American Association Daily provides insights, features, and recaps of the action from around the American Association of Professional Baseball League, as well as player and coaching profiles and transactions. In today’s edition, This Week in the Association and the Minor League Sports Report name Winnipeg Goldeyes right-hander Joey Matulovich as the 2024 American Association Pitcher of the Year.  

Goldeyes RHP Joey Matulovich Named Top Pitcher

On Thursday, This Week in the Association and the Minor League Sports Report named Winnipeg Goldeyes right-hander Joey Matulovich as American Association Pitcher of the Year for the 2024 season. Matulovich finished with the top ERA in the league and also led in strikeouts to help lead Winnipeg to the Miles Wolff Cup Finals.

The right-hander got off to a fast start, going 2-0 in May with a 2.88 ERA in four starts. He allowed one run in six innings in his season debut against the Cleburne Railroaders, then allowed four runs in five innings to the Kansas City Monarchs. Matulovich rebounded nicely, allowing a single run in his next start and two runs in the following outing, both seven innings outings. He stuck out a season high 14 on June 9 against Milwaukee and struck out 48 in 34.0 innings pitched.

July got off to a fast start for Matulovich, who allowed just one earned run through his first three starts of the month, a span of 23.0 innings. The dominating beginning to June gave the righty five straight wins as he went 3-1 in the month, with a 1.59 ERA in five starts.

Matulovich continued to dominate in July, going 3-1 with a 1.65 ERA in five starts. He allowed just 16 hits and four walks in 32.2 innings pitched. The righty had a stretch of 24.0 straight scoreless innings, allowing just eight hits during that span.

In August, Matulovich went 3-1 again, posting a 2.64 ERA in five starts. It was another dominant month for strikeouts as the right-hander fanned 43 batters in 30.2 innings pitched. That included his third performance of the season where he struck out 10 or more (August 26).

For the season, Joey Matulovich went 11-3, finishing second in victories. The righty was first in ERA (2.12), strikeouts (145), and innings pitched (123.1).

The Runners-Up

Sioux Falls Canaries left-hander Ty Culbreth finished second in the voting. The lefty was first in wins (12-2) and finished tied for the third best ERA (2.94). Culbreth also finished first in complete games (3) and was tied for third in innings pitched (119.1).

The third-place finalist was Chicago Dogs closer Joey Marciano. The lefty led the league with 26 saves while going 5-3 with a 1.76 ERA in 41 appearances. Marciano was dominant, allowing only 30 hits in 55.2 innings pitched, striking out 74.

Previous American Association Pitchers of the Year

2023 – Solomon Bates, Sioux City Explorers
2022 – Matt Hall, Kansas City Monarchs
2021 – Ryan Flores, Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
2020 – Mike Devine, St. Paul Saints
2019 – Mitch Lambson, Winnipeg Goldeyes
2018 – Tommy Collier, Kansas City T-Bones

By Robert Pannier