Next up is the most strikeouts in one major league season by a former Valley League pitcher:
2006-2019 | ||||
1 | Brandon Beachy | Woodstock ’08 | 2011 | 169 |
2 | Chad Kuhl | New Market ’12 | 2017 | 142 |
3 | Ryan Yarbrough | Luray ’12 | 2018 | 128 |
4 | Ryan Yarbrough | Luray ’12 | 2019 | 117 |
5 | Chris Devenski | Woodstock ’11 | 2016 | 104 |
6 | Chris Devenski | Woodstock ’11 | 2017 | 100 |
7 | Emilio Pagan | Harrisonburg ’10 | 2019 | 96 |
8 | Tyler Thornburg | Winchester ’08 | 2016 | 90 |
9 | Chad Kuhl | New Market ’12 | 2018 | 81 |
10 | David Carpenter | Covington ’04 | 2013 | 74 |
11 | Chris Devenski | Woodstock ’11 | 2019 | 72 |
12 | Will Harris | Staunton ’03 | 2016 | 69 |
13 | Chris Perez | Staunton ’04 | 2009 | 68 |
Brandon Beachy | Woodstock ’08 | 2012 | 68 | |
Will Harris | Staunton ’03 | 2015 | 68 | |
16 | David Carpenter | Covington ’04 | 2014 | 67 |
Justin Anderson | Front Royal ’13 | 2018 | 67 | |
Austin Gomber | Luray ’12 | 2018 | 67 | |
19 | Will Harris | Staunton ’03 | 2018 | 64 |
20 | Emilio Pagan | Harrisonburg ’10 | 2018 | 63 |
A total of FOUR 2019 seasons made the list: Will Harris, Chris Devenski, Emilio Pagan, and Ryan Yarbrough.
Brandon Beachy, signed by the Atlanta Braves as an undrafted free agent, went 7-3, 3.68, with a 1.207 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9, and 10.7 K/9 in 141 2/3 innings for the Braves in 2011. Unfortunately, Brandon had two Tommy John surgeries, which obviously cut his major league career short.
All-Time | ||||
1 | Jimmy Key | Winchester ’82 | 1993 | 173 |
2 | Brandon Beachy | Woodstock ’08 | 2011 | 169 |
3 | Jimmy Key | Winchester ’82 | 1987 | 161 |
4 | Tom Browning | New Market ’80-81 | 1985 | 155 |
5 | Tom Browning | New Market ’80-81 | 1986 | 147 |
6 | Walt Terrell | Staunton | 1987 | 143 |
7 | Chad Kuhl | New Market ’12 | 2017 | 142 |
8 | Jimmy Key | Winchester ’82 | 1986 | 141 |
Jimmy Key | Winchester ’82 | 1997 | 141 | |
10 | George Stone | Staunton | 1970 | 131 |
Mike Caldwell | Charlottesville ’68 | 1978 | 131 | |
12 | Walt Terrell | Staunton | 1985 | 130 |
Chris Nabholz | Front Royal | 1992 | 130 | |
14 | Ryan Yarbrough | Luray ’12 | 2018 | 128 |
15 | Jimmy Key | Winchester ’82 | 1991 | 125 |
16 | Tom Browning | New Market ’80-81 | 1988 | 124 |
17 | Greg Harris | Front Royal | 1993 | 123 |
18 | Jimmy Key | Winchester ’82 | 1989 | 118 |
Tom Browning | New Market ’80-81 | 1989 | 118 | |
20 | Tom Browning | New Market ’80-81 | 1987 | 117 |
Brian Barnes | Staunton | 1991 | 117 | |
Jimmy Key | Winchester ’82 | 1992 | 117 | |
Ryan Yarbrough | Luray ’12 | 2019 | 117 |
Yarbrough’s 2019 season joined the list right above this line.
A member of the Valley League Hall of Fame, Jimmy Key unfortunately pitched for the Yankees in 1993. He went 18-6, 3.00, with a 1.107 WHIP, 1.6 BB/9, and 6.6 K/9 in 236 2/3 innings pitched (that BB/9 led the American League, by the way). He was an All-Star, and finished 4th in the Cy Young voting (Jack McDowell won) and 11th in the MVP voting (Frank Thomas won). For the Yankees. Oh well.