Frontier League draft

Results of the Frontier League draft held Tuesday afternoon at Consol Energy Park. Washington took two players, one outfielder and the player who was the Wild Things' bullpen catcher last year:

Team, player, position, last school/organization
Round 1
1. Midwest – Chris Rollins, RHP, Chicago Cubs
2. Washington (from Lake Erie) – Chris Demons, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
3. Evansville – Nathan Fike, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies
4. Evansville (from Florence) – Bobby Brown, OF, Maine
5. Rockford (from River City) – Chad Dawson, RHP, Chicago White Sox
6. Rockford – Kurt Hayer, RHP, Boston College
7. Washington – Jon Leber, C, California University
8. Traverse City – David Hurst, LHP, L.A. Angels
9. River City (from Gateway) – Matt Restivo, LHP, Washington
10. Southern Illinois – Brad Meier, C, Rockford
11. Kalamazoo – Jon Sprowls, RHP, Cleveland State
12. Windy City – Justin Costi, RHP, Kansas City (Northern)
Round 2
1. Midwest – Ralph Rosas, 1B, Lincoln Memorial
2. Lake Erie – Reid Lamport, RHP, Kent State
3. Evansville – Jon Montague, C, Eastern U.
4. Florence – Henry Sanchez, SS, Lambuth, U.
5. River City, Mike Hart, RHP, Carson-Newman
6. Lake Erie – Rob Vernon, OF, Chillicothe
7. Traverse City – Kyle Stahlberg, RHP, Dayton
8. Gateway – Shawn Ellis, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
9. Southern Illinois – Kellen Kimiecik, OF, Southern Wesleyan
10. Kalamazoo – Mike Jacobson, LHP, Wisconsin-Whitewater
11. Windy City – Zach Aakhus, C, Northwest Nazarene
Round 3
1. Lake Erie – B.J. Richmond, RHP, L.A. Dodgers
2. Florence – Luis Santiago, C, Queensboro CC
3. River City – Joe Welsh, LHP, Washington Nationals (Welsh traded to Gateway)
4. Traverse City – Eric Theisen, RHP, Illinois State
5. Gateway – Jareck West, OF, Oakland A’s
6. Kalamazoo – Ross Fetterly, RHP, Old Dominion
7. Windy City – Sean Conley, OF, Pitt
Round 4
1. Gateway – Scott Kelly, RHP, N.Y. Yankees
2. Windy City, Joseph McIntyre, P, North Carolina A&T
Round 5
1. Gateway – George Roha, LHP, Univ. of Findlay

3 arrive, 5 gone

The Wild Things have made their first significant roster moves of the year, acquiring two players, reinstating one from the retired list and releasing five from last year's 48-48 team.

Washington reinstated infielder Jeff Beachum from the retired list, signed right-handed pitcher Jace Smith and acquired right-handed pitcher Justin Edwards from Worcester of the Can-Am League to complete a trade for pitcher Ryan Mitchell prior to last season. Released were pitchers Chris Rivera and Sam Mann, catcher Gerad Haran, second baseman Phil Butch and outfielder Rob Vernon.

The only real surprise was Butch being released, though you can argue that Rivera and Haran have potential.

Beachum began last year as the starting shortstop but a back injury limited him to 16 games (.294, 8 RBI). If Washington brings back Bret Grandstrand as expected, Beachum will likely move over to third base or second base.

Edwards, pictured, is a West Liberty State product who was used as both a pitcher and third baseman by Worcester. Edwards batted only .173 in 52 at-bats and was 1-0 with a 4.37 in 16 games (2 starts) as a pitcher. Edwards is a Wheeling central graduate, the all-time hits leader at West Liberty and the son of Wheeling Jesuit baseball coach Terry Edwards.

The Wild Things did not annouce the signing of Smith, though it is posted on the Frontier League's Web site. More details about Smith when I find them.