Catcher voted Team MVP; Outfielder named Whistle Player of Year
(Central Islip, N.Y., Sept. 11, 2016) – The Long Island Ducks announced the winners of two team awards prior to their final regular season home game on Sunday, September 11. Catcher Mike Dowd was voted as the team’s Most Valuable Player, presented by Delmonte-Smelson Jewelers, and outfielder Fehlandt Lentini earned P.C. Richard and Son Whistle Player of the Year honors.
“Both Mike and Fehlandt have been big contributors to our roster this year at the plate and in the field,” says Ducks President/GM Michael Pfaff. “They are both extremely deserving of these honors, and we appreciate all the hard work that they have put in this season.”
Dowd received the most selections during fan voting at LIDucks.com for the team’s MVP award. In his first season with the Flock, he has posted impressive numbers at the plate. The catcher leads all Atlantic League qualifying catchers with a .293 batting average. He has also set career-highs in hits (92), runs (36), at bats (314) and games played (90). 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 is tied for the lowest opponents’ batting average (.255) and ranks second in earned run average (3.92) and strikeouts (1,013). For being voted the team MVP, Dowd received a luxury wristwatch, courtesy of Delmonte-Smelson Jewelers.
Lentini earned P.C. Richard and Son Whistle Player of the Year honors for scoring the most runs in games which he was designated as the Whistle Player of the Game. He has dented home plate seven times in 15 games as the Whistle Player. Overall, the outfielder leads the Atlantic League with 98 runs this season, a whopping 18 more than any other player. In addition, he leads the league in at bats (534), games played (132), hits (166) and doubles (38) while ranking second in stolen bases (47), total bases (241), extra-base hits (52) and stolen base percentage (.904). By winning the Whistle Player of the Year competition, Lentini received a $500 gift card, courtesy of P.C. Richard and Son.
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.
###