Wild Things sign former PSAC East Player of Year
The Wild Things, who begin spring training in less than two weeks, announced the signing Friday of two players, one who had a record-setting career in the PSAC.
Washington signed outfielder Christian Knott and right-handed pitcher Ben Carlson. Knott played college ball at East Stroudsburg and spent one year in the Tampa Bay Rays’ system. Carlson (6-3, 215) played at Furman University and was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in 2013. He spent two years in the Angeles’ organization.
Knott (6-0, 215) was the PSAC East Division Player of the Year last spring and the Warriors’ first all-region selection since 1991 after batting .399 and leading the conference in slugging percentage, extra-base hits, RBI and runs. He set seven school records at East Stroudsburg, including career doubles (46), triples (16), home runs (19), RBI (146) and games played (149). Knott was drafted by Tampa Bay in the 34th round and played last summer for Tampa Bay’s affiliate in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League. He batted .248 in 39 games.
Carlson was drafted in the 40th round out of Furman by the Angels in 2013 and put up good numbers last year for Burlington in the Class A Midwest League where he was 3-2 with a 2.60 ERA and struck out 62 in batters 65 2/3 innings. He allowed only two home runs in 91 2/3 career innings in the Angels’ system. In 2013, Carlson was 4-0 with 10 saves and a 1.73 ERA for the Angels’ Arizona Rookie League affiliate.