Cast your vote from now through September 11
(Central Islip, N.Y., Sept. 4, 2015) – The Long Island Ducks and Delmonte-Smelson Jewelers have teamed up once again to present the 2015 Long Island Ducks MVP Award. Fans can vote from now through Friday, September 11 for the Duck they believe should be this year’s Most Valuable Player.
To cast your ballot for this year’s MVP award, please CLICK HERE and select who you think the winner should be. The player with the most fan votes will receive a commemorative gift from Delmonte-Smelson Jewelers and be presented with his award prior to the Ducks game against the Sugar Land Skeeters on Sunday, September 13, which is Pepsi Fan Appreciation Day.
The following are this year’s nominees (stats through September 4):
Infielder Dan Lyons: The fifth-year Duck has put together his best season since coming to Long Island. He leads all Ducks players with 67 runs batted in, 68 runs, seven triples, 39 walks and nine sacrifice flies this season. In addition, the shortstop has clubbed a career-high 11 home runs and ranks second in the Atlantic League in on-base percentage (.374) and slugging percentage (.475), third in batting average (.305) and fourth in extra-base hits (41) and stolen base percentage (.895). Lyons was selected to play in the Atlantic League All-Star Game in July and compiled a 17-game hitting streak from August 8-24.
Outfielder Delta Cleary, Jr.: The first-year Duck joined the team in May and has been a key addition to the lineup since. He currently ranks second in the Atlantic League in batting average (.309) and leads the Flock in stolen bases (31), the third-highest total in the league this year. In addition, he leads the team with 20 sacrifice bunts, ranks third with 122 hits and has compiled 57 runs, 16 doubles and four triples in 101 games. The outfielder has hit safely in 18 consecutive games as of September 4, the longest hitting streak by a Ducks player in 2015.
Starting Pitcher John Brownell: The fourth-year Duck continues to be one of the top pitchers in all of the Atlantic League. He sits atop the league leaderboard in wins (11), strikeouts (126) and innings pitched (156.0) while ranking second in complete games (2) and seventh in ERA (3.23). The right-hander has walked only 41 batters all season while holding his opponents to a .227 batting average. Brownell threw 16 scoreless innings to begin the season and has struck out six or more batters in 12 of his 23 starts in 2015, including a season-high 12 on May 22 against Camden.
Relief Pitcher Amalio Diaz: The first-year Duck has been a dominant force in the back end of Long Island’s bullpen. He ranks third among all Atlantic League pitchers with 52 appearances this season and has compiled a miniscule 1.72 ERA and 10 saves. The right-hander leads all Ducks relievers with 52 and one-third innings pitched and 62 strikeouts. In his 52 games, he has given up just 38 hits and nine walks while holding opponents to a .203 batting average. Diaz went 15 consecutive games from May 30 through July 1 without allowing a single run or walk.
The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Bethpage Ballpark. For further information, call (631) 940-DUCK or visit www.liducks.com.
###