Dispersing the talent

The Frontier League held its dispersal draft for the Oakland County Cruisers on Monday. The Wild Things, who had the fourth pick, made two selections, selecting a pair of pitchers, right-hander Tyler Wulf (pictured) and lefty Joe Rodriguez.

The Wild Things are only renting Wulf for the 2011 season. His rights will revert back to the Cruisers if they return to the league as planned in 2012. Rodriguez does not have to be returned to the Cruisers.

I like the pick of Wulf, a barrel-chested and hard-throwing reliever who played in college at The U (Miami of Florida). Wulf was the Hurricanes' setup man as a junior before having a season-ending injury. He was brought back slowly last year, pitching in 18 games and posting a 1.72 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings.

Wulf joined the Cruisers at midseason and went 1-1 with one save and a 2.66 ERA. He pitched in three games against the Wild Things and overpowered them, throwing seven scoreless innings with six strikeouts and only three hits allowed. The league batted a measly .195 against Wulf.

Rodriguez was used as both a starter and reliever. He had a 1-3 record and 5.15 ERA. He was 0-2 in two starts against the Wild Things, giving up 11 runs in 10 innings.

The most interesting development from the dispersal draft was that right-handed reliever P.J. Zocchi, who led the league in saves last year with 26 and was named Relief Pitcher of the Year, was not selected until the final pick of the second round by the Southern Illinois Miners.

The next order of business for the Wild Things is to pick up the contract options for players from the 2010 team who they want to bring back next year. The deadline for tendering a contract is this week.

TRIVIA: If Wulf joins the Wild Things in 2011, then he will become the second former Miami Hurriance to play for Washington. Can you name the first?