Flight grounded

Tim Flight

Prior to the Wild Things' game Wednesday night against Schaumburg, Washington placed left-handed starting pitcher Tim Flight on the 60-day disabled list.

Flight was struck in the left wrist by a line drive off the bat of Rockford’s Edgar Corcino during the first inning of a game Sunday against the Aviators. Flight suffered two broken bones in his arm but still managed to pick up the baseball and throw out Corcino at first base.

“I don’t know how, with two broken bones in his arm, he was able to throw the ball to first base, but he did it,” Zeller said. “He was in terrible pain in the dugout. It wasn’t a glancing blow.”

Flight had his arm in a sling the rest of the night and did not get X-rays until Monday, after the Wild Things returned to Washington.

In five starts with the Wild Things, Flight had a 2-0 record and 3.42 ERA. He struck out 21 in 23 2/3 innings. Flight, who played college ball at Southern New Hampshire, signed with Washington after one season in the New York Yankees’ system.

“Flight was starting to throw well,” Zeller said. “He was building confidence and commanding the strike zone. It’s a tough break for a guy who had his sights sets on getting back to affiliated ball.”

Washington filled Flight’s spot on the roster by signing first baseman Connor Lewis, a rookie out of Lander University, an NCAA Division II school in South Carolina. That’s the same school that produced former Wild Things shortstop A.J. Nunziato.

Lewis (6-3, 245) played two years at Lander and helped the Bearcats to the Division II World Series and a 52-9 record this year. He led Division II with 77 RBI while batting .353 with 16 doubles and 20 home runs.

The Wild Things will replace Flight in the starting rotation by activating Zach LeBarron from the disabled list Saturday. LeBarron had shoulder surgery last year and has been on the DL all season, though he has been with the team since the start of spring training.

LeBarron had a 3-2 record and 3.91 ERA last year with Washington after being released from the Los Angeles Angels’ system.