Ducks Sign ML Vet Abernathy
April 7, 2008 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Long Island Ducks News Release
(Central Islip, N.Y.) - Long Island Ducks team officials today announced the signings of infielder Brent Abernathy and lefthanded pitchers Ryan Knippschild and Scott Rice. Abernathy is a veteran of four big league campaigns, and has played at the Triple-A level or higher in each of the past eight seasons. Both pitchers come to the Ducks from the Texas Rangers system, where each reached the Double-A level with Frisco of the Texas League in 2007.
"Brent gives us a good bat, speed and sound defense," says Ducks manager Dave LaPoint. "Ryan and Scott are two quality lefties who add tremendous depth to our pitching staff. All three of these guys improve our ballclub and make us better heading into Opening Day."
Abernathy made his Major League debut with Tampa Bay in 2001. He spent the next two seasons with the Devil Rays, and also appeared at the big league level with Kansas City and Minnesota. The 30-year-old is a veteran of 232 Major League contests. Abernathy was drafted in the second round by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1996, reaching Triple-A in just his fourth professional season. The Georgia native owns a .298 career average 205 stolen bases in 1,024 minor league games.
Rice pitched in the Rangers organization in 2007, appearing in eight contests for the Rookie-level Rangers of the Arizona League, Clinton (A) of the Midwest League, and Frisco (AA) of the Texas League. The 26-year-old lefty was a first round draft pick of the Orioles in 1999, taken 44th overall. The Californian reached the Triple-A level in 2006, spending the entire season with Ottawa (AAA, Orioles) of the International League. Rice posted a 3.86 ERA in 52 appearances, earning three victories. His best numbers came with Delmarva (A, Orioles) of the South Atlantic League in 2003, where he had four wins and five saves in 32 appearances to the tune of a 0.94 ERA.
California native Knippschild also worked the Rangers system last year, spending the bulk of the season with Bakersfield (A, Rangers) of the California League. He earned three victories and three saves, logging 64.1 innings in 44 relief appearances. His efforts followed a breakout campaign in 2006, when the 25-year-old notched a career-high eight victories and a 3.67 ERA while splitting time between Lake County (A, Indians) of the South Atlantic League and Kinston (A, Indians) of the Carolina League.
The Long Island Ducks play their home games at Citibank Park and are entering their ninth season of play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. For further information, visit www.liducks.com, or call (631) 940-3825.
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Atlantic League Stories from April 7, 2008
- Ducks Sign Major League Vet Abernathy - Long Island Ducks
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