In a press release from the Frontier League’s Deputy Commissioner Steve Tahsler, it was announced the Hall of Fame Committee had selected six players from three different decades along with two special contributors.
Due to the league being unable to play last season, the classes have been combined to honor the recipients.
“This class represents some of the finest players to ever take the field during the League’s first 27 years,” Commissioner Emeritus Bill Lee said. “The contributions of Rich Sauget Sr. and Kevin Rouch will never be forgotten.”
The Inductees
Corey Morris (1990s) — Morris played for the Ohio Valley Redcoats in 1994. He had a .394 average with 19 home runs, 63 RBI, 67 runs scored, 22 doubles, 47 walks and a 1.252 OPS.
He led the Frontier League in home runs, RBI, runs, doubles, walks, and was second in the league with his batting average in a total 66 games. He went on to be 1994’s Most Valuable Player and has the second highest OPS in league history. Morris was unfortunately limited to one season due to playing rules at the time.
Joe Pass (1990s) — Pass played for the Richmond Roosters from 1996-98 and the Dubois County Dragons in 1999. He had a .325 average with 133 RBI and a .391 OBP.
Pass was the post-season All-Star in 1996 and 1999 for the league. He also went on to serve as a player-manager for the Dragons in 1999.
Josh Loggins (2000s) — Loggins played for the Washington Wild Things from 2002-03. He had a .339 average with 31 doubles, 29 home runs, and 117 RBI.
Loggins was fourth best in league average for 2002. In 2003, he was third in average, first in league home runs, and fourth in RBI. He was league MVP in 2002 despite signing with the Colorado Rockies in mid-August.
Jared Howton (2000s) — Howton played for the Washington Wild Things from 2002-03. And then played for the Richmond Roosters in 2005. On the mound, he finished with a 21-8 record along with a 2.94 ERA.
Howton led the league in ERA (1.89) and tied for wins with 11 in 2002. He went on to be the 2002 Frontier League Pitcher of the Year.
Jonathan Kountis (2010s) — Kountis played for the Lake Erie Crushers in 2021, Frontier Greys in 2013, and the Washington Wild Things in 2014-15. His record was 11-14 with a 3.00 ERA along with 59 saves, 188 strikeouts in 162 innings in over 113 games.
Kountis was named post-season All-Star Relief Pitcher in 2012 and 2014. He is ranked second (all-time) in the league with 59 career saves.
Mike Torres (2010s) — Torres played for the Windy City ThunderBolts from 2010-15. He had a .294 average with 207 RBI and 153 stolen bases in over 565 career games. Torres played in a league-record of 339 consecutive games from June 1, 2011 to July 29, 2014.
Torres played in 565 out of 575 possible games during his six seasons with the league. He was named as the All-Star second baseman in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015.
Special Contributor Kevin Rouch — Rouch joined the Frontier League as the radio broadcaster for the Zanesville Greys from 1993-96. He went on to become the voice of the Chillicothe Paints from 1997-2000.
From there Rouch was selected as the Froniter League Broadcaster of the Yearvin 1998. He went on to become Deputy Commissioner and League Council in 2001. He served in those roles through the 2009 season. Rouch created the first Frontier League website and was responsible for the league qualifying for P-1 work visas for international players.
Special Contributor Rich Sauget Sr. — The owner of the Gateway Grizzlies joined the league in 1999. From there he served as President of the League Board of Directors. During his tenure, the league experienced tremendous growth.
The league attracts approximately 1.5 million fans a year. Throughout his Presidency, six new stadiums were contracted and built. He also helped oversee the admission of teams from the Can-Am League after the 2019 season. In 2020, Major League Baseball named the Frontier League as a Partner League — one of the most important moments in league history.
Morris, Pass, Howton, Loggins, Kountis, and Rouch will have their induction ceremonies in Washington, PA., on June 19, 2021. The Ceremony will take place prior to the Wild Things game against the Lake Erie Crushers.
Induction ceremonies for Sauget and Torres will take place in Gateway and Windy City. Dates for those ceremonies will be announced at a later date per the release.
The Frontier League of Professional Baseball is an official Partner League of Major League Baseball and the largest independent professional baseball league in North America. The Frontier League features 16 teams and has moved over 1,000 players to MLB organizations in its 29-year history. For more informations, please visit frontierleague.com.