Wild Things: Gimme 2!

The Wild Things drafted two right-handed pitchers Tuesday at the Frontier League's annual tryout. Washington selected David Trivett in the first round (sixth overall) and Quinn Bright in the second round.

Trivett (6-4, 215), who is from Washington state, played in one game last year for the Sioux City Explorers of the independent American Association. Before that, he played at Olivet Nazarene University.

“David threw well, up to 92 (mph), at the tryout and showed good secondary pitches,” Washington manager Darrin Everson said. “We look for him to compete for a bullpen spot.”

Bright (6-0, 175), a native of Virginia, played at Norfolk State, where he compiled an 11-11 record with one save and walked only 38 batters in 157 1/3 innings. He began his collegiate career at NCAA Division III Bridgewater (Va.).

Bright attended the Wild Things' open tryout Saturday.

"He increased his velocity each time I saw him pitch,” Everson said. “He's an 88-91 (mph) guy with good sink on the ball and we look forward to having team.”

Three pitchers from last year's Wild Things team were selected in the draft. Matt Maradeo, who played in Washington in 2008 and '09, was taken by Florence in the second round (one pick after Washington selected Bright). Chris Kupillas was chosen by Kalamazoo with the final pick of the second round, and former California University pitcher Rob Hedrick was selected by Southern Illinois in the fourth round. Hedrick was the next-to-last pick in the draft.

Roster trimmed

The Wild Things trimmed their roster to the mandatory 24 active players Tuesday by releasing two pitchers and placing two others on the disabled list.

Released were former California University player Rob Hedrick and Kalen Gearhart. The latter was signed out of the team's open tryout and has four years of experience in the Los Angeles Dodgers' system.

Placed on the disabled list were Jace Smith and Aaron Fuhrman. Smith was the last arrival to spring training. He's only been in town since Friday night.

The roster:

Pitchers (13 +2)
12—Aaron Fuhrman (DL)
14—Kedrick Martin
16—Jason Neitz
20—Eric Evans
21—Jon Lewis
22—Nick Peterson
23—Carig Snipp
25—Josh Eachues
30—Michael Lucas
33—Matt Maradeo
34—Kyle Heyne
36—Jace Smith (DL)
38—Justin Edwards
43—Sean Heimpel
44—Rick Austin
Catchers (2)
6—Alan Robbins
24—Kris Rochelle
Infielders (5)
1—Joe Spiers
2—Michael Parker
13—Brett Grandstrand
18—Grant Psomas
28—Ernie Banks
Outfielders (4)
4—Chris Demons
5—Chris Sidick
7—Matt Sutton
9—Jacob Dempsey

Roster musings

Some thoughts and notes after watching two exhibition games Friday against Lake Erie, the latter of which ended in a 3-3 tie after 10 innings:

- The Friday games did little to help manager Mark Mason figure out who to keep in his bullpen. For example, lefty Dan Horvath was the only consistent reliever on the team last year (with the exception of one puzzling outing against Traverse City) but he gave up six hits, two walks and hit a batter in one inning of the day game. Do you judge Horvath on what he did last year or do you write off Friday's outing as just one of those days?

- Sidearmer Kyle Heyne gave up a home run but it was a swing-late fly ball down the left-field line by a left-handed hitter that ended up in the visitors' bullpen. More of a wall-scraper than a blast. Otherwise, Heyne threw strikes. He also has a track record of pitching well in tight situations - he's the all-time saves leader in the Mid-American Conference.

Kedrick Martin walked three over 2 1/3 innings but retired five in a row (two on strikeouts) at one point.

Josh Eachues, Kalen Gearhart and Michael Lucas combined for four scoreless innings (two hits and one walk allowed) in the opener. Each helped his case for a roster spot. My guess is that only Kris Rochelle and Alan Wiggins will make the team as catchers, so does Eachues' value increase because he can be a third catcher? I don't know because I haven't seen him catch this spring. I guess that means no.

- Second baseman Michael Parker went 3-for-4 with a walk in the night game. It looks like he will be an impact newcomer.

- Rob Hedrick is creating another difficult decision for the coaching staff. They like the former California University player's arm strangth as a pitcher, which was not his primary position with the Vulcans. Hedrick played second base in the day game, then pitched a perfect 10th inning in the night game, retiring Lake Erie's 3-4-5 hitters. If Hedrick makes the team it will be as the 24th man, a utility guy who can be worked with all year to refine his pitching mechanics.

- Heyne probably made the team Friday night and Horvath lost a spot on the roster.

- It seems that three pitchers who have locked up spots in the starting rotation are Rick Austin, Craig Snipp and Eric Evans.

- The three pitchers with no pro experience (Michael Mondesir, Brian Honeyman and Hedrick) began the spring at the bottom of the depth chart but tossed a combined eight scoreless innings against Lake Erie.

- Right-hander Jace Smith arrived in Washington Friday night, which brings the number of pitchers in camp to 21. Smith will pitch in tonight's exhibition game.

- Mason has said he wants to trim the roster to 24 or 25 players by the end of the weekend.