Adkins to Play Third Season in Frontier League in 2018, Second With Wild Things After Re-Signing
WASHINGTON, Pa. - Today, the Wild Things announced the final transaction in the busiest week on the offseason roster-wise so far, as right-handed pitcher Davis Adkins has been re-signed for the 2018 season. Adkins played in Washington in 2017 after spending 2016 with the Florence Freedom.
Adkins, who will be 24 by the outset of the 2018 season, will play his third season of pro ball after graduating from Georgia Gwinett College. As a college baseball pitcher, Adkins was 19-1 over the course of 56 outings. He enjoyed his best collegiate season in 2016 at GGC, by going 14-0 with 101 strikeouts and a 1.88 earned run average in 95 innings.
In 2016, Adkins was shut down in mid-August and released from the Freedom roster, where he struck out 51 batters in 53.1 innings in his first taste of pro ball. In 2017 with Washington, Adkins was 5-1 with a save in 39 appearances. He sported a 3.38 ERA in 50.2 innings, while allowing 36 hits and 21 runs (19 earned). He struck out 50 and walked 25.
"Davis pitched at an All-Star level 95% of the season. We saw flashes of greatness when he pitched for Florence in 2016, and we knew in a stable situation he could dominate here in Washington," said general manager Steven Zavacky. "He embraced the challenge of pressure situations and dominated right-handed hitters better than almost anyone in the Frontier League. We look forward to see the next step Davis takes with his offseason development."
Adkins is looking for more success both from a team and personal standpoint.
"We had a very good year last year," said Adkins. "I was so blessed to be a part of the playoff run we made. Hopefully we can do the same thing again this year."
He added, "I'm hoping to have a better year this year than I did last year, and hopefully we can bring a championship back to Washington this season. We have the best staff and coaches in the league."
Adkins also thinks his role from a knowledge standpoint may change a bit, being that this will be his third season in the Frontier League.
"For the new guys coming in, you cannot dwell on one outing or performance," said Adkins. "We have a 96-game regular season. You're going to hit some rough spots; you just have to push through them."
Adkins is the fifth pitcher to resign with the team for 2018, joining left-handers Jake Eaton and Frank Trimarco, as well as RHP's Trevor Bradley and Chase Cunningham.
Writer's Note: Next week, the team will be announcing transactions on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with the first being a new player, and the back two being players re-signing: both pitchers. We'll leave the guessing to all of our fans.
