Staff report
FREDRICK, Md. — Jake Hunter, a 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher who was a standout at East Rowan and had a solid career at East Carolina University, has signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Twins.
Hunter, 22, has been pitching for the Fredrick Keys of the MLB Draft League since he finished the season at East Carolina and has been one of the league’s top pitchers.
Hunter has pitched well enough that there was speculation that he might be drafted in July, but he was not.
He is 4-0 with a 2.62 ERA in the MLB Draft League and has gotten better as the season has rolled along. He’s struck out 69 in 55 innings, while walking 18. He’s started 10 times and relieved three times.
Hunter did some starting and relieving at ECU, where he posted a 10-9 record and six saves in his four-year career. He pitched in 82 games for the Pirates, with 26 starts.
