May 9, 2024 By Chris Dugan 4 min read

Pitching and defense.

If there is one thing that the Wild Things have proven in their two decades-plus existence, it’s that pitching and defense wins. Particularly pitching.

When Washington has been at its best, pitching has been the primary reason for its success.

Last year, the pitching wasn’t up to par, especially in the first half of the Frontier League season. The Wild Things finished seventh in the eight-team West Division in ERA (4.94). The starting pitchers ranked 14th in the league in quality starts (27) and had a 5.34 ERA. The relievers weren’t much better with a 4.37 ERA and tying for the most blown saves in the league with 16.

Though the signing of several rookie pitchers helped during the second half of the season and enabled the Wild Things to climb into postseason contention, the mound of problems early in the year was too much for Washington to overcome and it missed the playoffs with a 47-49 record.

That left manager Tom Vaeth, who is entering his fourth season, spending much of the offseason trying to tweak his team’s pitching staff. Vaeth brought in some former affiliated ball pitchers to be starters and has attempted to improve the setup relief in front of closer Lucas Young.

Did Vaeth find enough pitching, and did he fill a couple of holes in the offense so that Washington can make a return to the playoffs?

“I don’t know. It’s too early,” Vaeth said after a practice session this week. “I’m still trying to figure out what I have. That takes time. Look at what a 6-1 start last year turned into. It’s a test of time.”

What the Wild Things do have on the mound are three returning starters. Former Frontier League Rookie of the Year Kobe Foster is back along with Dariel Fregio and Zach Kirby, two of the rookies who helped turn things around late last year.

Two newcomers to the rotation come from the affiliated ranks. Malik Barrington was in the Minnesota Twins’ farm system for three years and played in the prestigious Arizona Fall League in 2023. Jordan DiValerio is a Pennsylvania native who played three seasons in the Boston Red Sox organization.

DiValerio will start tonight’s (7:05) season opener at Wild Things Park against Washington’s nemesis, the Schaumburg Boomers. Schaumburg could start Cole Cook, who was the Frontier League’s Pitcher of the Year last season while with Joliet. He had a 12-2 record and 2.23 ERA. The Boomers acquired Cook in the offseason.

Justin Goosen-Brown, who had a 7-1 record, joins Young as returning relief pitchers.

Seven hitters return, including first baseman Andrew Czech and outfielder Wagner Lagrange. Czech will be in Washington for a fourth summer and Lagrange is back for his third. Czech hit 21 home runs a year ago and also drew a franchise-record 88 walks. Lagrange is coming off a 19-homer season.

Also back are catcher J.C. Santini, shortstop Carson Clowers, third baseman Tommy Caufield and outfielders Robert Chayka and Caleb McNeely. Chayka batted .293 and stole 23 bases as a rookie last year.

Also back is 35-year-old outfielder Quincy Latimore, who last played for Washington in 2013. Since then, Latimore has played multiple seasons in both Class AA and the Mexican League.

Two players who are being counted on, ultilityman Daniel Harris and second baseman Jalen Miller, will start the season on the injured list. Miller, a former third-round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants, hit 30 doubles and 12 home runs and stole 27 bases for Charleston in the independent Atlantic League last summer.

“We wanted to be more athletic,” Vaeth said. “It’s hard to say if we’re more athletic, but I think you can make a case that we are.

“Are we a better club? To see what we have, we need to get through the first month. That will be a good indication,” Vaeth said. “We weren’t that far away from being a playoff team last year. We missed the playoffs by five games, but it really came down to about three games. From where we were in June, to be that close, that’s what I call a helluva second half.”

The goal will be to build on that momentum and continue it for 96 games.