Four More Returners Coming Back To AppleSox In 2024

AppleSox head coach Mitch Darlington announced on Friday the return of four AppleSox players who have previously suited up for the team. Fred Buckson, Jayden Holloway, Riley Sinclair and Wyatt Queen will return to Wenatchee for a second season in 2024.With the addition of these players the AppleSox now have 10 players signed to play this summer who were with the team previously. 

Similar to last season, Fred Buckson joins the 2024 AppleSox on a 10-day contract. Buckson will arrive early in the season to provide infield depth and get an opportunity to immediately produce in the AppleSox lineup. He played in each of Wenatchee’s first five games of the season before eventually returning to the team in late July when Darlington was in need of an extra infielder. Buckson went 2-for-2 with a stolen base and a run on July 30 to help the AppleSox defeat Edmonton, 8-5, at home. 

The Silverdale, Wa. native is a junior in eligibility this spring but is playing in his fifth season of college baseball. Buckson raked in his first year at Vanguard in 2023, leading the Lions in at-bats (194), RBI (45), extra-base hits (22) and home runs (9) while finishing second in stolen bases (19). He played at Bellevue from 2020-21, combining to hit .274 with four home runs and 20 RBI over 33 games. Buckson played at Northwestern Oklahoma State University last spring and hit .275 in 20 games before transferring to Vanguard.

“He’s a talented guy,” Darlington said. “He played second base all last year for Vanguard. This year he is starting every day at shortstop. We saw a little bit of that last summer with us, his ability to flip from one position to the other. He’s a really good defender. I have a good feeling about Fred this summer and I think he’s going to help us a ton.”

Jayden Holloway joined the AppleSox late in the 2023 summer and left his mark prior to his freshman year of college.The freshman at Michigan State was signed in late July with Wenatchee dealing with a few injuries and departures. He shined immediately, recording two hits and scoring two runs in his second game with the AppleSox on July 29 against Edmonton. Holloway went on to record hits in eight of the 10 games that he appeared in, postseason included. He recorded consecutive three-hit games in the last two games of the regular season at Kelowna.

The Seattle native has two at-bats but has scored two runs in the early season. He graduated from Seattle Prep last spring and was teammates there with former AppleSox infielder Reeve Boyd. Holloway earned First Team All-Metro honors as a senior with four home runs, 24 RBI, 26 runs, and 10 stolen bases. He previously earned Second Team All-Metro honors as a junior in 2022. 

“Towards the back half of summer he was really absorbing everything we were telling him and polishing things up,” Darlington said. “I can only imagine how much better he will be this summer after a full year of work. He’s another one who handles himself professionally. He’s a quiet kid but he’s confident. For an incoming freshman to step up and produce the way he did shows how special he is. He’s got a really good mindset and I think he’s going to work his tail off and do whatever we ask of him.”

Riley Sinclair is the only returner to the AppleSox who did not play for the team in 2023. He got his first taste of the Apple Capital in 2022, when he was a part of Darlington’s inaugural club. Sinclair served primarily as a starting pitcher, starting six of the seven games that he appeared in and struck out 23 while walking 16 over 26 innings. The Camas, Wa. native’s best start came on July 22 when he tossed a season-high six innings and struck out a summer-best six while only allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks at Walla Walla. 

The right-hander did not pitch at Seattle U last season due to injury but appeared in 20 games with the Pilots from 2021-22, starting 12 of those games. His 4.06 ERA in 2021 led Seattle U while his 51 innings and 30 strikeouts were both fifth-best on the team. 

“Riley unfortunately has had the injury bug here the last few years,” Darlington said. “Probably one of the healthiest points was the summer he had with us two summers ago. I thought he was great for us, as well as stuff-wise, mound presence and the way he worked. One of my favorite things with this job is the guys who circle back and want to play for you.” 

Wyatt Queen appeared in one game with the AppleSox late last season and now earns a spot ahead of the 2024 campaign. He tossed 3.1 innings in a start against Bellingham on Aug. 3 and struck out four, walked two and allowed one run. Queen surrendered his only run in the opening frame and faced the minimum the next two innings. 

The Marysville, Wa. native is in his freshman year at Everett Community College and has pitched in three games this spring. Queen earned the win in each of his first two starts, striking out eight and only allowing one run in 5.1 innings at Yakima Valley. He followed it up by striking out nine and allowing two unearned runs in six innings vs. Spokane Falls. 

“I had gotten a tip last summer that he was legit,” Darlington said. “I messaged him on Twitter to see if he wanted to pitch for us and he has blown up now. He’s signed at Oregon State and he’s at Everett right now. He’s going to be their ace this spring. Whatever we can get from him this summer we will be grateful for. Confident guy, a dog on the mound who just goes after guys.”

The 2024 season begins on May 31 as the AppleSox host the Port Angeles Lefties at 6:25 p.m. at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. The AppleSox have 31 home games and play until mid-August. The franchise’s five West Coast League championships are second-most in league history and head coach Mitch Darlington’s club has scored the most runs by any team in the WCL the last two seasons. Season ticket packages are available for purchase now at applesox.com/season-tickets.