Pippins Will Draw 2020 Players From Mix of Established and New School Relationships

YAKIMA, Wash. — With Opening Day still many months away, new Pippins manager Kyle Krustangel has been busy at work building the 2020 roster. And he’s happy with how it’s coming together.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the players we have signed to full contracts for the upcoming summer,” said Krustangel, who will be in his inaugural year as Pippins manager after spending the past three seasons with the Wenatchee AppleSox. “I truly believe we have top-level talent that will compete for a WCL championship.”

To date, the Pippins have signed 33 players to full-season contracts, with a handful more on the way. Because of injuries, academic commitments or other reasons, not all players may join the team, Krustangel acknowledged, which is typical throughout the West Coast League.

Pippins Manager Kyle Krustangel

Kyle Krustangel

The Pippins are expecting players from several universities they’ve worked with in previous years, including UCLA, Gonzaga, Oregon, Washington State and Lewis-Clark State. Several new schools also will be sending players, with Biola, San Francisco, Fresno Pacific and the University of Washington among them.

“I think the fans will be excited with the mix of schools the players come from,” Krustangel said. “Some are schools the fans will be use to seeing, and some players come from schools that are new to the Pippins. The roster is loaded with primarily D-1 talent that comes from the Pac-12 and WCC schools.”

The WCL will open the 2020 season in early June. A full schedule will be released in upcoming weeks.

By Yakima Valley Pippins

October 26, 2019