In an exchange of lefthanded pitchers, the New York Boulders acquired starter McKenzie Mills from the Washington Wild Things.
Heading to Washington is reliever James Mulry.
The deal was finalized early on November 6.
Mills will give the Boulders a solid lefthanded starter after pitching to a 3.81 ERA for the Frontier League runner-up Wild Things. Mills made 16 starts this past season and allowed only 84 hits over 92 innings while walking 35 and striking out 67.
Mills, 25, was an 18th round choice in the 2014 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals out of Sprayberry High School in his hometown of Marietta, GA. He spent the next three-plus years in the Nationals’ organization before seeing time with minor league affiliates of the Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins through the 2019 season. The southpaw signed on with the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the American Association where he spent the 2020 campaign.
Mulry, 27, was originally signed by the Ottawa Champions of the Can-Am League after graduating from Northeastern University in the summer of 2017. The next season saw the lefty toil for the Schaumberg Boomers of the Frontier League. In 2019, Mulry signed with the Boulders. During the summer of 2020, Mulry pitched for the Rockland Boulders in the All-American Baseball Challenge.
This past season, Mulry made 37 appearances, including one start, and posted a 3.83 ERA. Over 56 1/3 innings of work, he surrendered 51 hits, walked 17 and struck out 57.
When asked about his time in New York, Mulry said:
"I want to send a huge thank you to everyone in the Boulders community. The friendships and memories I've made as a member of this team are ones that will last a lifetime. I can't thank my teammates, coaches, trainers, clubhouse managers, photographers, bat boys and girls, the fans, season ticket holders, front office, and everyone involved in the organization enough for the support you have given me over the last three seasons. There are so many people I am truly thankful for, and so many things that I have in my life now because I was here. As I reflect on my time here, I think about all the teams I played for before, and how Rockland County was the first place that felt like home to me. I came here in a trade and it just so happens that I am leaving in a trade. I hope no one is a stranger whenever I return to PCU Park, even if it is in another uniform."
Information regarding season tickets and packages for the Boulders’ 2022 season are available by calling 845-364-0009 or sliding to www.NYBoulders.com.
Debuting in 1993, the Frontier League is the largest and longest-running of the modern independent leagues and features teams stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River and from the Ohio River to the St. Lawrence Seaway. In September of 2020, the Frontier League reached an agreement to become a “Partner League” with Major League Baseball.
As a “Partner League,” the Frontier League and its teams will meet on a regular basis with MLB representatives to discuss joint marketing and promotional opportunities, as well as collaborate on initiatives to provide organized baseball to communities throughout the United States and Canada.
More information can be found at www.frontierleague.com.