Ducks solidify 27-man Opening Day roster on final day of spring training
(Central Islip, N.Y., April 26, 2018) – The Long Island Ducks today announced its official Opening Day roster on the final day of spring training workouts. The team will begin the 2018 regular season in Waldorf, Md. this Friday, April 27, against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs at 6:35 p.m.
“We are excited about the ballclub we have put together and cannot wait to get going,” said Ducks Manager Kevin Baez. “There is a lot of veteran experience, both at the Major League level and in the Atlantic League, in our clubhouse.”
The final 27-man roster features 11 players with former Major League experience. Two lead the way with eight seasons of MLB experience (Jair Jurrjens, Travis Snider), while two others have spent parts of six seasons in “The Show” (Lew Ford, Vinnie Pestano). In addition, the roster boasts 11 returners from the 2017 Liberty Division Championship-winning squad. Three of those 11 have more than five seasons of experience in the Atlantic League, including Ford (eight years), Dan Lyons (seven) and John Brownell (six).
Three players who came to Long Island as spring training invitees have also earned a roster spot. Cody Puckett, who was limited to 33 games in 2017 before suffering a season-ending knee injury, has made the squad. He launched a two-run home run in the team’s final spring training game on Tuesday afternoon. Joining him are outfielder Robert Garcia and right-handed pitcher Jason Creasy. Both players previously earned invites to spring training after participating in the Ducks open player tryout at Bethpage Ballpark on April 14.
CLICK HERE to see the official 2018 Opening Day roster
The Ducks will officially kick off the 2018 season on Friday night when they hit the road for a three-game series against the Blue Crabs. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. from Regency Furniture Stadium. Right-hander Jair Jurrjens gets the start for the Ducks against Blue Crabs righty and former Major Leaguer Daryl Thompson.
Fans can follow all the action during every game of the 2018 season on the Long Island Ducks Broadcast Network. Live streaming HD video and audio will be available via BoxCast on the Ducks official Facebook page (Facebook.com/LIDucks), YouTube channel (YouTube.com/DucksBaseball) and at LIDucks.com in the Ducks Video Center on the homepage. In addition, fans can follow a live pitch-by-pitch account of the game via Pointstreak’s GameLive application on the Atlantic League’s official website.
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 38 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 900 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.
For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
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