Ducks sign former Major Leaguer, nephew of Edgardo Alfonzo

(Central Islip, N.Y., April 4, 2017) – The three-time Atlantic League champion Long Island Ducks today announced the signings of infielders Nate Freiman and Giovanny Alfonzo. Freiman begins his second season with the Ducks and ninth in professional baseball. Alfonzo, who is the nephew of former Duck/MLB veteran Edgardo Alfonzo and the son of longtime minor leaguer Edgar Alfonzo, enters his first year with Long Island and third in professional baseball.

“Nate adds both a power bat to the middle of our lineup,” said Ducks President/GM Michael Pfaff. “Giovanny is a versatile infielder, and we are excited to add both to the roster.”

Freiman originally joined the Ducks in April of 2016. He played six games for the Flock and batted .381 (8-for-21) with two home runs, four RBI, five runs and one double. His contract was then purchased by the Boston Red Sox organization, making him the first of six Ducks players who had their contracts purchased by outside clubs during the season. The Washington, DC native went on to play 90 games with Double-A Portland and hit .277 with 11 homers, 60 RBI, 39 runs, 17 doubles and two triples.

The 30-year-old spent two seasons in the Major Leagues with the Oakland Athletics (2013-14). In 116 MLB games, he compiled a .256 batting average, nine home runs, 39 RBI and 13 doubles. He was also named the American League’s Rookie of the Month in May of 2013 after batting .351 with nine RBI during the month. The Duke University alum was a member of Team Israel during the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He batted .273 with two homers, six RBI, seven runs and two doubles during the tournament, helping Israel win their pool during the first round in Seoul and advance to the second round in Tokyo. Freiman was originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in the eighth round of the 2009 amateur draft.

Alfonzo joins the Ducks after spending two seasons in the Miami Marlins organization. He played 66 games for the Single-A Greensboro Bats of the South Atlantic League in 2016 and batted .222 with two home runs, 14 RBI, 12 runs and six doubles. His season included two longballs in a three-game span between July 22 and 25 as well as three consecutive multi-hit games from July 29 to 31.

The 24-year-old appeared in 60 games for Single-A Batavia of the New York-Penn League in 2015. He turned in a .245 batting average with 20 RBI, 17 runs, six doubles and eight stolen bases that season. Defensively, he has played all four infield positions during his career and has accrued a .960 fielding percentage. The Venezuela native played his collegiate baseball at Florida State University and the University of Tampa and combined to hit .298 with 11 homers, 107 RBI, 129 runs and 31 doubles over four seasons. Alfonzo was originally drafted by the Marlins in the 21st round of the 2015 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, 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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