Dec 29, 2014 1 min read

With the league’s deadline to exercise contract options for the 2015 season looming, the Washington Wild Things secured the rights to 20 players Monday, while declining to bring back six others.

Pitchers Shawn Blackwell, Pat Butler, Scott Dunn, Aaron Newcomb, Matt Purnell, Matt Sergey, Andy Noga, Zach LeBarron, Zac Fueesner, Chris O’Hare, Matt Phillips, Tim Flight and Bennett Hamilton had their options exercised. Position player who had their options picked up include catchers Jim Vahalik and Maxx Garrett, infielders Ryan Kresky, Carter Bell, Garrett Rau and Austin Wobrock, and outfielder Daniel Poma.

Poma batted .308 last season with two home runs and 41 RBI as the team’s center fielder. Sergey threw the first perfect game in the Frontier League’s history and led the Wild Things with a 1.78 ERA. With the moves, Washington will return its top-five pitchers in innings pitched, including Blackwell, who went 10-4 in 99.2 innings with a team-high 75 strikeouts.

The Wild Things declined options on outfielders Josh Henderson and Jose Dore, pitchers Ryan Zamorsky and Chris Phelan, and infielders A.J. Nunziato and Shain Stoner.