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Apr
19

Triple-A pitcher Jon Hunton is looking for a job via Twitter

By juan

Social networks are an important part of our lives nowadays. People all around the world are using social networks to keep in touch with their loved ones. Some use social networks to share something special with the entire world and others sometimes offer or apply for jobs.

Earlier today, I saw something that I had never seen before on a social network. Jon Hunton, a Triple-A pitcher, tweeted MLB to get him a job (link here). Hunton a free agent is looking for a job, so he decided to use the power of social networks to look for a job.

The right hander played for the A’s Triple-A affiliate last season. He was 6-6 with a 3.57 ERA in 63 innings throughout 51 games.

Hunton has a strong work ethic and has above average movement on his pitches according to scouts. In his career, Hunton allows 7.9 hits per 9 innings while striking out 8.9 per nine.

We at PRO Rumors decided to write Hunton and ask him a couple of questions. Check out our interview with the big right hander below.

1.) What made you Tweet to MLB that you were looking for a job instead of maybe using more conventional ways?

I tweeted @mlb because Twitter is so popular in this day and age and thought that maybe it could catch someones eye for me to get back into affiliated ball. I didn’t think it would really work, but I have nothing to lose so I figured why not.

2.) Are you a pioneer in free agents looking for a job via Twitter or is this something somebody else has done before?

I don’t know if anyone else has done it before, I’m assuming somebody probably has but the real question then, have they got any offers or jobs from tweeting?

3.) Do you have any offers on the table right now?

I don’t have any affiliated ball offers or overseas offers, but I have had a bunch of independent ball teams call in regards to my services.

4.) If you don’t get an offer anytime soon, are you planning to return to an independent league or you will sit out the season?

I have officially agreed with an independent league team in the American Association, the Grand Prairie AirHogs so that if I do not sign with an affiliated team before May 12 (start of American Association season) then I will be playing with them.

5.) I noticed you were drafted four separate times and finally taken by the Cubs in the 11th round in 2004. Did you want to obtain your degree before you left school or what was your thinking behind that?

Coming out of college, I was primarily a basketball player. I played baseball from a young age, but never worked on it like I did basketball and never got help from a pitching coach until I was a junior in college at Lamar University. No pitching coach in high school and no pitching coaches in my first 2 years of college, which were at two different junior colleges…Miami-Dade CC and Hutchinson CC. When I was drafted my senior year in high school I had to make a tough decision on what sport I was going to play. I went with baseball knowing that I had just been drafted and I don’t think I would have made it any higher than playing basketball overseas out of college. I thought that I had a good chance to compete at a higher level in baseball and/or have a chance to make it to the major leagues. Though I kept getting drafted, I just didn’t think it was in my best interest to sign and I didn’t think I was ready mechanically to sign. I kept going back to school to get better and smarter as a pitcher. My schooling was paid for from scholarships so I knew if all else fails at least I had an associates degree to fall back on. But after the proper mechanical help in 2003-04 at Lamar University I thought that it was time to sign after being drafted 4 times in 4 years and start to play professionally.

6.) What would you consider your “out pitch” to be?

My out pitch is my slider.

7.) You’re a big guy and throw hard. Is their someone in the major leagues that resembles your style of pitching?

Jon Rauch for sure.

8.) Where has been your favorite place to play ball so far?

My favorite place to play as the home team was Sacramento, CA or Fort Worth, TX. My favorite place to play as an opponent is probably Salt Lake City, UT or Portland, OR.

Categories : Top Stories, free-agent