Jackson Neofes delivers the glue — the subtle, cerebral presence that holds a team together in the margins of play. Neofes has an innate feel for the game’s quieter battles: setting the screen that opens a lane, tracking down a dropped ball to extend a possession or slipping into space for an easy finish. His playmaking is deliberate but never flashy, a style that makes the offense flow smoother and the defense more disciplined. Neofes has shown he can finish when needed, with six goals on the season, but his real value comes in the little plays that keep Cleveland moving forward. Every successful sequence seems to have his fingerprints on it. Whether it is a pass here or a recovery there, Neofes is the mark of a player who understands that winning often lives in the details.

Leah Osborne (Chicago Prowl, Beater, Purdue)
Statline so far: 5 stops, 1.6 avg. dodgeballs, +11 plus/minus

Few rookies have acclimated to the pace and demands of the beater game quite like Leah Osborne. Every time Osborne steps on pitch, she plays with a veteran’s composure, showing an instinct for when to assert herself and when to hold space. Her ability to control dodgeball possession, particularly in tight, high-pressure situations, is already a major asset for Chicago’s rotations. Whether it’s smart throwbacks to reset or sharp positioning to shield driving lanes, Osborne has rapidly established herself as a stabilizing presence — the kind of player that allows her chasers to stay aggressive, knowing the back line is secure.

Sohum Sharma (Chicago Prowl, Beater, Illini Ridgebacks)

Statline so far: 3 stops, 1.55 avg. dodgeballs, +10 plus/minus

Sohum Sharma brings an edge to the beater game that’s physical, fearless and relentless. In an era where speed and precision often dominate, Sharma adds a layer of grit that disrupts opponents’ comfort zones. His willingness to wrap up beaters, make contact and turn exchanges into a battle of attrition creates opportunities that box scores can’t always capture. He’s more than just a bruiser, though. Sharma pairs that physicality with smart reads and well-timed beats, ensuring that his aggression doesn’t come at the expense of control. It’s a blend of brutal toughness and adroit tactical awareness that makes him a force within Chicago’s already elite beater corps.

East Division

Zachary Donofrio (Boston Forge, Chaser, BU)
Statline so far: 12 goals, 3 assists, 4 stops

Boston doesn’t treat Zachary Donofrio like a typical rookie, and with good reason. Slotted into the starting lineup on multiple occasions, Donofrio has quickly proven he belongs not just as a scorer off the bench, but as a reliable threat from the first whistle. His ability to put up points in bunches stands out, but what makes him truly valuable is how seamlessly he fits within Boston’s offensive rhythm. Donofrio doesn’t force the issue; instead, he finds his opportunities within the flow, cutting decisively off of passes and attacking one-on-ones when the moment calls for it. It’s that poise that makes him an antidote to scoring droughts. Where other young players might press or shrink against a strong defense, Donofrio is the player who breaks the stalemate and gets the Forge back on track.

Jade Gray (Boston Forge, Chaser, Boston Red Pandas)
Statline so far: 2 goals, 4 assists, 7 stops

On the defensive end, few players, rookie or veteran, have made their presence felt like Jade Gray. A shot-blocking force around the hoops, Gray has turned away would-be scorers with a blend of length, timing and fearlessness. Their defensive prowess perfectly complements Boston’s identity: while the Forge beaters dictate the perimeter, Gray patrols the paint, shutting down long shots and stuffing quick cuts behind the hoops. Their impact grants Boston a level of verticality on defense that forces opposing offenses to think twice before testing the middle. For every flashy block that makes the highlight reel, there are just as many possessions where their mere presence alters a team’s approach, a true anchor for Boston’s back line.

Nathan Jun (Washington Admirals, Chaser, UVA)

Statline so far: 12 goals, 3 assists, 1 stop

Nathan Jun wasted no time showing that his college dominance was no fluke. After leading all players in scoring at USQ Cup with University of Virginia's runner-up finish, conventional wisdom assumes Jun would need time to adjust to the speed and strength of MLQ defenses. Instead, he dictated the pace himself. Jun erupted for 12 goals in a single series, the most by any rookie this season, even edging out fellow standout and teammate John Evans. His game is built on sharp, deliberate footwork and an explosive driving ability that forces defenses to abandon the hoops just to contain him. Paired with a lethal mid-range shot, Jun has quickly proven he’s just as adept at scoring in MLQ as he is in USQ.

Chantal Siodlarz (Washington Admirals, Chaser, UVA)

Statline so far: 6 goals, 2 assists, 1 stop

The hype surrounding Chantal Siodlarz’s rookie debut proved well-deserved. A key figure in UVA’s championship push, Siodlarz stepped into the MLQ stage and immediately matched the production of seasoned scorers, tying Caitlyn Breslow for the Admirals’ team lead in goals during their series against the New York Titans. What makes Siodlarz dangerous isn’t just the points, it’s how she earns them. With sharp fakes, explosive speed and a knack for reading defensive setups, Siodlarz has a way of making even veteran defenders miss clean tackles. Whether starting from deep or attacking the hoops head-on, she brings a fearlessness to every possession, showing the poise and adaptability of a player far beyond her years.

South Division

Sean Allen (Houston Legends, Chaser, SHSU)

Statline so far: 8 goals, 5 assists, 3 stops

Sean Allen has quickly emerged as one of Houston’s most reliable and versatile threats, thriving in the space as a powerhouse driver. A true thumper, Allen brings a bruising presence to the Legends’ offense, strengthening an area of the field where Houston is already formidable: around the hoops. He thrives in the Legends’ hammer-heavy system, embracing contact and powering through traffic for emphatic dunks that punish disorganized defenses. Allen imposes his will with downhill drives that demand defensive attention, opening up scoring chances for himself and teammates alike. His defensive instincts match his offensive aggression, delivering tone-setting tackles and playing with a controlled intensity that anchors Houston on both ends. In a team still searching for consistency, Allen has been one of the Legends’ most complete and impactful players.

Alex Tidler (Kansas City Stampede, Beater, Mizzou)

Statline so far: 2 stops, 1.44 avg. dodgeballs, +4 plus/minus

For a rookie stepping into a team already known for its depth, Alex Tidler has wasted no time making his presence felt in Kansas City’s beater rotation. Tidler plays with a poise beyond his years, dictating tempo in transition and executing defensive beats with precision. He is instrumental in the Stampede’s ability to maintain dodgeball control, winning key exchanges and swinging momentum with timely plays. Tidler’s seamless fit alongside veterans like Dewick and Johnson has made Kansas City’s deep beater rotation even more dangerous, and the results show it. He holds the highest plus/minus on a team already stacked with beater talent, a testament to the impact he makes whenever he’s on the pitch. In a team that thrives on wearing opponents down through extended possessions, Tidler has quickly become a critical piece, providing the steadiness and tactical sharpness Kansas City needs to stay at the top of the South.

Janessa Duce (Kansas City Stampede, Chaser, Mizzou)

Statline so far: 1 assist, 4 stops

Janessa Duce has quickly made her mark as a defensive tone-setter in Kansas City’s chaser rotation. Physical and relentless, Duce specializes in making life difficult for opposing offenses, battling through screens, contesting shots at the hoops and disrupting passing lanes with sharp, decisive challenges. Her toughness fits seamlessly within the Stampede’s identity, providing a reliable presence to neutralize threats and impose a physical edge on every possession. Duce’s impact goes well beyond the box score, and that’s clear in the pressure she creates and the mistakes she forces. Duce is a fighter who raises the standard for defensive effort, possession after possession.

Izzy Ramirez (San Antonio Soldados, Chaser, Texas State)

Statline so far: 7 goals, 2 assists, 1 stop

Izzy Ramirez has hit the ground running in San Antonio’s high-octane offense, with the instincts of a seasoned competitor. She’s a constant scoring threat around the hoops, finishing in traffic and punishing defenses off sharp cuts and hammer plays. Whether she’s slipping into open space or firing quick passes to set up teammates, Ramirez plays with a sharpness that sustains the unstoppable offensive momentum the Soldados can create. Her defensive impact is just as important; she positions herself well to contest shots, disrupt possessions and help spark fast breaks the other way. Ramirez has already established herself as a dependable, two-way contributor and in a system fueled by speed and precision, she fits right in.