Liberal’s Kuhnel Tops Baseball America List

Bee Jay reliever Joel Kuhnel blew proverbial smoke at each hitter he faced at the NBC World Series. That performance has earned him the top spot in Baseball America’s Top Prospect list. He was clocked up to 96 miles per hour at the NBC. Kuhnel was 2-0 with three saves and did not allow an earned run for the 36-19 Bee Jays who finished third at the NBC World Series. The 6’4" righty from UTA and Peoria, Arizona struck out 20 and walked two while appearing in nine games for Liberal. Here is what Baseball America had to say about Kuhnel.

"Kuhnel is big in stature- 6’4", 260 pounds, and backed it up this summer in limited action. He was mainly the Sunday starter this spring for Texas-Arlington, where he had 45 strikeouts to 18 walks in 83 innings fo work. He didn’t join the Bee Jays until later in the season, but was dominant in the Jayhawk League and NBC World Series. Hde never allowed an earned run in both the regular season and postseason play. he throws hard downhill from a high three-quarters slot with violent motion at the end of his delivery. He displayed three pitches, with a fastball at 91-96 MPH, and 86-87 slider and 76 MPH curve while working most hitters down and away."

Liberal’s Brent Williams and Brady Muller also made the list. Williams, the Bee Jay catcher from Seward who is now at Oral Roberts was also the Bee Jay Player of the Year. The Colorado Springs native hit .367 with seven homers, 46 RBI’s 11 doubles, and one triple. Muller, who joined the Bee Jays for the NBC and is from Montana State-Billings was 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA with 11 strikeouts and three walks. The Billings, Montana native was clocked at up to 92 miles per hour.