AppleSox add three returning pitchers with Wenatchee Valley ties

WENATCHEE — The Wenatchee AppleSox announced Thursday that pitchers Joe Schuyleman, Luke Sterkel and Alec Johnson will return to the team for the 2026 West Coast League season.

All three pitchers previously appeared on the AppleSox roster during the 2025 season and have ties to Wenatchee Valley College.

Schuyleman, a Wenatchee native, struck out 11 batters in 11 1/3 innings across seven relief appearances for the AppleSox last summer. He initially joined the team on a 10-day contract before returning later in the season to add depth to the bullpen.

In his first game back with the club, Schuyleman earned a win in a nonleague game against the Redmond Dudes on July 3.

During his freshman season at Wenatchee Valley College, Schuyleman made 11 appearances on the mound, including six starts. He finished with a 4-2 record and 35 strikeouts in 51 1/3 innings pitched. As a senior at Wenatchee High School in 2024, he posted a 2.07 earned run average with 42 strikeouts in 10 outings.

Sterkel made four appearances for the AppleSox in 2025 and recorded a 2.77 ERA with 12 strikeouts over 13 innings. He started three games.

His longest outing came June 17 against Dub Sea, when he pitched five innings, struck out four and allowed one run on three hits to earn the win.

The Ellensburg native is entering his sophomore season at Wenatchee Valley College. As a freshman, he struck out 44 batters and posted a 3.75 ERA in 48 innings across 12 appearances, including eight starts. As a senior at Ellensburg High School in 2024, Sterkel recorded a 1.24 ERA with 14 strikeouts in five games.

Johnson will return for his second season with the AppleSox after posting a 1.35 ERA with 22 strikeouts and four walks in 20 innings across five appearances last summer. He finished with a 2-0 record.

Johnson, a native of Enumclaw, is a sophomore at Loyola Marymount University after transferring from Wenatchee Valley College. In 2025, he earned Northwest Athletic Conference East Region first-team honors after posting a 1.53 ERA with 70 strikeouts and 18 walks in 11 starts.

As a senior at Enumclaw High School in 2024, Johnson went 8-0 with a 0.22 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 11 games and was named first-team all-state pitcher.

The AppleSox are scheduled to open the 2026 season May 29 on the road against the Edmonton RiverHawks at RE/MAX Field. Wenatchee will open its home schedule June 5 against the Kamloops NorthPaws at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

The AppleSox are scheduled to play 29 home games during the season, which runs through mid-August. The franchise has won five West Coast League championships, the second-most in league history.