Long Island adds two more to 2016 roster
(Central Islip, N.Y., Feb. 18, 2016) – The three-time Atlantic League champion Long Island Ducks today announced the signings of infielder Sean Burroughs and right-handed pitcher Dan Blewett. Burroughs returns for his second season on Long Island and third in the Atlantic League. Blewett, whose rights were acquired in a trade with the New Britain Bees in exchange for the rights of infielder Jon Griffin, enters his first season with the Ducks and third in the Atlantic League.
“Sean provided a boost to our lineup this past season and has been successful in the Atlantic League thus far,” said Ducks President/GM Michael Pfaff. “Dan had an All-Star campaign in 2015 and gives us a strong arm in our bullpen.”
Burroughs was acquired from the Bridgeport Bluefish in August of 2015 in exchange for outfielder Bryan Sabatella. He played in 37 regular season games with the Ducks and batted .366 with one home run, 24 RBI, 11 runs and seven doubles. He went on to lead all Ducks batters in the postseason with a .444 batting average, eight hits and four RBI. Overall, the California resident was the Atlantic League’s batting champion in 2015 with a .3403 batting average, narrowly edging Bridgeport’s Welington Dotel (.3396). He was also a member of the Bluefish in 2014, hitting .344 with one homer, 25 RBI, 34 runs and 16 doubles in 73 games.
The 35-year-old spent parts of seven seasons in the Major Leagues, including four with the San Diego Padres (2002-05) and one each with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2006), Arizona Diamondbacks (2011) and Minnesota Twins (2012). In 528 career games, he totaled a .278 batting average, 12 homers, 143 RBI, 187 runs, 68 doubles and 12 triples. Before playing professionally, he won back-to-back Little League World Series titles in 1992 and 1993 as a pitcher and is the only US player to throw back to back no-hitters in the Little League World Series. Burroughs was originally selected with the ninth overall pick by the Padres in the 1998 amateur draft.
Blewett earned his first Atlantic League All-Star Game selection in 2015 as a member of the Camden Riversharks. He appeared in a career-high 50 games and posted a career-low 1.80 ERA. In 50 innings of work, he struck out 59 batters while walking only 12 and collected one save. During the All-Star Game, the Illinois resident threw a perfect inning of relief, striking out two batters.
The 30-year-old also spent the 2014 season with the Riversharks. He made 40 appearances (six starts) and compiled a 5-3 record with a 4.29 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 71 and one-third innings. Prior to joining the Atlantic League, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County alum spent two seasons in the Frontier League (2010, 2012), the latter of which he was an All-Star during, and one split between the American Association and North American League (2011). Blewett enters 2015 with a 21-22 record, a 3.78 ERA and 319 strikeouts in 133 career games (48 starts).
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.
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