Mar 25, 2015 2 min read

The Wild Things have re-signed four pitchers from last year’s team and added a rookie pitcher.

Washington signed relief pitchers Pat Butler, Chris O’Hare and Matt Purnell and starting pitcher Tim Flight to contract extensions. Also signed was relief pitcher Ryan Wakefield, a rookie from Plymouth State University.

Butler will be back in Washington for his third season. He and Purnell gave the Wild Things two strong right-handed setup relievers for closer Jonathan Kountis last season. Butler was 2-3 with a 4.15 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 39 innings, and Purnell made an impact as a rookie with a 5-2 record and 3.23 ERA. Butler and Purnell each had one save.

O’Hare, a lefty, spent two seasons in the Philadelphia Phillies system before joining the Wild Things late last year, pitching in nine games.

Flight signed with Washington last year after two seasons in the New York Yankees’ organization. He began the season in the Wild Things’ rotation and made five starts before having his season end when he was struck on the wrist by a line drive during a game at Rockford. Flight was 2-0 with a 3.42 ERA.

Wakefield, a 6-5, 230-pounder, was 1-0 with four saves and a 1.23 ERA last spring. He struck out 26 in 14 2/3 innings.