All-Decade Team: Relief Pitcher

Back in 2003, if you wanted a Frontier League pitcher who could protect a lead late in a close game, then the Wild Things' Anthony Kozol was a good choice.

If you also needed a stand-in for actor Lou Diamond Phillips, Kozol was a good choice, too.

Kozol was the Wild Things' closer in 2003. He was a late signing, joining the club midway through spring training after being released from the San Diego Padres' high-Class A affiliate in the California League. Kozol had pitched in the Frontier League in 2001 with Canton, and joining Washington reunited him with former Crocodilles manager Jeff Isom and coach Joe Charboneau.

Kozol was a pitcher who didn't impress you with his fastball. He wasn't overpowering. What he did do was rely on getting movement on his pitches and working ahead in the count. He did that well enough to tie Kenosha's Derek Lopez (remember the Kenosha Mammoths?) for the league lead in saves with 16.

Kozol had a 3-3 record, 2.62 ERA and converted 16 of 20 save opportunities. He did his best work early in the season as he didn't allow an earned run over his first 10 outings.

Kozol pitched again in the Frontier League in 2004 (for Mid-Missouri and Windy City), then was out of baseball by 2005.

What did Kozol do after his baseball career? Who knows? Maybe he was a stand-in for Lou Diamond Phillips. Kozol's teammates and coaches often mentioned they thought he had a striking resemblance to the actor.

All-Decade Team Relief Pitcher: Anthony Kozol (2003).