Top 5 Greenville Drive Starting Pitchers (Single-Season)

Originally published on Nov. 9, 2021

By Zane Miller

In the 16-season long history of the Greenville Drive, the team has gone 1 for 3 in championship finals appearances, to go along with making three postseason appearances in total. As of this writing, Greenville’s best regular season record came in 2017 at 79-60, while their worst came in 2013 at 51-87. These are the top five single seasons by starting pitchers that I felt have stood out the most during the team history of the Greenville Drive.

In total, the team has won one championship, coming in 2017. The team was previously known as the Greenville Bombers during the 2005 season.

5. Henry Owens (2012)

The 36th overall pick of the 2011 draft by the Boston Red Sox picked up a 12-5 record with the Drive, allowing 10 home runs, 55 earned runs and 100 hits over the course of 101 and two-thirds innings for a 4.87 ERA. However, Greenville took a 66-73 record during the regular season, missing the 2012 playoffs. Owens would make his major league debut with the Red Sox in 2015, pitching in the MLB until the 2016 season.

4. Felix Doubront (2008)

After being signed as an amateur free agent by the Red Sox in 2005, Doubront went 12-8 with the Drive in 2008 with nine home runs, 47 earned runs and 115 hits allowed in 115 and a third innings for a 3.67 ERA. Greenville finished the year with a 70-69 record, failing to qualify for the 2008 playoffs. Doubront would make his major league debut with the Red Sox in 2010 and won the World Series with the team in 2013. He would continue pitching in the MLB until the 2015 season.

3. Logan Boyd (2016)

The 561st overall pick of the 2015 draft by the Red Sox earned a 14-7 record with the Drive during the 2016 season, allowing 10 home runs, 74 earned runs and 169 hits in 139 and a third innings pitched, taking a 4.78 ERA. Greenville again claimed a 70-69 showing on the year, missing the 2016 playoffs.

2. Teddy Stankiewicz (2014)

The 45th overall pick of the 2013 draft by the Red Sox pitched to an 11-8 record with the Drive in 2014, giving up nine home runs, 58 earned runs and 141 hits in 140 and a third innings pitched for a 3.72 ERA. Despite this, Greenville went 60-79 to fail to qualify for the 2014 playoffs.

1. Jhonathan Diaz (2018)

After being signed as an amateur free agent by the Red Sox in 2013, Diaz also claimed an 11-8 record with the Drive in 2018, giving up just six home runs, 51 earned runs and 123 hits in 153 innings pitched to get a 3.00 ERA. However, Greenville took a 64-75 record, failing to qualify for the 2018 playoffs.