Switch hitter heads to affiliated baseball for first time

(Central Islip, N.Y., Aug. 14, 2013) – The Long Island Ducks today announced that outfielder Joash Brodin has been signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. He becomes the fourth Duck to be signed by a Major League organization in 2013 (Ben Broussard, Royals; Eric Niesen, Red Sox and Dontrelle Willis, Angels) and fifth overall (Danny Perales, Mexico).

“Joash has had an outstanding season for us this year,” says Ducks president and general manager Michael Pfaff. “We wish him all the best with the Diamondbacks organization.”

Brodin, who spent the first five seasons of his professional career in independent baseball, begins his first affiliated baseball experience with the Single-A Visalia Rawhide of the California League. This season, he posted a team-high .307 batting average, good for fifth in the Atlantic League, along with 11 home runs, 49 RBI and 21 doubles in a team-best 106 games with the Flock. The 26-year-old led the league in hits (128) and runs (79) while leading the Ducks with 41 walks and 14 stolen bases. His efforts earned him the starting left field spot for the Liberty Division at the Atlantic League All-Star Game on July 10 in Southern Maryland.

The Washington resident joined the Ducks in July of 2012 and made an immediate impact, hitting .282 with three homers, 24 RBI and 31 runs in 49 games. During the postseason, he batted .359 while driving in seven runs. Brodin collected at least one hit in each game of the Atlantic League Championship Series against Lancaster, batting .476 (10-for-21) in the series. Prior to joining the Ducks, the College of Charleston alum was named the MVP of the 2012 Frontier League All-Star Game and led the league in batting (.370) while playing for the London Rippers.

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.

###