A quick pick-me-up

Troy Marks is one of two Wild Things pitchers picked up by Arizona this week.

The Arizona Diamondbacks continued to sign players from the Frontier League at a record pace when they purchased the contracts of six players, including two Wild Things, this week.

Joining the Diamondbacks for minor-league spring training next spring are Wild Things starting pitcher Troy Marks and reliever Al Yevoli.

The Diamondbacks also signed Frontier League MVP Shayne Houck, a third baseman from Evansville, catcher Matt Jones and pitcher Stew Brase from Southern Illinois, and Lake Erie outfielder Ryan Hutchinson.

The Diamondbacks have signed 12 Frontier League players since the start of spring training back in May. Among the 12 is former Washington outfielder Stewart Ijames, who was Arizona's Minor League Player of the Month in August and helped the Hillsboro (Ore.) Hops to the Northwest League championship earlier this month.

Marks (6-5, 210) was a major addition to the Wild Things' starting rotation in the second half of the season, after joining the Wild Things in late July. He posted a 5-1 record and 2.45 ERA in eight starts, and struck out 55 in 47 2/3 innings. He threw 7 1/3 shutout innings in an extra-innings loss to River City in Game 1 of the Divisional Series. Though Marks is a right-hander, the FL's left-handed batters managed only a meager .164 batting average against him.

Yevoli, who was in his third season with Washington, was one of the reasons the Wild Things had one of the top bullpens in the league and only seven blown saves all season. Yevoli, whose fastball has hit 94 mph, had a 4-5 record, 2.91 ERA and one save in 48 outings. He struck out 46 in 49 1/3 innings. This will be Yevoli's third shot in affiliated ball. He has been with the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves.

This is a big year for players jumping from the Frontier League to affiliated ball. With the Diamondbacks picking up six this week and the Minnesota Twins purchasing Evansville lefty Jose Velez, the count stands at 42 players picked up out of the Frontier League since the start of spring training. Over the same period, the American Association has sold 14 players, but that includes John Holdzkom, who will likely be on the Pittsburgh Pirates' playoff roster. The five-team Can-Am League has had six players move to affiliated ball since May 1.