So here’s a high-powered matchup….

  • Chad Kuhl came to New Market after his sophomore year at Delaware, for the Year of the Offense. It sure didn’t look like the farther-flying baseball bothered Kuhl any, as he went 4-0, 1.11, with a 0.958 WHIP, 3.8 BB/9, and 8.6 K/9 in 40 2/3 innings pitched. Unfortunately, he did not qualify for the RA title, so he didn’t qualify for ATVL’s top starter’s list, either (yeah, I don’t know…). He returned to Delaware for his junior season, and after going 10-2, 3.75, he as picked in the 9th round of the 2013 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. After four outstanding seasons in the minors (seriously, he went 33-17, 2.75, with a 1.15 WHIP in 445 innings), he made his MLB debut in 2016. Besides having TJ surgery and missing all of 2019, Kuhl has been a solid contributor in the majors for the Pirates, going 20-23, 4.36, with a 1.42 WHIP, 3.8 BB/9, and 8.0 K/9 in 359 1/3 MLB innings. (And he’s someone I often grab as a streaming option in Fantasy Baseball, so I like Mr. Kuhl and his ability.)
  • Ben Dum, like most Strasburg Express in this “competition,” destroyed his first round opponent, Justin Malone, 71.7% to 28.3% (46 votes). His writeup: “Ben Dum played in the Valley League for two seasons- 2016 and 2017. (We’ll focus on 2016.) Coming from VCU after his freshman year, Dum went 4-0, 1.42 in 2016, with a 0.868 WHIP, 1.4 BB/9, and 7.6 K/9 in 38 innings. He was ATVL’s 2nd best starter that season, and then the 4th best the following year. In four seasons at VCU, Dum went a total of 10-11, 3.00, with a 1.06 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9, and 7.0 K/9 in 177 1/3 innings. After he went undrafted, he signed with the Southern Illinois Miners in the independent Frontier League. After 19 appearances there, the Minnesota Twins signed him and sent him to Elizabethton in the Appalachian League, where he went 4-2, 3.21 in eight games, with a 1.00 WHIP, 0.0 BB/9, and 12.9 K/9 in 14 innings. He walked none and struck out 20…. and was just released by the Twins. Time will tell where Dum ends up!”

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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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  • Dum
  • Chad Kuhl in the majors in 2016