GASTONIA, N.C. – The Gastonia Ghost Peppers have signed 2024 Atlantic League All-Star Justin Wylie for this season, announced by general manager Brady Salisbury on Thursday.
Wylie, 28, returns to Gastonia after a banner 2024 campaign with the Club. The infielder attended San Diego State University and the University of Arizona before beginning to play in independent ball in 2019. The Chandler, Arizona, native played in the Frontier League (New Jersey Jackals) and American Association (Kansas City Monarchs) from 2021-2023.
Wylie played 120 games for Gastonia last season, slashing .249/.362/.545 (.907 OPS), crushing a team-high 34 homers and driving in 84 runs. He also swiped 25 bases, becoming the third player in Atlantic League history to join the 30-20 club. Wylie was named one of two Gastonia Postseason All-Stars, the other being Jake Gatewood.
With the addition of Wylie, the Ghost Peppers have a finalized roster for 2025.
The official Opening Day roster is:
RHP Jackson Boss
RHP Parker Kruglewicz
RHP Matt Hartman
RHP Nick Snyder
RHP Duane Underwood Jr.
RHP Raynel Espinal
RHP Bryan Blanton
RHP Tanner Myatt
RHP Kent Hasler
RHP Connor Grey
LHP Nick Horvath
LHP Ryan Hennen
LHP Kevin Smith
LHP Adam Scott
LHP Justus Sheffield
LHP Nick Wells
C Luis Aviles
C Patrick Mazeika
INF Alan Alonso
INF Ethan Skender
INF Jack Reinheimer
INF Richie Martin
OF Eric De La Rosa
OF Kevin Watson Jr.
OF Narciso Crook
OF Dalton Guthrie
OF Cole Roederer
OF Justin Wylie
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Gastonia Ghost Peppers begins its second season of operations with Zawyer Sports & Entertainment – a sports ownership group with professional teams operating in the U.S. and the fifth season for the franchise at CaroMont Health Park in the FUSE District of Gastonia. The Ghost Peppers have made the ALPB Playoffs for three consecutive seasons, setting the league record for highest win percentage in a three-year span (.651 from 2022-2024.)
In their inaugural season, the Ghost Peppers had seven players with contracts purchased by other leagues, whether that be MLB-affiliated clubs or leagues outside the country. They also had two former players make their MLB debuts in 2024 — Spencer Bivens (Tigers) and Bryan Sammons (2024.) Bivens is on the Giants’ 26-man roster in 2025. J.C. Escarra, who played for Gastonia in 2023, is currently on the Yankees’ 26-man roster.
The Ghost Peppers open the 2025 season on Friday, April 25 against the York Revolution. Game time is set for 7 p.m. Single game tickets are currently on sale. Contact the Ghost Peppers office at 980-415-2255, or visit www.ghostpeppersbaseball.com for more information.
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About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) – Celebrating its third decade, the Atlantic League is Major League Baseball’s first Professional Partner League, a player gateway to the major leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. Over its 26-year history, the ALPB has sent over 1,400 players to MLB organizations while drawing over 47 million fans to its 10 family-friendly ballparks that stretch from New York to North Carolina. Please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.