Ducks acquire rights to RHP Hunton

The Long Island Ducks acquired the rights to relief pitcher Jon Hunton this week. Hunton was acquired in a trade with the Grand Prairie Air Hogs, of the independent American Association, for a player to be named before May 1, according to the transactions page on the Atlantic League website.

Hunton, 29, spent most of last season with Grand Prairie, going 7-2 with a 1.76 ERA in 49 relief appearances. The Ducks acquired the right-hander in mid-September and he went on to post a combined 1-1 record and 6.75 ERA in three regular season games and five playoff games. The Ducks sent Hunton back to Grand Prairie after the season.

Against York in the Atlantic League Championship Series, Hunton picked up the save in Game 2 with a scoreless ninth inning.

However, the Revs smacked him around in the series-clinching Game 4 6-3 victory. With the score tied a 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning at Sovereign Bank Stadium, Hunton loaded the bases with no outs. He was credited with surrendering four earned runs, two hits and two walks without getting anyone out.

The New Jersey native is a former Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics prospect who last played in affiliated ball in 2010. That year, he topped out at Class AAA Sacramento with the A’s, going 6-6 with a 3.57 ERA in 51 appearances.

He is also a former Somerset Patriots pitcher, having played there for eight games in 2008. He has a career 14-6 record and 1.79 ERA in 147 combined appearances between the Can-Am League, American Association, and Atlantic League – all independent leagues.

So far, the Ducks have two solid relief pitchers under contract for 2012 (Travis Minix, Jeremy Hill). It remains to be seen if Hunton will join them.

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