Wild Things Sign Versatile Rookie DJ Banks
WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 12) – The Washington Wild Things have signed versatile rookie DJ Banks to the roster, growing their current offseason roster to 33 players, including one from the California Winter League. Banks has signed his first pro contract with the deal.
Banks played his final two collegiate seasons at Valdosta State with his first three coming at Gordon State College. For Valdosta State, he appeared in 98 games over the course of two seasons and slashed .316/.403/.432 with 23 doubles, four triples, three homers and 62 RBI. He stole 18 of 26 bases he tried for and walked 47 total times in the two years. The better of the two good seasons came in his final season at the Division II school, a season in which he played inn 52 games and slashed .333/.408/.469 with 16 doubles, three triples, two homers and 43 RBI. He was 10-for-14 in stolen base attempts, but was, for whatever reason, left off the All-GSC teams.
He played three seasons at Gordon State College, an NJCAA school. I 2021, he played in 39 games and slashed .295/.386/.438 with 11 doubles, a triple, a home run and 17 RBI. He’d go on to have a .234/.390/.364 season in 2022 with five doubles, three home runs and 18 RBI before breaking out as a junior in 2023. In 55 games that season, he drove in 43, had 16 doubles, tripled twice, belted two long balls and slashed .346/.437/.482. In 2023, DJ was named First-Team All-Conference (GSC) with the announcement of the postseason All-Region selections for the GCAA.
DJ played multiple infield positions and a little corner outfield during college and will look to add versatility to the Wild Things’ roster as spring training nears.
Frontier League teams can carry up to 34 players under contract during the offseason with players picked in the Frontier League Draft (scheduled for April 21 in Avon, OH) and players from the California Winter League not included in that count. Banks makes 32 non-CWL/draft players on Washington’s roster.
The 24th season of Wild Things baseball in the MLB-partnered Frontier League begins Friday, May 7 on the road and at home with the homer opener scheduled for Friday, May 15 against the Schaumburg Boomers at EQT Park. For updates, other information and more, visit washingtonwildthings.com or follow the team on social media at facebook.com/WashingtonWildThings or @WashWildThings on other platforms. Single game tickets are available now and the club’s promo schedule has been released. You can buy tickets here.
