Top 5 Hillsboro Hops Starting Pitchers

Originally published on Jul. 10, 2021

By Zane Miller

In the seven-season long history of the Hillsboro Hops, there have been seven different starting pitchers to lead the team in wins in each season. Also during this time, Hillsboro has gone 3 for 3 in championship finals appearances, to go along with six playoff appearances in total. These are the top five starting pitchers that I felt have stood out the most during the team history of the Hops.

5. Connor Grey (Active 2016-17)

The 599th overall pick in the 2016 draft out of St. Bonaventure made his Hops debut in 2016, making a brief appearance with a 0-0 record in 9.2 innings pitched, allowing no earned runs and four hits for a 0.00 ERA. The team made the 2016 playoffs with a regular season record of 42-33, where they became eliminated in the first round by the Eugene Emeralds.

However, Grey earned a 6-2 record in 2017, pitching to a total of 46 innings with four home runs, 14 earned runs and 35 hits allowed for a 2.74 ERA. Hillsboro qualified for the playoffs with a 41-35 record, but were again eliminated in the first round by the Eugene Emeralds.

4. Ethan Larrison (Active 2018-19)

The 489th overall pick in the 2018 draft out of Indiana State made his Hillsboro debut in 2018, taking a 6-1 record with one home run, seven earned runs and 16 hits in 20.1 innings pitched for a 3.10 ERA. The Hops qualified for the 2018 playoffs with a 51-25 record, the best in the team’s history as of this writing, but lost in the first round to the Eugene Emeralds for the third straight season.

Larrison would have a much smaller role with the Hops in 2019, taking a 0-0 record with just 10.1 innings pitched, however he still allowed no home runs with one earned run and eight hits given up for a 0.87 ERA. The team scored a record of 48-28 to reach the 2019 playoffs, and this time took advantage by winning their third championship, defeating the Tri-City Dust Devils three games to two.

3. Anfernee Benitez (Active 2016-17)

Benitez made his Hops debut in 2016, going 7-5 while giving up two home runs, 28 earned runs and 75 hits in 72.1 innings pitched, getting a 3.48 ERA in the process. With a 42-33 record for Hillsboro, the team made the 2016 playoffs, before their elimination at the hands of the Emeralds.

In 2017, Benitez had a reduced role with the team as he spent most of the season with the low-A’s Kane County Cougars, but would pitch 10 innings with no home runs, five earned runs and 15 hits allowed to get a 4.50 ERA. The team made the 2017 playoffs, but were taken out in the first round by the Emeralds.

2. Jared Miller (Active 2014-15, 2019)

The 330th overall pick in the 2014 draft out of Vanderbilt made his Hillsboro debut in 2014, taking a 1-1 record while allowing three home runs, 11 earned runs and 21 hits in 27.2 innings to get a 3.58 ERA. The Hops went 48-28, as they qualified for the 2014 playoffs, going on to win their first championship in franchise history two games to none over the Vancouver Canadians.

In 2015, Miller had his best season with the team, pitching to a 7-2 record and allowing two home runs, 12 earned runs and 42 hits in 59.2 innings pitched for an impressive 1.81 ERA on the season. The Hops went 45-31 and made the playoffs yet again, where they claimed their second championship in franchise history, defeating the Dust Devils two games to one to clinch back-to-back titles.

2019 saw Miller make a short return to Hillsboro, picking up a 0-0 record as he pitched a total of three innings with no home runs, no earned runs and one hit allowed, taking a 0.00 ERA. The Hops finished at 48-28 to qualify for the 2019 playoffs, where they won their third championship in franchise history as they advanced past the first round for the first time since the 2015 season.

1. Deyni Olivero (Active 2019)

Olivero claimed an 8-3 record for the Hops in 2019, the best single-season win total for a pitcher in team history. During this time, he went 64.2 innings with just three home runs, 15 earned runs and 50 hits to score an ERA of 2.09. As stated earlier, Hillsboro took a 48-28 record and went on to win their third team championship over the Dust Devils three games to two.