Happy Friday! Today’s matchup is between a pitcher of the year and an almost-pitcher of the year.

  • Hayden McCutcheon came to Charlottesville after his sophomore year at College of Charleston. He was lights out for the Charlottesville baseball club, going 3-1, 1.75 in 46 1/3 innings, with a 0.972 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9, and 11.3 K/9. He struck out 58 batters and only walked 14. He was named the Pitcher of the Year, and was ATVL’s top starting pitcher as well. After an injury in 2016, McCutcheon transferred to Spartanburg Methodist, a junior college, for 2017. He went 6-1, 2.30 in 58 innings, with an 0.92 WHIP, 1.5 BB/9, and 11.2 K/9 (look somewhat familiar?). He did not go on to play pro ball after his college career.
  • Kyle Arjona defeated Jake Ramsey in the first round, 63.6% to 36.4 % (11 votes). His writeup: “Kyle Arjona showed up in Harrisonburg from New Orleans in 2018. He was dynamite in five first-half games, going 3-1, 1.31, with a 0.879 WHIP, 0.7 BB/9, and 10.9 K/9 in 27 1/3 innings. (He only walked two batters.) His games were all in the first half, because Arjona was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies- he told me himself at the League All-Star game. Named the 2nd best starter at the end of the season, Arjona pitched in 29 minor league games in 2018 and 2019, going 1-2, 3.96, with a 1.414 WHIP, 3.4 BB/9, and 6.2 K/9 in 52 1/3 innings. The Phils released him in November 2019.”

Vote by going to twitter.com/JohnATVL.

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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  • McCutcheon
    McCutcheon
  • Arjona