And we begin the seasonal records for minor league pitchers who happened to also pitch in the Valley League once upon a time:
2006-2018 | ||||
1 | Rowdy Hardy | Staunton ’04 | 2007 | 15 |
Levi Maxwell | Waynesboro ’06 | 2008 | 15 | |
Austin Gomber | Luray ’12 | 2015 | 15 | |
4 | Mike Ballard | Staunton ’04 | 2007 | 14 |
Elih Villanueva | Luray ’07 | 2010 | 14 | |
Ben Alsup | Luray ’09, Stan ’10 | 2012 | 14 | |
Brandon Sinnery | Winchester ’09 | 2014 | 14 | |
Logan Boyd | Charles Town ’13 | 2016 | 14 | |
9 | Brad Mills | Harrisonburg ’05 | 2008 | 13 |
Joey Williamson | Luray ’05 | 2009 | 13 | |
Ben Alsup | Luray ’09, Stan ’10 | 2013 | 13 | |
Chad Kuhl | New Market ’12 | 2014 | 13 | |
Ryan Yarbrough | Luray ’12 | 2017 | 13 |
Man, was Rowdy Hardy good in 2007. Undrafted out of Austin Peay, Rowdy signed with the Royals for $1,000. In 2007, his 2nd pro season, he went 15-5, 2.48, with a 0.958 WHIP, 0.9 BB/9, and 4.9 K/9 in 167 innings pitched, all for Wilmington in the Carolina League. He led the Carolina League in wins and innings pitched, and finished 2nd in ERA on his way to being named the League’s Most Valuable Pitcher. Baseball America also said he had the best control in the league. Rowdy eventually reached Triple-A in 2011 in Atlanta’s system, but he did not make the major leagues. Rowdy is now the pitching coach at Arkansas State.
All-Time | ||||
1 | Tim Burcham | Staunton | 1987 | 17 |
2 | Greg Hibbard | Staunton | 1987 | 16 |
3 | Ralph Citarella | Staunton | 1982 | 15 |
Jonathan Hurst | Front Royal ’86 | 1991 | 15 | |
Corey Lee | Staunton | 1997 | 15 | |
Rowdy Hardy | Staunton ’04 | 2007 | 15 | |
Levi Maxwell | Waynesboro ’06 | 2008 | 15 | |
Austin Gomber | Luray ’12 | 2015 | 15 | |
9 | Steve Fireovid | Waynesboro ’75 | 1983 | 14 |
Mike Williams | Winchester ’89 | 1991 | 14 | |
Brent Billingsley | New Market ’95 | 1997 | 14 | |
Mike Maroth | Staunton ’96-97 | 1999 | 14 | |
Jason Davis | New Market ’96 | 2001 | 14 | |
Mike Burns | Winchester ’00 | 2002 | 14 | |
Ray Liotta | Waynesboro ’02 | 2005 | 14 | |
Mike Ballard | Staunton ’04 | 2007 | 14 | |
Elih Villanueva | Luray ’07 | 2010 | 14 | |
Ben Alsup | Luray ’09, Stan ’10 | 2012 | 14 | |
Brandon Sinnery | Winchester ’09 | 2014 | 14 | |
Logan Boyd | Charles Town ’13 | 2016 | 14 |
Tim Burcham pitched in the California League for Palm Springs in 1987. He went 17-6, 3.11, with a 1.457 WHIP, 4.2 BB/9, and 6.2 K/9 in 185 1/3 innings pitched. He tied for 1st in the league in wins, and tied for 9th in ERA. Baseball America named him the 9th best prospect in the league. He appeared in 77 games in Triple-A, but never made the majors. He was a replacement player during the 1995 strike, though, and was supposed to be the San Francisco Giant’s opening day starter. He was returned to the minors when the strike ended.