Championship-winning shortstop returns for second season with Ducks
(Central Islip, N.Y., Jan. 9, 2020) – The Long Island Ducks today announced the signing of infielder Vladimir Frias. The 2019 Atlantic League champion returns for his second season with the Flock, fourth in the Atlantic League and 13th in professional baseball.
“I’m really happy and excited for the opportunity to be a part of the Ducks for another season,” said Frias. “I had a lot of fun on and off the field last year. We had a great group of guys, got along well, and it was a special year.”
Frias spent the entire 2019 season with the Ducks after being acquired in a trade from the Lancaster Barnstormers. He played a team-high 128 games in the regular season, tying for the team-lead in triples (4) while ranking second in stolen bases (28) and at bats (417). Additionally, the Dominican Republic native totaled eight home runs, 34 RBIs, 53 runs, 99 hits and 16 doubles. Defensively, he compiled a .964 fielding percentage and ranked second among all Atlantic League shortstops in total chances (504), assists (290) and putouts (196).
The 33-year-old played in all eight of Long Island’s postseason games at shortstop as well. He led the team with a pair of stolen bases during the playoffs and ranked third with six runs scored. He batted .267 with two RBIs, eight hits, 11 total bases, one double and one triple, and he did not commit an error defensively as the Flock won the Atlantic League Championship.
Prior to joining the Ducks, Frias earned back-to-back Atlantic League All-Star Game selections with the Barnstormers in 2017 and 2018. In his two seasons with Lancaster, he compiled a .280 batting average. The Arizona Diamondbacks purchased his contract during the 2017 season, and he went on to appear in 35 games combined between Double-A Jackson and Triple-A Reno. The switch-hitter previously spent time in the San Francisco Giants (2008-09), Boston Red Sox (2010-11, ‘13) and Chicago Cubs organizations (2012) while also playing two seasons in the Frontier League with the Gateway Grizzlies (2012-13) and three in the American Association with the Kansas City T-Bones (2014-16). Frias was originally drafted by the Giants in the 30th round of the 2008 amateur draft out of Tennessee Wesleyan College.
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)
With eight teams in the Mid-Atlantic and Texas, the ALPB is a leader in baseball innovation and a player gateway to Major League Baseball. Through its exclusive partnership with MLB, the Atlantic League tests Major League Baseball rules and equipment initiatives. The Atlantic League has sent over 950 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 42 million fans to its affordable, family-friendly ballparks throughout its 22-year history.
For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
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