2011 Atlantic League champion joins Flock
(Central Islip, N.Y., Aug. 16, 2012) – The Long Island Ducks today announced that right-handed pitcher Mike Loree has been signed by the Lamigo Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan. Loree becomes the seventh Duck to be signed by an outside organization this year (Mitch Canham, Cardinals; Mike Rivera, Red Sox; Ryan Garko, Rays; Lew Ford, Orioles; Jon Meloan, Yankees; Randy Keisler, Goyang Wonders).
“Mike has been a valuable member of our starting rotation,” says Ducks manager Kevin Baez. “We will miss having him on our roster, but we wish him luck in Taiwan.”
In a corresponding roster move, the Ducks agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Jino Gonzalez. He begins his first year with the Ducks, second in the Atlantic League and is scheduled to join the club during the upcoming homestand.
Gonzalez was member of the York Revolution when they won the 2011 Atlantic League championship. In four starts during the regular season, the southpaw went 2-1 with a 4.30 ERA and 25 strikeouts to just four walks. He also spent time last year with Lake County of the North American League and Lincoln of the American Association. In 15 games (14 starts), he combined to go 7-1 with a 2.02 ERA, striking out 64 batters and walking just 19.
The 29-year-old played the first six seasons of his career in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, reaching as high as Double-A Montgomery in 2008. A native of Las Vegas, he has a career record of 50-49 with a 4.34 ERA and 625 strikeouts in 218 games (121 starts). Gonzalez was drafted by Tampa Bay in the 46th round of the 2002 amateur draft.
Loree, the 2011 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year, compiled a 3.00 ERA in five starts following the All-Star Break this season, striking out 35 batters while walking just nine in 33 innings pitched. The righty also took a no-hitter into the seventh inning on August 7 against Sugar Land, finishing with nine strikeouts over seven shutout innings.
A year ago, the New Jersey native set franchise records in wins (14) and strikeouts (131) in a single season. Those totals, along with a league-best 1.98 ERA, earned him the league’s pitching Triple Crown. In two seasons with the Ducks, Loree has combined to go 19-12 with a 3.33 ERA and 220 strikeouts in 227 innings.
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.
###