ALL-STARS BROCATO, CZECH RETURNING TO WASHINGTON
The Washington Wild Things have announced the team and outfielder Anthony Brocato along with infielder Andrew Czech have reached an agreement on contract extensions for the 2023 season. Brocato and Czech were both appeared in the 2022 All-Star Game, held at Wild Things Park.
Brocato was acquired by the club at the 2022 transaction deadline in a trade with the Florence Y'alls for a player to be named that has since been completed with Cole Brannen heading to the Y'alls.
Brocato enjoyed his best season as a pro in his third season as a pro last year. In 2022, he played in a total of 80 games between Florence and Washington but missed some time at the end of the regular season with a hamstring injury. In those 80 games, he slashed .300/.369/.617 with 19 doubles to match a career high. He set new career highs with 24 home runs and 76 RBI and in runs scored with 61. Fielding wise, Brocato had nine outfield assists and only three errors on 147 chances. That makes it 14 career outfield assists in three seasons.
"I'm excited to have Anthony for a full season. It was a big pick up for us at the end of last year although we knew he wasn't 100% healthy. I was pleased with what he gave us especially on the defensive side," said manager Tom Vaeth. "Outside of Lagrange, we really didn't get a whole lot offensively from our right-handed hitters in our lineup… So, we are hoping Brocato will help fill that void."
The former St. John's standout spent his first two seasons of pro ball with the Southern Illinois Miners. In 12 games in 2019, Brocato was 16-for-40 at the dish with two doubles, two triples and two homers. He drove in 10. In 2021 he slashed .273/.343.513 for the Miners and clubbed 19 doubles, two triples and 17 home runs with 60 RBI and 53 runs scored.
At St. John's, Brocato was a career .281 hitter with an .816 career OPS in four seasons. He hit 21 homers and drove in 107. A Queens, New York native, Brocato was a two-time All-BIG EAST selection as he earned first-team honors in 2017 as a junior and second-team honors as a senior in 2018.
"[I'm] happy to have the opportunity to be able to come back to Washington [and] excited to go to war with these guys," said Brocato. "There's unfinished business… let's get Wild."
Czech posted career highs in batting average (.304), on-base percentage (.392), RBI (59), doubles (21), hits (92) and runs (52) this past season, his second as a pro. He played in 85 regular-season games and walked 47 times.
"Andrew has played a big part in our success over the last two years. He is another key member of our core group that, going into his third year now with us, will be counted on to provide leadership on and off the field," said manager Tom Vaeth. "He's an all-star that not only plays great defense but is also a threat and presence in the middle of our lineup… we count on Czecher to be a big RBI guy for us."
In 2021, Czech played in 83 games and slashed .271/.375/.496 with 14 doubles and 15 home runs. He drove in 38 and walked 43 times.
He played four seasons at Walsh University and hit 49 career home runs in only three of those, with Czech only receiving 12 at bats in 2017. He was G-MAC 2nd Team at first base in 2018, 1st Team and Player of the se in 2018, 1st Team and Player of the Year as well as D2CCA All-Region 1st Team and an All-American in 2019 and was G-MAC Player of the Year in 2021. He's the career program leader in home runs, RBI and runs and was named a Division II Gold Glove Award winner by Rawlings for his efforts defensively during the 2021 college season.
"I'm grateful to be given the opportunity to be returning back to Washington and be able to compete for a championship with the some of the guys from last year," said Czech. "We all know that we have unfinished business to handle."
With the league's option deadline approaching, the Wild Things have exercised some club options and declined others. The accept or decline of the option does not guarantee the player will be on the 2023 roster. The exercising of club options, which are on most contracts in the league, secures the rights to the player for the team that exercises the option. If the option is declined, those players become free agents, but the team and player can potentially work out a new deal. There are also some players under contract who have played out their options and have either retired or become free agents.
The team has exercised the options of LHP Sandro Cabrera, IF Scotty Dubrule, C Devon Fisher, LHP Kobe Foster, RHP Stephen Knapp, RHP Dan Kubiuk, OF Wagner Lagrange, LHP Kenny Pierson, OF Hector Roa, IF Tyler Wilber, C Melvin Novoa, RHP Jake Pilarski. LHP Holden Bernhardt and LHP Ryan Hennen.
Washington declined the options on C Cam Balego, OF Jared Mang, RHP Isaac Mattson, RHP Rob Whalen, C/IF Landen Barns, OF Roberto Caro, IF Nate Fisbeck, RHP Hayden Pearce, RHP Adonis Rosa and IF Jamey Smart.
LHP Zack Erwin, C Trevor Casanova (after being exercised for 2022) and RHP Daren Osby did not have options on their contracts.
The Wild Things have now officially signed five Frontier League All Stars from last season. Monday, the team will make another signing official, as well as exercise and decline options on players with club options for the 2023 season. The roster is available on the Wild Things' website. The league's transaction page is available here.
ABOUT THE WASHINGTON WILD THINGS
The Washington Wild Things are a professional baseball team that plays in the MLB-partnered Frontier League. The team has won eight division championships and has been to four Frontier League Championship Series within their numerous playoff appearances. Fans and media can stay aware of all the happenings within the Wild Things' organization, both on and off the field, by following the team's social media platforms and website: washingtonwildthings.com. For other inquiries, call the front office at 724-250-9555.
