BELLINGHAM, WA

Monday, January 13, the Bellingham Bells began announcing their 2025 roster. Six players are confirmed to be returning to Joe Martin Field this summer. Three pitchers are returning for the Bells this upcoming season.

Will Anderson is a left-handed pitcher at the University of British Columbia who will be wearing the blue and white for his third consecutive summer as a Bell.

Anderson began his West Coast League career with two pitching appearances at the end of the 2023 season. In 2024 he returned to the Bells for nine pitching appearances, four of them starts. Anderson threw a 3.46 ERA last season and struck out 21 batters in 26 innings with only six walks allowed.

At UBC he made 15 appearances in the 2023-2024 season and pitched a 5.35 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 38.2 innings. Anderson will look to help UBC to another Cascade Conference Championship Tournament after the Thunderbirds fell short of a conference title repeat last season.

Ryan Heppner is a right-handed pitcher and a teammate of Will Anderson at UBC. Heppner was a high-leverage relief pitcher last season in the Bell’s bullpen.

In 2024 Heppner came out of the bullpen 16 times and threw a 2.60 ERA while striking out 18. Heppner was the final pitcher to throw for the Bells in the North Division Championship Game loss to Wenatchee after he entered the 8th inning and kept the game just a one-run contest.

At UBC Heppner will pitch his third season for the Thunderbirds in 2025. Through his first two seasons he has a 3.42 career ERA with an 11-4 record in 18 starts and seven bullpen appearances. Heppner will join Anderson on the T-Birds for the collegiate season and both will pitch for the Bells this summer.

Will Franklin is our final confirmed returning pitcher for 2025. Franklin is a right-handed pitcher who will be playing in his third straight summer as a Bellingham Bell.

Last season Franklin pitched in four games at the start of the season. He threw 18 innings in his four starts and had a 3.50 ERA with 16 strikeouts to six walks. Franklin made an early departure from the Bells due to his commitment to play at his new college, Gardner-Webb University, transferring from Edmonds College after two seasons.

Franklin will look to have another quality season with the Bells this summer. In 2023 he was nails as he pitched a 0.38 ERA in 23.2 innings. For Edmonds, Franklin pitched a career 2.84 ERA through two seasons for the Tritons.

Now attending a NCAA Division I school, Franklin has the opportunity to show the Big South Conference what he can do this collegiate season before he returns to the Bells this summer.

The Bells begin the 2025 season on the road May 30 at Nanaimo and the home opener is June 3 against Kamloops. Tickets go on sale April 1.