Welcome to our second match of the week!

  • Kevin Herget upended Andy Crum in the first round, 61.3% to 38.7% (31 votes cast). His writeup: “Kevin Herget came to Strasburg from Kean University in 2012. In the summer of the hitter (seriously, the ball was super juiced that year), Herget acquitted himself rather well. In 10 games (eight starts), he went 3-1, 3.18, with a 1.137 WHIP, 3.9 BB/9, and 13.6 K/9 in 51 innings pitched. He led the list of top starters with that K/9, and with a .194 batting average against as well. ATVL named him the 3rd best starter from that list. He returned to Kean, and was absolutely lights out in 2013, going 10-2, 1.62, with a 1.05 WHIP, 3.0 BB/9, and 8.6 K/9 in 111 college innings. The St. Louis Cardinals took him late in the draft in 2013, the 39th round, but Herget is still active after seven seasons of pro ball. Maxing out at Triple-A (for now), Herget has gone 39-20, 3.40, with a 1.25 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9, and 8.7 K/9 in 490 professional innings.”
  • Greg Nappo came to the Haymarket Senators after his junior year at Connecticut, in 2010. After throwing 97 innings that spring, he threw almost 50 more in the summer (it was a different time), ending up as the top starter in the league. In nine games (six starts) for the Senators, Nappo went 5-1, 1.64, with a 1.034 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9, and 12.4 K/9 (with 68 K’s in those almost-50 innings). He returned to Connecticut for his senior year, and after going 10-2, 2.55, with 52 K’s in 88 innings, he was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 18th round. He embarked upon a seven-year pro career, putting up very good numbers overall: 26-17, 2.90, 1.10 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9, and 9.3 K/9 in 397 2/3 innings pitched. He never got the ultimate call to the majors, even though he spent parts of five seasons in Triple-A. After he was released by the Marlins, Nappo spent parts of two seasons, 2017 and 2018, with New Britain of the independent Atlantic League.

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And by the way, if you want to read a ton about either the 2015 or 2019 VBL season, be sure to check out this post on the 2019 Valley League Annual.

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