By Zane Miller
In the 27-season long history of the Hudson Valley Renegades, the team has gone 3 for 4 in championship finals appearances, to go along with making seven postseason appearances in total. As of this writing, Hudson Valley’s best regular season record came in 2012 at 52-24, while their worst came in 2000 at 23-52. These are the top five single seasons by starting pitchers that I felt have stood out the most during the team history of the Hudson Valley Renegades.
In total, the team has won three championships, coming in 1999, 2012 and 2017.
5. Mike Venafro (1995)
The 794th overall pick of the 1995 draft by the Texas Rangers picked up a 9-1 record with the Renegades during the 1995 season, as he went 50 and two-thirds innings while allowing no home runs, 12 earned runs and 37 hits, scoring an ERA of 2.13. Hudson Valley took a 47-27 record to qualify for the 1995 playoffs, before being swept by the Vermont Expos two games to none in the first round. Venafro would make his major league debut with the Rangers in 1999, before exiting the MLB after the 2006 season.
4. Josh Maciejewski (2021)
The 307th overall pick of the 2018 draft by the New York Yankees took a 9-4 showing with the Renegades in 2021, giving up 13 home runs, 38 earned runs and 69 hits in 83 and a third innings for a 4.10 ERA. Despite Hudson Valley earning a 71-49 record, the team would be unable to reach the 2021 playoffs.
3. Wade Davis (2005)
The 75th overall pick of the 2004 draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (now Tampa Bay Rays) claimed a 7-4 record with the Renegades in 2005, pitching 86 innings with five home runs, 26 earned runs and 75 hits allowed, getting a 2.72 ERA. However, Hudson Valley finished the year at 31-43 to miss the 2005 playoffs. Davis would make a major league debut with the Rays in 2009, as he remains in the MLB as of the 2021 season, along with winning the 2015 World Series with the Kansas City Royals.
2. Woods Fines (2006)
The 405th overall pick of the 2004 draft by the Devil Rays scored a 7-3 record with the Renegades during the 2006 season, allowing just one home run, 24 earned runs and 78 hits in 87 and a third innings pitched for a 2.47 ERA. Despite this, Hudson Valley again went 31-43, failing to qualify for the 2006 playoffs.
1. Eric Moody (1994)
The 675th overall pick of the 1993 draft by the Rangers also went 7-3 with the Renegades in 1993, going 89 innings while allowing only two home runs, 28 earned runs and 82 hits to grab a 2.83 ERA. Hudson Valley finished with a 37-37 record, as they failed to reach the 1994 playoffs. Moody would make his major league debut with the Rangers in the 1997 season, in what would be his only MLB appearance.
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