Barnes is back

The Wild Things have re-signed another part of last season's starting rotation as Casey Barnes (pictured) will be returning to Washington.

Barnes was the Frontier League's Rookie of the Year last year when he was 5-5 with a 2.34 ERA in 13 starts before having his contract purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies. The 2.34 ERA was third-best in the league.

Barnes was signed by Washington during spring training last year, after he was released by Traverse City. Barnes was a big reason why the Wild Things had the best ERA in the league and set the FL record for most quality starts.

Barnes was released last month by the Phillies.

Washington has re-signed four of its five primary starting pitchers from last year. Also back are Justin Hall (10-7, 3.22), Gary Lee (4-6, 4.18) and Jhonny Montoya (4-7, 3.77). That's a good starting point for new pitching coach Tim Ferguson.

In the last few days, the Wild Things have signed two other players who were released during minor league spring training. They also released one pitcher.

Signed were 6-5 left-handed pitcher Kevin Johnson and 21-year-old second baseman Nick Lockwood. Johnson spent two years in the Texas Rangers' system after playing at the University of Cincinnati. Lockwood was the Minnesota Twins' ninth-round draft pick in 2009. Johnson reached full-season Class A ball last year while Lockwood spent three years in rookie ball. Though he has played three pro seasons, Lockwood is a rookie by Frontier League standards because of his age.

Washington also acquired catcher Chris Anderson from New Jersey of the Can-Am League in exchange for a player to be named. Anderson, who has not yet been signed by the Wild Things, played at San Diego State and spent four years as an organizational filler catcher for the Atlanta Braves.

The Wild Things also released left-handed pitcher Dan Schmidt, who was signed in February and would have been the first Australian to play for Washington.

Barnes available

Former Wild Things pitcher Casey Barnes was included in the first round of cuts in the Philadelphia Phillies' minor league camp. Barnes had been signed by the Phillies late last summer.

Barnes would be a good pickup for the Wild Things if they could re-sign the right-hander, not only because he finished second in the Frontier League with a 2.34 ERA last year, but also because he still holds rookie roster status.

Barnes had a 5-5 record with Washington.

If the Wild Things can re-sign Barnes, it would give them the four of the five primary starters off of last year's pitching staff. And we all know that starting pitching wasn't the Wild Things' problem. They set the league record for quality starts.

Alumni report

The Wild Things have five former players currently in minor league spring training, led by left-handed pitcher Tom Cochran (pictured).

Last year, Cochran became the first ex-Wild Thing to make it to the majors when he was with the Cincinnati Reds for two games. He did not, however, play in either game and was sent back to Class AAA Louisville, for whom he went 7-4 with a 3.55 ERA.

Cochran was a minor-league free agent after the 2011 season and has signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. He'll try to earn a spot on the Phillies' Class AAA affiliate Lehigh Valley.

Also with the Phillies is right-handed pitcher Casey Barnes, who was second in the Frontier League in ERA last year.

Milwaukee has two former Wild Things relievers in left-hander Alan Williams and righty Mark Williams. Alan Williams had an impressive season last year split between rookie ball and Class A, going 2-2 with six saves and 49 strikeouts in 32.2 innings in affiliated ball.

Lefty pitcher Vidal Nuno, who was the Wild Things' opening day starter last year, is in the New York Yankees' minor-league camp.

Barnes is the 4th

There's not much for the Wild Things to play for these days. The playoffs are only a pipe dream and a winning season seems unlikely.

Personal goals, such as players getting a contract offer from a Major League Baseball organization, are about all that remain. For two pitchers, that goal has been reached during the current six-game road trip.

Washington starting pitcher Casey Barnes (pictured) signed a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies organization Sunday night, 48 hours after reliever Mark Williams was picked up by Milwaukee.

Barnes was second in the Frontier League with a 2.34 ERA. A right-hander out of Kansas Wesleyan University, Barnes had a 5-5 record in his rookie season. Released by Traverse City during spring training, Barnes was signed by the Wild Things prior to the start of the season and quickly became their most reliable starting pitcher.

"We’re thrilled with the success Casey has had with us, and we hope it continues with the Phillies,” Wild Things manager Darin Everson said in a press release.

If you know Barnes, you can't help but feel good for him. In 10 years of covering the Wild Things, I think Barnes is the most excitable and appreciative player I've met. He was genuinely thrilled to have a chance to pitch for the Wild Things and seemed to enjoy every moment of being a professional baseball player.

Barnes is the fourth Wild Things player (all pitchers) to have their contract purchased this season, which speaks volumes about the job pitching coach Mark Dewey has done. The Wild Things also lead the Frontier League with 40 quality starts (at least six innings pitched and no more than three earned runs allowed).

"It says a lot about Mark Dewey,” Barnes said. “Mark is a great guy, both as a coach and as a role model. ... I just hope I can find someone like him to work with in the Phillies organization.”

Barnes will join the Phillies' rookie-level affiliate in the Gulf Coast League.

Former Wild Things pitcher Vidal Nuno was recently promoted in the New York Yankees' system from the short-season New York-Penn League to low-Class A Charleston (S.C.). With Staten Island, Nuno was 5-0 with one save and an 0.72 ERA in eight games. He struck out 29 and walked only three in 25 innings.