USA – The Oakland Athletics have purchased the contract of Fort Worth Cats All-Star closer Jon Hunton, it was announced today.

Hunton was 5-1 with an 0.81 ERA during the regular season with Fort Worth. He finished third in the league with 23. In 55 2/3 innings of work, he had 71 strikeouts and only 18 walks.

He was selected to the American Association All-Star team and represented the Cats in St. Paul in July. After the Cats’ season ended, he finished the year with the Atlantic League champion Somerset Patriots, appearing in eight regular season games before working four scoreless innings and posted a 1-0 record.

In 2007, Hunton spent the majority of the season with Coastal Bend, going 1-2 with a 2.23 ERA in 36 relief outings. He worked 40 1/3 innings and posted two saves while striking out 54 and walking 16.

Originally selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 11th round of the 2004 draft, he spent three years in their system.

He becomes the second Cats pitcher to be sold to a major league organization in 2008. Lee Gwaltney had two stints with San Diego in March and April before re-joining the Cats rotation for the season.

Hunton is the 17th member of the Cats to be sold to a major league organization since the team returned to Fort Worth in 2001.

Media Release: Fort Worth Cats

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