Longest-tenured Duck becomes second to reach plateau
(Central Islip, N.Y., Aug. 3, 2013) – During Saturday’s 8-6 walk-off victory by the Long Island Ducks over the York Revolution, Ray Navarrete hit a solo home run to left field in the seventh inning to record the 1,000th hit of his Atlantic League career. He becomes the second player in league history and first in franchise history to reach the 1,000-hit milestone, joining former Somerset Patriot Jeff Nettles.
GAME VIDEO: Ray Navarrete launches the 1,000th hit of his Atlantic League career
POSTGAME VIDEO: Navarrete, Kevin Baez and Adam Bailey talk about the milestone hit
“You can’t have a conversation about the greatest players in Atlantic League history without Ray Navarrete,” says Ducks president and general manager Michael Pfaff. “He’s done it all, and we’re proud he’s done almost all of it as a Long Island Duck.”
Navarrete, who has announced that he will retire at the end of the 2013 season, has played nine seasons in the Atlantic League, including the last eight with the Ducks (2006-2013). He is the franchise’s all-time leader in hits (932), home runs (133), runs batted in (534), runs scored (586), doubles (240) and games played (826). On Wednesday night, the 35-year-old played in his 900th game in Atlantic League history, joining Nettles (1,006) as the only two players in league history to reach that milestone.
Since joining the Atlantic League in 2005, Navarrete has earned a variety of accolades. He was selected as an Atlantic League All-Star a team-record five times (2007-10, ‘12) and was chosen as the league’s Player of the Year in 2009. Last season, he led the Ducks to their second-ever Atlantic League championship and was a member of the Somerset Patriots team that won the league title in 2005. He currently holds the Atlantic League record for most doubles in a single season with 50 in 2012 and is tied for the league record in games played in a single season with 139 in 2009.
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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