Chris Hutchinson

​Chris Hutchinson (born August 11, 1973), is an American former professional baseball closer and ABA Hall of Famer. He played 9 seasons in the American Baseball Association for the Miami Sunbirds, Boston Bandits and Dallas Rangers. He amassed a 10-9 record with 95 saves in 171 relief appearances with a 1.73 ERA, a 0.83 WHIP and 355 strikeouts over 208 innings. He is a 2-time ABA Champion and 1-time ABA Pitcher of the Year and 2-time ABA Reliever of the Year. He was elected in the ABA Hall of Fame in 2019, the first ever relief pitcher to be inducted.

## Professional Career

### Miami Sunbirds (2000-2003)

In the 2000 Inaugural Draft, Hutchinson was selected with the 6th overall pick and many people were confused as to why Miami selected a relief pitcher with their first round pick, but he proved his doubters wrong immediately. Known around the league as the best strikeout pitcher in the league, Hutchinson dominated with 20 saves in 25 relief appearances and struck out 48 hitters in 24.1 innings. He only allowed one point on a solo home run all season. He was a unanimous choice for the ABA Reliever of the Year Award.He led the league in saves again in 2001 and still had insane numbers. He then won the ABA Pitcher of the Year award in 2001, a decision mostly felt was to made for him not winning it in 2000. He also won his consecutive Reliever of the Year award.

He continued to dominate hitters in 2002, although it was a bit of a down year for him from his standards. He continued his great work in 2003 and once again led the leagie in saves and had more strikeouts than ever. He struck out 58 batters over 26.2 innings. That's 58 struck out batter for 80 outs. He finished 2nd in the Reliever of the Year voting in 2002 and 2003.

Hutchinson wanted starter money, but Miami wasn't sure to give im so much money. Miami a couple of championships in 2000 and 2001 when Hutchinson struggled pretty badly in saves situation and Miami didn't want to give him that much money for him to choke in the playoffs.

### Dallas Rangers (2004)

Hutchinson didn't have the deal he wanted and resigned himself to sign with the Dallas Rangers in 2004 on a one-year deal. He had a heated battle with fellow closer Matt Clarry over the closer job in Dallas that he surprinsingly lost during the Spring Training. Hutchinson already announced that he would leave the team at the end of his contract, hoping to be a closer somewhere else. Dallas ended up winning the championship and for the first time in his career, he wasn't considered in the Reliever of the Year voting, even though he threw 19.1 hitless innings.

### Boston Bandits (2005)

Hutchinson signed a one-year deal with Boston with a clause stipulating that he was to be their closer and he got his wish, altough Boston didn't require his services as much and he ended up with only 11 saves and 20 relief appearances. Hutchinson was reportedly difficult to work with and was let go by Boston.

### Shocking return to Dallas (2006-2008)

Nobody expected him to sign with Dallas, but he signed a similar deal than he did with Boston and was named the Rangers closer for 2006. He once again led the league in saves and relief appearances and his efforts rewarded him with a 2-year extension. However, things didn't quite go as planned. Not satisfied with his three blown saves in 2006, Hutchinson wasn't named the team's closer and was relegated to the bullpen. He had a tough season and didn't quite put in the efforts. He threw several tantrums in the dugout which didn't help his case.

He injured his shoulder before the 2008 season and his velocity dropped significantly. He only appeared in 7 games for the Rangers and was let go at the end of his contract.

## Retirement

Hutchinson wanted to keep playing, but his velocity was downed significantly which made his strikeout numbers go down significantly. His attitude problem surely didn't help and he was unable to find a team willing to sign him. He retired after saying the baseball backstage politics got the better of him. He announced that he'd represent the Sunbirds in his Hall of Fame bid, as they were the only team that treated him right.

### Hall of Fame

Hutchinson was the first ever relief pitcher to be inducted in the ABA Hall of Fame. Experts thought that his attitude wouldn't get him in, but it was hard to overlook how dominant Hutchinson was in his first four years. He is remembered as a strikeout artist and the very first great closer.

#### Voting History

2011: 56.5%

2012: 52.6%

2013: 62.6%

2014: 56.9%

2015: 71.4%

2016: 64.6%

2017: 72.8%

2018: 62.3%

**2019: 77.6% (Inducted)**

## Awards

1X ABA Pitcher of the Year (2001)

2X ABA Reliever of the Year (2000, 2001)

2X ABA Champion (2002, 2004)