Ducks Sign MLB Outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis
March 19, 2019 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Long Island Ducks News Release
(Central Islip, N.Y.) - The Long Island Ducks today announced the signing of outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis. The six-year MLB veteran enters his first season with Long Island and 12th in professional baseball.
"I am very excited to reunite with Kirk on Long Island," said Ducks Manager Wally Backman. "It was a pleasure working together while I managed in the Mets organization, and he will certainly help bolster our lineup."
Nieuwenhuis spent four of his six seasons in the Major Leagues with the New York Mets (2012-15), also suiting up with the Los Angeles Angels (2015) and Milwaukee Brewers (2016-17). He appeared in 414 MLB games, compiling 31 home runs, 117 RBIs, 128 runs, 59 doubles, 20 stolen bases and a .986 fielding percentage. The California native hit .252 with seven homers and 28 RBIs over 91 games during his first season in The Show.
In 2015, Nieuwenhuis helped the Mets reach the World Series after playing in 64 games with the club. On July 12th of that year, he launched three home runs in a single game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field, becoming the 10th player in Mets history to accomplish the feat but the first to do so in a home game. The 31-year-old's best MLB season came in 2016 with the Brewers. He appeared in 125 games, accruing 13 home runs, 44 RBIs, 38 runs, 18 doubles and 56 walks.
The Azusa Pacific University alum spent the 2018 season with Triple-A Tacoma in the Seattle Mariners organization, totaling four homers, 31 RBIs, 39 runs, 17 doubles and 48 walks over 80 games. During his previous minor league experience, "Captain Kirk" was named an MiLB.com Organization All-Star and a Mid-Season Eastern League All-Star with the Mets in 2010. He also earned both Mid-Season and Post-Season Florida State League All-Star honors in 2009. Nieuwenhuis was originally selected by the Mets in the third round of the 2008 amateur draft.
The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Bethpage Ballpark. For further information, call (631) 940-DUCK or visit www.liducks.com.
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