22-year-old German catcher Jonathan Wagner leaves record title holder Mannheim Tornados to join the Stuttgart Reds. The Reds announced a flurry of transactions on Friday, including the transfer of the talented backstop. He batted .250/.398/.412 with 19 runs and 11 RBI in 28 games – all behind the plate.
Meanwhile Stuttgart also revealed that pitching ace Richard Olson won’t return for a third straight season in the German Baseball-Bundesliga. The Australian is currently playing for the Adelaide Bite, but is starting to studying law next year and won’t return to Europe from Down Under.
However the Reds were able to retain the services of Thomas de Wolf. The former Minor Leaguer from Belgium agreed to stay in Bad Cannstatt. He gathered much interest from Germany and other European leagues, but is staying in Stuttgart. He came mid-season after starting the year with Tubingen.
The return of Craig Pycock and Chris Beck to the Reds is uncertain. According to General Manager Christoph Manske the club is talking to a dozen players and hopes to complete the roster by mid-January.