First round of cuts

The Wild Things trimmed their roster to the 28-player limit Sunday by releasing the following:

- Left-handed pitchers Cory Caruso and Tyler Stovall

- Right-handed pitchers Quintavious Drains, Tanner Hamilton and Dominick Ruscetti

- Corner infielder Coty Pate

- First baseman/outfielder Corey LeVier

- Catcher Mike Perez

Seven of the eight players cut were classified as Rookies. The only player classified as Experienced is Stovall, who played in the Atlanta Braves system for four years before joining the Normal CornBelters last year.

Caruso and LeVier were obtained in the trade with River City that sent Casey Barnes and Mike Bando to the Rascals. The Wild Things now have nothing to show for that trade.

Fifteen of the 28 players on the active roster played for Washington last year. The Wild Things have never gone into an opening day with more nine returning players from the previous season's final roster.

Of the players released, I was most surprised to find Caruso on the cut list. I thought he had a chance to make it to opening day. Pate also showed that he has some potential.

Washington must get down to 24 players before Friday's season opener at Schaumburg. There are 15 players classified as Experienced or Veteran (not counting Rogelio Noris and Mario Yepez, both of whom are on the DL). At least two of those 15 players must be dropped from the active roster to meet Frontier League rules.

My guess is, one pitcher, one infielder and two outfielders will be let go to get down to 24 players.

Three more added to roster

After trading two-year veteran Jhonny Montoya to the Atlantic League last week, the Wild Things had an opening on their roster for an experienced pitcher. They filled that spot Tuesday when they announced the signing of three players, including a pitcher who is a former second-round draft pick.

Washington signed left-handed pitcher Tyler Stovall, first baseman/outfielder Bryan Nicholson and catcher Maxx Garrett.

Stovall, who played in the Frontier League last season with the Normal CornBelters, was the Atlanta Braves’ second-round draft pick in 2008 out of high school in Hokes Bluff, Ala. Stovall (6-1, 200) spent four years in the Braves’ system, including two in Class A, before being released. A reliever in affiliated ball, Stovall signed with Normal last year and was used as a starter. He had a 2-9 record with a 5.70 ERA. He struck out 92 batters in 83 2/3 innings, but he also issued 91 walks.

Washington plans to use him as a relief pitcher.

"Tyler brings power throwing. He will work late out of the bullpen for us," Wild Things second-year manager Chris Bando said. "This former high draft pick of the Braves has electric stuff."

 

Stovall is the 12th pitchers under contract to the Wild Things. You can expect at least another four to be signed before camp begins.

 

An interesting draft note about Stovall: He was the Braves first of two 2nd-round picks in 2008. Atlanta's 3rd-round pick was Craig Kimbrel, who was the 2011 National League Rookie of the Year and is a two-time all-star. 

Nicholson (6-3, 225), a left-handed hitter from Garden Grove, Calif., was drafted in the 38th round by San Francisco in 2011 and spent two seasons in the Giants’ system. He batted .274 in rookie ball in 2011.

After being limited to only two games because of an injury as a junior, Nicholson had a breakout year as a senior at Concordia (Calif.) University, leading the Eagles to the NAIA national championship and posting team-bests in batting average (.400), home runs (9) and RBI (64).

"(Nicholson) should hit in the middle of our lineup," Bando said. "His former hitting coach described him as a monster bat."

 

Garrett, a native of Kennewick, Wash., played two years of junior college baseball, then transferred and played his final two seasons at Gonzaga, where he was the Bulldogs’ starter catcher last spring, hitting .228 with two home runs.

Garrett (6-0, 215) recently played in the California Winter League, where Wild Things coach Bart Zeller was an instructor.

"Maxx Garrett did an excellent job behind the plate," Zeller, a former major league catcher, said. "He is a hard-working young man with a passion for the game of baseball. In addition, he has demonstrated some power from the right side of the plate. I think our pitchers will like the manner in which he calls the game."

The Wild Things begin spring training in May and will begin their 11th Frontier League season May 17 at Schaumburg. The home opener is May 24 against defending league champion Southern Illinois.