Wild Things trade Beatty and 2 others
C.J. Beatty, right, played in 216 games and hit 38 home runs over parts of three season with the Wild Things.
Outfielder C.J. Beatty’s three-year run with the Washington Wild Things officially ended Thursday when the Frontier League team announced it has traded the outfielder to a team in the independent Can-Am League.
Washington sent Beatty and right-handed pitcher Tim Giel to the Sussex Miners in exchange for outfielders Jamal Austin and Ryan Mathews.
It was one of two trades made by the Wild Things. Washington also sent pitcher Shane Street, who was acquired last month from Southern Illinois, to the Lincoln Saltdogs of the independent American Association. Washington received right-handed pitchers Sam Agnew-Wieland and Chase Cunningham.
Beatty played in 216 games over parts of three seasons with Washington. In 2013, Beatty batted .305 and hit 18 home runs. In 2014, he again hit 18 home runs before having his contract purchased by the Chicago White Sox. Beatty played at the Class A level with Chicago until asking his release in May and re-signed with the Wild Things. A season-ending hand injury limited him to 45 games. He batted .259 with two home runs and 14 stolen bases.
Giel, a graduate of Shady Side Academy, pitched in 34 games and had a 4-5 record with a 3.78 ERA and struck out 43 batters in 50 innings.
Austin played for the New Jersey Jackals and Sussex County last season. He stole 30 stolen bases and batted .293 with eight triples. Mathews is returning to Washington. He spent six games with the Wild Things but went 2-for-21 at the plate before being released. With Sussex, Mathews batted .270 with eight home runs in 71 games.
“We are excited to add Jamal and Ryan to the mix for 2016,” Wild Things general manager Steve Zavacky said. “Both were dynamic playmakers in the Can-Am League and should transition well to playing in Washington.”
Agnew-Wieland, who was 3-4 with a 3.68 ERA in 24 games with Joplin in the American Association last season. Cunningham was a rookie out of Belmont University last season and had an 0-4 record and 4.91 in six starts for Lincoln.