atlanticleague.com

Player, Pitcher, Rawlings Gold Glove Defensive Player and Manager of the Year winners announced
 

(Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 11, 2018) – The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball today announced the recipients of four 2018 post-season awards, including the league’s Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Rawlings Gold Glove Defensive Player of the Year and Manager of the Year. Results were based upon voting from league executives and club managers.

Long Island Ducks infielder Jordany Valdespin has been named the Atlantic League’s Player of the Year. The four-year Major League veteran led the Atlantic League with 154 hits, 94 runs scored and seven triples during the 2018 season while ranking second in batting average, just .0007 behind the league leader. Valdespin was also among the league’s Top 5 in several other categories, finishing second in on-base percentage (.399) and total bases (222), third in stolen base percentage (.857) and fifth in slugging percentage (.487). Additionally, he posted the longest on-base streak in the league this past season at 32 consecutive games from June 4th to July 14th. The 30-year-old was selected to play in the Atlantic League All-Star Game and was named the league’s Co-Player of the Month for April/May. Valdespin was also chosen as the league’s Post-Season All-Star second baseman earlier this week.

Lancaster Barnstormers starting pitcher Nate Reed has been chosen as the Atlantic League’s Pitcher of the Year. The southpaw led the Atlantic League with 13 wins in 2018 while posting the third-best ERA in the league at 2.75. He was tied for fifth in the league with 104 strikeouts over 22 starts. Reed finished the regular season with a 13-3 record and gave up just 35 earned runs, 92 hits and 40 walks over 114.2 innings of work. He allowed three earned runs or less in all but three starts during the year and struck out five or more batters 13 times. The 30-year-old was selected as the Atlantic League’s Pitcher of the Month on three separate occasions (April/May, August and September) and was chosen to pitch in the Atlantic League All-Star Game. Reed was also chosen as the league’s Post-Season All-Star starting pitcher.

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs infielder Edwin Garcia has been selected as the Rawlings Gold Glove Defensive Player of the Year. The second-year Blue Crab led all Atlantic League qualifying shortstops with a .979 fielding percentage in 2018. In 108 games played at the position, he committed just nine errors. Additionally, he recorded 286 assists and 129 putouts while helping turn 57 double plays. Thanks to his efforts, the Blue Crabs finished tied for the fewest errors in the league this year (92) and tied for the second-best fielding percentage in the league (.979). Garcia was chosen to play in the Atlantic League All-Star Game in July. The 27-year-old was also selected earlier this week to the Red, White and Blue All-Defensive Team at shortstop for the second consecutive season.

Sugar Land Skeeters manager Pete Incaviglia has been named the Atlantic League’s Manager of the Year. The 12-year MLB veteran guided the Skeeters to an Atlantic League-best 81-45 overall record in his first season as the club’s manager, seven games better than any other team. He also led Sugar Land to both the first and second half titles in the Freedom Division with records of 41-22 and 40-23, respectively. Under Incaviglia’s guidance, the Skeeters led the Atlantic League with a 3.14 ERA as a pitching staff and a .349 on-base percentage at the plate. Though not factored into voting, the 54-year-old led the Skeeters to their third Freedom Division Championship in team history, rallying back from a 2-1 series deficit against Lancaster, and second Atlantic League Championship.

The Atlantic League will wrap up its 2018 post-season award announcements on Monday, October 15. Among the final awards unveiled will be the Joe Klein Executive of the Year, the Ken Shepard Award for Promotional Excellence, the Ray Cipperly Award for Groundskeeping Excellence, Mascot of the Year, Ballpark of the Year, Promotion of the Year and Outstanding Club Community Service Award.

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 40 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 900 players and 70 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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