Ducks Ink All-Time Duck
(Central Islip, N.Y., Feb. 1, 2010) –The Long Island Ducks today announced their first signing of the 2010 season, inking 2009 Atlantic League MVP Ray Navarrete. Navarrete returns for a fifth season after enjoying a career year in 2009.
“It’s exciting to see our team start to take shape for 2010,” says Ducks general manager Michael Pfaff. “Ray is a terrific player who helps make the Ducks winners on the field as we enter our 11th Season.”
Navarrete appeared in an Atlantic League record 139 games, setting five single-season Ducks’ records with games played (139), at-bats (531), runs (106), hits (164) and extra-base hits (66). He also set franchise records in home runs (72) and doubles (129). He led the league in RBI (96), hits, runs, extra-base hits and doubles (39), while finishing second in home runs (25), fifth in on-base percentage (.403) and third in slugging percentage (.531).
The 31-year-old’s efforts have earned him trips to the Atlantic League All-Star Game each of the past three years, while simultaneously helping lead the Ducks into postseason play. The Seton Hall alum, a career .287 hitter in 1,112 minor league games, was originally signed as a nondrafted free agent by Pittsburgh in 2000.
The Long Island Ducks play their home games at Citibank Park in Central Islip, NY and are entering their 11th season of play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Through 10 seasons, the team has averaged 6,077 fans per game in their 6,002-seat park. For further information, visit www.liducks.com or call 631-940-DUCK.
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