All-Diamond Team: Hunter Strickland

In 2025, The Diamond hosts its 40^th and final season of professional baseball in Richmond. Between the Richmond Braves from 1985-2008 and the Richmond Flying Squirrels since 2010, countless future major leaguers have taken the steps from the first base dugout onto The Diamond’s playing surface.

Prior to the season, fans voted for The All-Diamond Team, selecting one manager as well as 14 of their favorite players who have gone on to MLB stardom after suiting up for the R-Braves and Flying Squirrels.

We continue the announcement of the All-Diamond Team with the fans’ choice for the second of two relief pitchers, Hunter Strickland.

Manager: Grady Little
Starting Pitcher: John Smoltz
Starting Pitcher: Tom Glavine
Starting Pitcher: Logan Webb
Relief Pitcher: Mike Stanton
Relief Pitcher: Hunter Strickland
Utility Player: TBA
Catcher: TBA
First Baseman: TBA
Second Baseman: TBA
Shortstop: TBA
Third Baseman: TBA
Outfielder: TBA
Outfielder: TBA
Outfielder: TBA

When Hunter Strickland arrived in Richmond, he was seven years removed from being drafted out of high school, pitching for his third organization and returning from Tommy John surgery.

By the end of that year, he was celebrating a World Series title with the San Francisco Giants.

Strickland was originally drafted by the Red Sox in the 18^th round in 2007. He was traded to the Pirates as part of a deal for Adam LaRoche in 2009. Four years later, he was designated for assignment and claimed by the Giants.

Shortly after being picked up by San Francisco, Strickland had Tommy John surgery. He returned to the field in May 2014 with High-A San Jose for three games before being assigned to Richmond near the end of the month.

Strickland made his actual Flying Squirrels debut on May 28, 2014, facing his old Eastern League squad from Altoona. He threw a 1-2-3 eighth inning that day.

He is technically credited with pitching for the Flying Squirrels on May 22, 2014. He picked up a save in that game, which was started on May 22 while Strickland was still in San Jose, but rain suspended play and the game was completed in August.

Strickland posted an ERA over four in his first month with the Flying Squirrels. On June 27, he began a dominant stretch. Over his next 25 games through the end of August, he posted a 0.76 ERA, allowing two earned runs over 23 2/3 innings. He converted all nine of his save attempts.

From June 27 through July 24, he threw 12 straight appearances without allowing an earned run. After allowing two on July 27 at Erie, he did not surrender another earned run with the Flying Squirrels. That stretch spanned 12 more outings.

Strickland became one of Richmond’s most popular players as they pushed towards the Eastern League postseason. He elevated his fan-favorite status in front of a sellout crowd on July 4 at The Diamond, entering from the bullpen wearing a Stars and Stripes vest before closing a save to cap a doubleheader sweep.

For the year, he went 11-for-11 in save attempts with the Flying Squirrels. At the time, he was the first player in franchise history to go perfect in save tries in a season with at least four attempts. He still sits as one of only two pitchers who have converted each save opportunity in a year with at least seven attempts, joined only by Derek Law in 2015 (13-for-13).

With the Double-A season winding down and the Giants pushing for the postseason, Strickland was promoted to the majors for the first time on September 1, 2014. He made his MLB debut that afternoon in Denver against the Rockies and threw a scoreless inning.

Strickland pitched nine times for the Giants to close the regular season and did not allow a run.

That year, he won the first of his two World Series rings. He was also part of the Nationals’ title run in 2019.

Strickland has pitched parts of 10 MLB seasons for eight different clubs. In 480 MLB appearances, he is 25-23 with a 3.40 ERA and 29 saves.