YES Network.com

The Washington Wild Things of the independent Frontier League announced late Tuesday night that RHP Chris Smith, who pitched for the Wild Things in 2012, has been purchased by the New York Yankees and will join the team for Minor League Spring Training.

Smith, a 24-year-old righty, has played in the Frontier League since 2010, and was 9-6 with a 2.92 ERA last summer with Washington. He spent this winter in Australia, going 3-3 with a 2.31 ERA, 65 strikeouts, and a 0.85 WHIP in nine starts for the Brisbane Bandits of the Australian Baseball League.

The ABL was also the winter landing spot of another Yankees prospect, 24-year-old RHP Zachary Arneson, who missed most of the 2012 season due to various injuries. Arneson, who was the Yankees’ ninth-round pick in 2011, made three rehab appearances in the low Minors last summer, and through Wednesday was 1-1 with a 0.50 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 18 innings (16 appearances) for the ABL’s Melbourne Aces.

One other former Yankees notable in the ABL this winter is RHP Anthony Claggett, who came to the Yankees organization in the 2006 trade that sent Gary Sheffield to Detroit and pitched in two Major League games in 2009. Through Wednesday, the 28-year-old was 4-5 with a 3.34 ERA in 11 starts for the Perth Heat.

Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroYES