Saturday, August 13 is International Lefthanders Day. So the Atlantic League decided we should recognize some of our most outstanding lefthanded pitchers. (Stay tuned for the top lefthanded hitters, coming soon!)

Brian Adams is the winningest lefthanded pitcher in league history. Adams won 43 games in the Atlantic League, more than any other lefthander in league history. He was the 2007 ALPB Pitcher of the Year when he went 15-2 with a 3.68 ERA as a starter for Somerset. Adams pitched for Patriots from 2007-10 and compiled career record of 43-21 with a 4.25 ERA.

John Halama is second among Atlantic League lefties in wins, going 41-29 with a 3.49 ERA in stints with Long Island in 2007, Southern Maryland from 2008-10 and Lancaster in 2011-12. Halama reached the Major Leagues with Houston, Seattle, Oakland and Tampa Bay among others. His best ALPB season was a 13-8 record with Lancaster in 2012 with 3.09 ERA at age 40. Halama was a member of the ALPB Postseason All-Star second team as a LHP in 2012.

The third-winningest Atlantic League lefty is Randy Leek who went 40-23 with a 3.78 in four seasons, all with the Long Island Ducks from 2007-10. Leek posted three straight years of double digit wins (12-3 in 2008, 11-10 in '09 and 12-9 in '10). Leek was the ALPB LHP on the Postseason All-Star team in 2008 and 2010.

So the starting pitchers might not have all those wins if not for the bullpen so let’s take a look at the top relieving lefthanders in Atlantic League history.

The Atlantic League’s all-time LHP saves leader is Mike Guilfoyle who spent six seasons with Bridgeport from 1998-03. Guilfoyle compiled 122 career saves, the third-most ever in the ALPB.  His best year was 40 saves in 2003 with a 1.90 ERA at age 35. Named the ALPB Closer of the Year in 2003, Guilfoyle had 30 saves in 1998 and 23 saves in 2001. He finished his career with a record of 22-19 and a 3.07 ERA in 296 appearances.

Jim Fuller, still active with the York Revolution, is the second all-time in Atlantic League saves among lefthanded pitchers. Fuller has 66 career saves including 12 in 2022 after shutting down Charleston on Thursday (August 11) night. Fuller had 25 saves in 2019 and added 29 saves in 2021. He has a 17-11 career ALPB record with a 2.30 ERA and will soon become one of the few pitchers in league history to make 200 or more career appearances. Fuller was the 2019 ALPB Closer of the Year.