Long Island Ducks shortstop honored with inaugural award
(Denver, CO, April 28, 2016) – On Thursday, April 28, Atlantic League President Rick White and Rawlings Sporting Goods representative Jon Mauchan were at Bethpage Ballpark in Central Islip, N.Y. to help present Long Island Ducks shortstop Dan Lyons with the league’s inaugural Rawlings Gold Glove Defensive Player of the Year award. The right-hander was announced as the recipient of the honor in October, 2015 after voting from club managers and executives.
“Dan is a noteworthy first recipient of this award and has worked hard to become an excellent all-around player,” said White. “We are thrilled to have Rawlings bestow an honor like this in the Atlantic League and thank them for attending this historic presentation. We could not have selected a more deserving player than Dan to receive this honor.”
Lyons posted one of the best defensive seasons of his professional career in 2015. Among all other shortstops with at least 100 games played in the ALPB, he posted the highest fielding percentage (.976) and recorded the second-most assists (355) and putouts (183). In addition, he committed only 13 errors in 124 games at the position, a decrease in 10 errors from the previous season. The 31-year-old continued to show impressive range, routinely making plays to his left and right and showcasing one of the strongest arms among all Atlantic League infielders.
“It’s an incredible honor to present the first Rawlings Gold Glove Award in Atlantic League history to Dan, such an accomplished athlete,” said Mike Thompson, Executive Vice President, Marketing of Rawlings Sporting Goods. “The award has become the industry standard in recognizing defensive greatness in professional baseball.”
The Minnesota native represented the Liberty Division in the 2015 Atlantic League All-Star Game. Following the season, he was chosen as the shortstop on the Atlantic League’s year-end All-Star Team as well as the league’s inaugural Red, White and Blue All-Defensive team. Lyons first joined the Ducks in 2011, and in six seasons with the club thus far, he has totaled a .260 batting average, 500 hits, 239 RBI, 282 runs, 85 doubles, 28 triples and an .840 stolen base percentage over 581 games. His 28 triples rank ninth in Atlantic League history, just nine shy of Chris Walker’s (Camden, York) all-time record. Defensively, he has accrued a .968 fielding percentage, playing all but 11 games in the field.
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 34 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 800 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 to metropolitan markets serving nearly 15% of the US population.
For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
About Rawlings Sporting Goods
Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods worldwide. Founded in 1887, Rawlings is an authentic global sports brand, trusted by generations of athletes of all skill levels. Rawlings' unparalleled quality, innovative engineering and expert craftsmanship are the fundamental reasons why more professional athletes, national governing bodies and sports leagues choose Rawlings. Rawlings is the Official Ball Supplier and Batting Helmet of Major League Baseball®, the official baseball of Minor League Baseball™ and the NCAA®, and the approved baseball, basketball, football and softball of the National High School Federation®. For more information, please visit Rawlings.com or by phone at (314) 819-2800.
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