Winner will be announced on Fan Appreciation Day September 10

(Central Islip, N.Y., Aug. 28, 2017) – The Long Island Ducks and Delmonte-Smelson Jewelers have teamed up once again to present the 2017 Long Island Ducks MVP Award. Fans can vote once per day from now through Saturday, September 9 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 Bridgeport Bluefish on Sunday, September 10, which is Fan Appreciation Day, presented by Pepsi.

The following are this year’s nominees, listed alphabetically by last name (stats through August 27):

Infielder Giovanny Alfonzo: The first-year Duck has been one of Long Island’s most consistent hitters this season. He leads the team with a .295 batting average and has added three home runs, 40 RBI, 32 runs, 11 double and a triple. The 24-year-old came out of the gates swinging, putting together an eight-game hitting streak from May 9-20 and a nine-game hitting streak from June 14-27. He has also totaled a team-leading two four-hit games this season and overall has 20 multi-hit games and seven multi-RBI contests. The Florida resident drove in the game-winning run during back-to-back waddle-off wins May 19 and 20 vs. Somerset.

Starting Pitcher John Brownell: The sixth-year Duck earns his fifth consecutive nomination and is seeking his second Team MVP award (2013). The all-time franchise leader in wins, games started, innings pitched and strikeouts garnered his first-ever Atlantic League All-Star selection this year and has put together another strong season on the mound. He is currently tied for the third-most wins in the league with nine, compared to just three losses, and ranks third in earned run average at 3.34. In 126 and two-thirds innings over 21 starts, the righty has struck out 82 batters while walking 42, and opponents are hitting just .264 against him this season. He’s also been excellent in key situations, with opponents hitting a mere .181 against him with runners in scoring position and .190 with runners in scoring position and two outs.

Relief Pitcher Amalio Diaz: Diaz has been one of the most dominant relievers in the Atlantic League this season. In addition to earning his first Atlantic League All-Star selection, he has been a force at the back end of the Ducks’ bullpen. The right-hander has appeared in 50 games for Long Island and has a 4-4 record with a 2.18 ERA and 13 saves. Over 49 and one-third innings of work, he has surrendered just 12 earned runs and 20 walks while striking out 56 batters. Diaz began the year with eight straight scoreless appearances and then had a streak of 14 consecutive outings with yielding an earned run from May 21 to June 24.

Outfielder Marc Krauss: Krauss has showcased a tremendous bat during his first season with the Flock, especially in the second half of the season. The outfielder currently is tied for eighth in the Atlantic League with a .294 batting average and ranks second in runs batted in (78) and on-base percentage (.402), third in walks (65) and slugging percentage (.528), fourth in runs scored (67), and fifth in extra-base hits (47) and home runs (19). He is tied for the team lead in doubles with 26 and has committed just two errors all season.

Starting Pitcher Matt Larkins: In his first full season with the Flock, Larkins has been an innings eater on the mound. He leads the Flock and ranks fifth in the Atlantic League with 133 and one-third innings pitched this year. He also is tied for the league lead in shutouts (2) while ranking second in complete games (3). The righty is 7-6 in 2017 with the league’s fifth-best ERA (3.65) and fourth-most strikeouts (113). He came within three outs of a no-hitter on June 15 at Somerset and tossed a complete game, one-hit shutout against Lancaster on July 5. That same day, the 28-year-old struck out a career-high 10 batters, only to surpass that feat with 12 strikeouts on August 16 in a complete game win at Somerset. 11 of Larkins’ 22 starts this season have been quality starts.

Infielder Angelo Songco: The slugger picked up Atlantic League All-Star honors in his first season as a member of the league. His 20 home runs lead the Flock and rank fourth in the league this year. In 110 games, he has compiled a .257 batting average along with 67 RBI, 60 runs, 16 doubles and one triple. The 28-year-old put together a 16-game on-base streak from May 8-24 and also later competed in the Atlantic League’s Home Run Derby prior to the All-Star Game on July 12. Songco has also been a strong defender this season, committing just one error despite spending time at first base and in the outfield.

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 37 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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