After the Miners missed the playoffs in 2013 for the first time since 2009, Southern Illinois finished with a 60–36 record in 2014, clinching the East Division title on September 3 (the second-to-last day of the regular season) with a road victory over the Lake Erie Crushers. It was the second divisional championship in team history. That year, they also retired uniform number 31 for 2009 Frontier League MVP Joey Metropoulos, the first retired number in team history. Ace left-hander Matt Bywater won the team's second Frontier League Pitcher of the Year Award.