Wild Things Sign Two Infielders Ahead of Tuesday's Game
WASHINGTON, Pa. (July 8) – The Wild Things have signed two infielders, one of which was acquired in a trade with High Point Monday as part of a deal that brought him and will bring another player to Washington in exchange for LHP Ryan Chasse. That infielder is D.R. native Carlos Amezquita. The other is a product of Commonwealth University – Mansfield in Jake Houtz, who has signed his first professional contract.
Amezquita was off to a decent start to his pro career in his first season with High Point. With the Rockers, Carlos was 10-for-32 with five runs, a triple, three RBI and two stolen bases. He played four seasons of college ball, two at St. Andrews (NAIA) and two at UNC Pembroke. In the four total seasons, he slashed .310/.431/.419 with 122 hits in 394 at bats, 113 runs scored, 20 doubles, seven triples, three home runs and 78 RBI. He had his best collegiate season in 2023 at UNC Pembroke, a season that saw him hit .311/.452/.428 with 12 doubles, three triples, a homer and 38 RBI. He swiped 45 of 54 stolen base attempts that season and walked 42 times to 49 strikeouts.
He played at West Forsyth High School in North Carolina, logging a trio of team awards, including offensive player of the year, most improved player of the year and breakthrough player of the year. He lived in the Dominican Republic until he was 13 years old.
Houtz comes to the Wild Things under his first professional contract. He was ABCA/Rawlings All-American Third Team, D2CCA All-American Honorable Mention, NCBWA, D2CCA, ABCA/Rawlings Atlantic Region Player of the Year, PSAC Fall Top Ten and PSAC Eastern Division Athlete of the Year this season at Mansfield four the Mountaineers. He left the program tied for sixth in program history in home runs (29), eighth in doubles (41) and 10th in RBI (125). He started 45 of the 45 games he played in this season and led the PSAC in batting average (.444), total bases (118), OPS (1.433), slugging percentage (.874) and OBP (.559). He was top five in multiple other categories including hits, runs, RBI, doubles and home runs.
The 2025 season for Houtz came off an All-Atlantic Region Second Team selection for three places, and an All-PSAC Eastern Division Second Team selection in 2024. In four seasons at Mansfield, he played in 159 games and slashed .377/.476/.669 (1.144 OPS) with 41 doubles, two triples and 29 home runs with 126 RBI. He played a pair of seasons in college summer ball as well.
He was a letterwinner as a pitcher and first baseman at Schuylkill Haven High School in Pennsylvania.
The Wild Things will host the Otters today at 10:35 a.m.
