Winner to be honored on Fan Appreciation Day at Bethpage Ballpark
(Central Islip, N.Y., Sept. 1, 2016) – The Long Island Ducks and Delmonte-Smelson Jewelers have teamed up once again to present the 2016 Long Island Ducks MVP Award. Fans can vote once per day from now through Saturday, September 10 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 York Revolution on Sunday, September 11, which is Pepsi Fan Appreciation Day.
The following are this year’s nominees (stats through end of August):
Outfielder Fehlandt Lentini: The third-year Duck has posted tremendous numbers, ranking among the league leaders in several offensive categories. He leads all Atlantic League players in at bats (501), runs scored (95), hits (159), total bases (232), doubles (36), extra-base hits (50) and stolen base percentage (.917). In addition, the 39-year-old has played in each of Long Island’s 122 games this season and ranks second in stolen bases (44), is tied for third in triples (5) and sits fifth with a (.317) batting average. Defensively, he has committed just two errors while added nine assists from the outfield. Lentini earned his second Atlantic League All-Star selection back in July and holds the team’s longest hitting streak of the season at 12 games.
Starting Pitcher John Brownell: The fifth-year Duck earns his fourth consecutive nomination and is seeking his second Team MVP award (2013). The reigning Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year ranks among the league leaders in several categories once again. He currently leads the Atlantic League in innings pitched (151.1) and complete games (5) while sitting second in wins (9), third in ERA (3.21) and strikeouts (128) and fifth in games started (22). The right-handers best stretch of the season came from June 5 through August 7 when he posted 12 consecutive quality starts, compiling a 2.44 ERA in that span. Earlier this season, he became the Ducks’ all-time leader in wins (45), innings pitched (711.2) and games started (106), surpassing Randy Leek (2007-10) in all three categories.
Outfielder Delta Cleary Jr.: Nominated for a second consecutive season, the outfielder has been a key contributor to the Flock despite missing a month with a hand injury. He is tied for third in the Atlantic League with a .318 batting average. In addition, he ranks second on the Ducks in hits (108) and stolen bases (26) while ranking third in on-base percentage among qualifiers (.360). Defensively, he has committed just two errors all season while making several acrobatic catches throughout the year.
Catcher Mike Dowd: In his first season with the Flock, Dowd has posted impressive numbers at the plate. The backstop leads all Atlantic League qualifying catchers and ranks third on the Flock with a .299 batting average. He has also set career-highs in hits (89), runs (34) at bats (298) and games played (85). His three homers are one shy of his career-high, set in 2013, and his 41 RBI are just two shy of his career-high, set in 2012. Behind the plate, he has helped guide a pitching staff that has posted league-best totals in ERA (3.93), strikeouts (957) and opponents’ batting average (.260).
Relief Pitcher Patrick Crider: The second-year Duck has been one of the most dominant relief pitchers in the Atlantic League this year. The southpaw is second among all pitchers with 54 appearances and is 3-1 with a 1.20 ERA. In 37 and two-thirds innings of work, he has yielded just six runs (five earned) on 18 hits and 26 walks while striking out 33 batters. Opponents have compiled a miniscule .146 batting average against Crider. The 29-year-old did not allow a single run in his first nine outings of the season and avoided giving up an earned run in each of his first 15 games. He then went on to make 17 consecutive scoreless appearances from May 28 through July 8.
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.
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 35 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 800 players and 50 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment to metropolitan markets serving nearly 15{f7b134541f126dcd33819b5eec9a91dff238b58155023223dba97c27371a7fb5} of the US population.
For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
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