Across the winding five-year history of the league, that fact has stayed the same. With the turbulence of rosters, increase in talent, and improved notoriety and reputation of the League as a whole, being able to maintain a steady and efficient pitching staff has remained the key in winning the coveted MLB Draft League title.

Of the five previous champions of the MLB Draft League, four had a pitching staff ranked in the top three of the league in their title-clinching year. The only exception, the ironic run of the 2024 Williamspoort Crosscutters, placed fifth after a dreadful second-half pitching year that masked what was an elite staff in the first-half that clinched a spot in the title.

So as history suggests, the start that 2026’s Williamsport team has had should be very notable.

Hovering in the top two all season long, the Crosscutter pitching staff will go into the week ranked first in the MLB Draft League. Sporting a 3.44 team earned run average, only the first-place Trenton Thunder (3.57) come within a point and a half of the Crosscutters this season.

Starting pitcher Chris Guillory of the Crosscutters throws in the first inning against Mexico at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

With just under 20 games played in the MLB Draft League season, both teams are firmly ahead of the overall earned run average league record of 3.83 set by the State College Spikes in 2022.

The two ballclubs headline what is a growing trend in the league. Going into Tuesday’s slate of fixtures, MLB Draft League pitchers have a combined earned run average of 5.42, a number that ranked two-tenths lower than the previous year.

This trend goes against some of the other notable Summer Baseball Leagues as the season progresses. Two comparable organizations, the Cape Cod and Appalachian League, have seen earned run averages sky rocket while the pitching improves in the Draft League.

“Offensively, it’s always tough because the pitching is so good in this league,” admitted Williamsport Crosscutter manager Kenny Thomas. “It’s so important to hold (the other team) down because runs are hard to get … I always say if they can’t score, they can’t win. So pitching is very important in this league.”

Amidst the early chaos of the league, Williamsport have suffocated opponents with their pitching en route to an 11-6 record that puts them in contention for what would be their third MLB Draft League First Half title in the club’s history.

Enger Paulino of the Crosscutters throws in the first inning against Mexico at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

But what has particularly stood out for the Crosscutters have been their pitching late in games. Going into Tuesday, the Crosscutters remain the only MLB Draft League team to not blow a save with a perfect three for three mark. Headlining bullpen efforts have been two relievers, Jackson Nash and Will Bartkoski, who have sub-one ERA’s going into the first two weeks of the first half. Bartkoski’s four appearances have netted the side arm reliever one of Williamsport’s saves in the first half, with right-hander Dallis Moran backing up his 1.00 earned run average across seven appearances with a pair of saves as well.

“Relief pitching is still the key to winning games,” echoed Thomas. “I think that at every level, but especially in this league because we aren’t gonna run our starters too far. So it’s all about the bullpen and how they pitch. When we pitch well out of the bullpen, we usually win. When we don’t pitch well out of the bullpen, we usually lose.”

A steady bullpen will be required during the Crosscutter six-game home stretch beginning Tuesday, which sees Williamsport hosting the State College Spikes and Aberdeen Ironbirds for the final two full home series’ of the first half.

Will Bartkoski of the Crosscutters throws in the 8th inning against Mahoning Valley at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette