League Leading Catcher Returns to Washington
WASHINGTON, Pa. (Dec. 11)-
The Wild Things continue with their roster construction with the re-signing of starting catcher Cody Erickson.
In his first season in Washington, Erickson showed he was up to the task behind the plate. Defensively he only committed one error in over 49 games played and his remarkable 43% caught stealing rate ranked 2nd best in the Frontier League. As a full-time catcher for the first time in his career Erickson showcased himself as a premier catch-and-throw backstop, working in tandem with the pitching staff to lead the league in fewest stolen base attempts against.
Erickson's offensive abilities also continued to evolve with the Wild Things, finishing second on the team in RBI (39) and third on the team in HRs (7). In a season where runs were challenging for Washington, Erickson showed he could be relied on in key spots. His .371 average led the team with both runners on base and runners in scoring position. A nagging injury limited his availability down the stretch but despite only in playing 64 games Erickson finished as the second most productive catcher in the league.
"Very proud of Cody and what he was able to accomplish with us. He took the reins as the starter early in the season and never really looked back," said General Manager Tony Buccilli. "We will try to do a better job managing his games in order to help him navigate a long season in 2020. I know he is preparing in a different manner physically and that should allow him to take another step forward with his development," Buccilli stated.
The Wild Things take to the field as they open the season Friday, May 15 at Rockland, with the home opener slated for Tuesday, May 19 to take on the Quebec Capitales at Wild Things Park.
