¿Û¿Û´«Ã½

With the 2013 independent seasons finished, it is time to look at the best of the best. And, when it comes to closers, the American Association had some of the most reliable this season. The league owned three of this year’s top-10 independent baseball saves leaders and one former American Association hurler led all independent league closers.

°Â¾±³¦³ó¾±³Ù²¹’²õÌýJosh Dew (pictured) and Lincoln’sÌýR.J. Rodriguez were tied atop the American Association with 27 saves, placing them third overall in independent ball. Dew pitched 40.1 innings for the Wingnuts and delivered a solid ERA of 1.56. He only allowed 21 hits and struck out 44 batters. As for Rodriguez, the Saltdogs’ closer allowed 31 hits in 33.2 innings, while fanning 27 men.

Finishing behind Dew and Rodriguez wasÌýPatrick Mincey of the Grand Prairie AirHogs. Mincey was third in the American Association and ninth among independent closers with 24 saves. The right-hander posted the second-best ERA in the top-10 closers list with a 1.01 mark. In 53.1 innings, he struck out 55 hitters and allowed 33 hits.

While Dew, Rodriguez and Mincey all dealt for their respective clubs, one former American Association pitcher was better than all other independent closers in 2013. RightyÌýJon HuntonÌýnailed down 37 saves for the Atlantic League’s Somerset Patriots this year. Prior to joining Somerset, Hunton pitched for four different American Association teams in 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2012. His best campaign came in 2011 with the AirHogs, when he compiled 25 saves, accompanied by a 7-2 record and an ERA of 1.76.

Ìý

2013 Independent Saves Leaders

Independent Baseball Insider By Bob Wirz Vol. 11, No. 35, October 10, 2013

Chart compiled by Bob Wirz

Player	Team	League	ÌýÌý SV	ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý IP	ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ERA	ÌýÌýÌýÌý H	SO
Hunton, Jon	Somerset	Atlantic	ÌýÌý 37	ÌýÌýÌý 54.0	ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 3.00	ÌýÌýÌý 59	Ìý 37
Warden, Ed Jim	Southern Maryland	Atlantic	ÌýÌý 35	ÌýÌýÌýÌý 60.0	ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 1.50	ÌýÌýÌý 51	Ìý 49
Dew, Josh	Wichita	American Assn.	ÌýÌý 27	ÌýÌýÌýÌý 40.1	ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 1.56	ÌýÌýÌý 21	Ìý 44
Rodriguez, R.J.	Lincoln	American Assn.	ÌýÌý 27	ÌýÌýÌýÌý 33.2	ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 4.27	ÌýÌýÌý 31	Ìý 27
Marban, Jorge	Florence	Frontier	ÌýÌý 27	ÌýÌýÌýÌý 44.0	ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 2.04	ÌýÌýÌý 26	Ìý 61
Shaw, Gabriel	River City	Frontier	ÌýÌý 26	ÌýÌýÌýÌý 49.2	ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 2.53	ÌýÌýÌý 50	Ìý 49
Martin, Adrian	Camden	Atlantic	ÌýÌý 25	ÌýÌýÌýÌý 59.0	ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 2.13	ÌýÌýÌý 66	Ìý 37
*Urquidez, Jason	Lancaster	Atlantic	ÌýÌý 24	ÌýÌýÌýÌý 36.0	ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý0.25	ÌýÌýÌý 19	Ìý 48
Mincey, Patrick	Grand Prairie	American Assn.	ÌýÌý 24	ÌýÌýÌýÌý 53.1	ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 1.01	ÌýÌýÌý 33	Ìý 55
Cox, Chris	Quebec	Can-Am	ÌýÌý 23	ÌýÌýÌýÌý 41.2	ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 2.80	ÌýÌýÌý 36	Ìý 41

Ìý

(Bob Wirz also writes about Independent Baseball on .Ìý Fans may subscribe to this Independent Baseball Insider column, which will be published 40 times in 2013, at or comment to RWirz@aol.com.Ìý The author has 16 years of major league baseball experience with Kansas City and as spokesman for two Commissioners, and lives in Stratford, CT.)

Photo courtesy of the Wichita Wingnuts