Wild Things exercise options on 15 players
The final day for Frontier League teams to pick up contract options on players for the 2026 season was Monday. The Wild Things announced they have exercised their club options on 15 players, including one who has played five seasons in Washington.
The Wild Things picked up the option on veteran baseman Andrew Czech, who is chasing the league’s all-time home runs record. Czech has hit 87 career home runs – all with Washington – and is 40 away from tying the record. He is currently fourth on the league’s all-time home runs list.
Also having their club option picked up were pitchers Colt Anderson, Ethan Brown, Chad Coles, Christian Diaz, Lex Meinderts and Dominic Puccetti, catchers Three Hillier and Nolan Wilson, first baseman Tyreque Reed, shortstop Kyle Edwards, infielder Ethan Wilder and outfielders Jeff Liquori and Ben Watson.
Washington also exercised the club option on pitcher Brent Francisco, who is currently in the Minnesota Twins farm system.
The Wild Things declined the options on five players: second baseman Sammy Infante, pitchers Dylan Kirkeby and Luke Wagner, and catchers Charles Mack and Jordan Siket. They are now free agents.
Washington had several players whose contract expired Monday, making them free agents. They are pitchers Jordan DiValerio, Kobe Foster, Regi Grace, Joe Nahas, Sebastian Rodriguez, Hunter Dupuy, Aaron Forrest, Gyeongju Kim and Marlon Perez, infielders Tommy Caufield, Cole Fowler, Eddie Hacopian and Pavin Parks, and outfielders Wagner Lagrange and Caleb McNeely.
Over the weekend, Washington announced the signing of pitcher Michael Foltz Jr., a lefthander out of George Washington University. Foltz Jr. finished last summer with the West Virginia Black Bears in the MLB Draft League, where he had a 2-2 record in 16 appearances (one start). He started 15 games for George Washington 2025. In 2024, he was named first team All-Atlantic 10 Conference.
The Wild Things have announced the signing of seven players – each of them a pitcher – for next season, which begins May 7 at Windy City. The home opener is scheduled for May 15 against Schaumburg.