Punxatawney has sent a surprised catcher Rick Wilkins, along with minor
leaguer Pat Rapp and their first round pick, the #27th pick in the round to
Tampa Bay. In return, they get Dan Wilson, who with 60 CH and 71 PH, is one
of the top overall hitting catchers in the game. They also get Tampa Bay's
2nd round pick in the 1999 FREE AGENT draft.
Wilkins was shocked at the trade. "I've done nothing but my best since I
arrived here," he said. Wilkins was batting .272 with 10 doubles, 3 homers,
and 19 runs created through 36 games. He had also only made two errors.
Wilkins was understandably angry. He spent last year with the Galena
Hamsters, who held the best record in the EL. This year, he was with the
Punxatawney Groundhogs, the holder of the best record in the DL last year.
Now he goes to struggling Tampa who has not been a successful team over the
last two years.
Pat Rapp, also involved in the trade, is happy to go to Tampa. He has
wallowed in the minors for two years now, only throwing 17 innings at the
end of last year.
Dan Wilson has struggled for the better part of two years, dealing with
injury for most of it. He has only played in 63 games and is batting just
.222 for his career. He hopes to turn it around in Punxatawney.
"The kid has a beautiful swing. He just needs to be in a lineup where he
has more support around him," said Hogs batting coach Bernie Carbo.
