4 Wild Things chosen for all-star game
Four members of the Wild Things have been selected to play in next week’s Frontier League All-Star Game and at least one will be a starter.
Right fielder Dave Popkins has been chosen as one of the three starting outfielders for the East Division. The other all-stars are starting pitcher Trevor Foss, relief pitcher Zac Grotz and third baseman Ricky Rodriguez.
The all-star game will be played July 13 at UC Health Stadium in Florence, Ky.
Popkins, from San Diego, is Washington’s leading hitter with a .286 batting average. He has a team-leading 12 doubles, five home runs and 16 RBI in 43 games. He also leads Washington with 24 walks.
Foss (6-2, 2.04), from Jamesville, Wisc., is a candidate to the starting pitcher for the East. He leads the league with six complete games, shares the lead in wins and is third in ERA.
A native of Millbrae, Calif., Grotz (0-2, 1.63) is the Wild Things’ closer and is tied for third in the league with seven saves.
Rodriguez, who hit a game-winning three-run homer Sunday against Florence, has a .278 batting average with seven doubles, five home runs and 16 RBI. The Los Angeles native was acquired in the offseason as a player to be named that completed a trade with Amarillo of the American Association.
The teams in first place July 6 will have their coaching staffs selected for the all-star game. The two managers will choose an additional three players per division to their rosters.
Washington made two rosters moves Monday. Second baseman Bryan Haar, who was leading the team with nine home runs, was placed on the retired list. Haar had a .212 batting average.
Washington signed right-handed pitcher Ashton Perritt, who was recently released by Traverse City. Perritt was a highly regarded two-way player out of Liberty University and was drafted twice. He had an 0-1 record and 4.41 ERA in 13 games with the Beach Bums.
Washington has 22 players – the league minimum – on its active roster and is expected to make at least two more moves before beginning a series tonight at East Division-leader Joliet.