Kaftan Inks Pro Contract
NEW LONDON, Conn. – Former Mitchell College pitching standout Eddie Kaftan has signed a professional contract with the Joliet Slammers of the Frontier League.
Kaftan is scheduled to make his first start for the Slammers on Saturday, August 30, against the Lake Erie Crushers. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. (CT).
The Frontier League is a North American independent professional baseball league consisting of 18 teams in two divisions (Midwest & Atlantic), with 15 based in the United States and three in Canada. Headquartered in Sauget, Illinois, the league was founded in 1993 and is considered the oldest continuously operating independent baseball league. The regular season runs from May through September and includes 96 games, followed by a postseason. Entering play on Friday, August 29, the Slammers hold a 41-52 record.
"Eddie embodied a professional mindset from day one, and his dedication raised the bar for our entire program," said Mitchell College Head Baseball Coach, Shawn Gilblair. "It's a special reward for our staff and program to see him earn this opportunity, and we're excited to watch him continue his career at the next level."
One of the most decorated pitchers in Mitchell's Division III era, Kaftan capped a dominant senior season in May with an 8-3 record across 12 appearances. He posted a 2.33 ERA with 87 strikeouts in 77.1 innings, helping lead the Mariners to a 25-18 overall record and a berth in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship Series.
The hard-throwing right-hander issued just 16 walks all season, tossed one complete game, and allowed two or fewer earned runs in 10 of his 12 outings. In conference play, he was even sharper, going 5-0 with a 1.29 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 35 innings, ranking second in both ERA and wins.
Kaftan finished his Mitchell career ranked fourth in program history with 22 wins and sixth all-time with 178 strikeouts.
For his performance, he earned selection to the 2025 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III Region 1 All-Region Second Team, the GNAC All-Conference First Team, and the D3baseball.com All-Region 1 Second Team.
For more information about the Frontier League, visit www.frontierleague.com.
