Cleary Jr. returns for third season with Ducks
(Central Islip, N.Y., March 2, 2017) – The three-time Atlantic League champion Long Island Ducks today announced the signing of outfielder Delta Cleary Jr. He begins his third season with the Ducks and 10th in professional baseball.
“Delta’s skill set in all facets of the game has made him one of the most effective players in the Atlantic League,” said Ducks President/GM Michael Pfaff. “He has impressed in each season with the club, and we are happy to have him back in the outfield.”
Cleary Jr. led the Ducks and ranked third in the Atlantic League with a career-best .321 batting average during the 2016 season. In 107 games, he amassed 52 RBI, 51 runs, 130 hits, 19 doubles and four triples. The 27-year-old also displayed blazing speed, ranking second on the team and fifth in the league with 32 stolen bases. Defensively, he led all Atlantic League qualifying outfielders with a .991 fielding percentage, committing just two errors in 215 total chances.
The Arkansas native spent the entire 2015 season with Long Island as well. His .308 batting average was third-best in the Atlantic League, and his career-high 34 stolen bases were tied for second. He finished the year with 41 RBI, 62 runs, 139 hits, 18 doubles and four triples in 115 games while also compiling a team-long 21-game hitting streak. Prior to joining the Ducks, the switch hitter spent seven seasons in the Colorado Rockies organization, reaching as high as Triple-A, and played 10 games for the Harrisburg Senators (AA, Nationals) in 2015. Cleary Jr. was originally drafted by the Rockies in the 37th round of the 2008 amateur draft.
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 36 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{2db62e8169997a8d599beca7d6013ac1e46056278d69ddd3df039f4c0be21f7d} of the US population.
For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
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