Long Island Adds Trio of Players
(Central Islip, N.Y., March 1, 2010) – Long Island Ducks team officials today announced the signing of outfielders Dustan Mohr, Johnny Hernandez and catcher Tom Pennino.
“It’s exciting to see our team take shape,” says Ducks general manager Michael Pfaff. “All three players are important additions to our club.”
Mississippi native Mohr plays in his 14th season of professional baseball, first in the Atlantic League and first with the Ducks. The former big leaguer spent last season with the Wichita Wingnuts of the American Association, batting .290 with 13 home runs, 12 doubles and 73 RBI. The 33-year-old has enjoyed seven stops in the Major Leagues with five different organizations (Twins, Giants, Red Sox, Rockies and Rays), earning his first call-up in 2001 at the age of 25 with the Twins.
Mohr is a veteran of 504 big league contests and owns a career .249 batting average with 49 home runs and 156 RBI. His best season came in 2002, when he batted .269 with 12 homers and 45 RBI with the Twins. The outfielder has also played parts of four seasons at the Triple-A level with the Rockies, Tigers, Red Sox and Rays. He has amassed 108 homers and 523 RBI in 866 minor leagues games. Mohr played collegiate baseball at the University of Alabama and was selected in the 9th round of the 1997 draft by the Cleveland Indians.
Brooklyn-born Hernandez returns to the Ducks for his second season. In 2009, the switch-hitter enjoyed an All-Star year, batting .275 with nine home runs and 52 RBI in 132 games. The 30-year-old made his Atlantic League debut in 2007 as a member of the Bridgeport Bluefish, hitting .299 with nine doubles, four triples and 27 runs scored in just 39 games. Hernandez was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers out of Xaverian High School in 1997, but spent all his time in affiliated ball with the St. Louis organization. His best year came in 2002 while playing for Potomac (A, Cardinals) in the Carolina League. Hernandez hit .283 that season, and set career marks for games played (139), hits (141), runs (54), doubles (24), triples (5) and RBI (62).Hernandez was selected by the Dodgers in the fourth round of the 1997 entry draft.
Pennino enters his 4th season of professional baseball and first in the Atlantic League. The Long Island native last played in 2008 with the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League where he set career highs in AVG (.278), RBI (33), home runs (3), hits (60) and total bases (80). The 25-year-old made his professional baseball debut in 2006 with the Otters. He accumulated 7 home runs, 60 RBI and 11 doubles in three seasons and racked up an impressive 40% caught stealing percentage in 175 games behind the plate.
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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