Franchise Home Run Leader, 2012 Champion Returns
April 17, 2018 - American Association (AA)
Winnipeg Goldeyes News Release
WINNIPEG, MB - The Winnipeg Goldeyes signed third baseman Josh Mazzola on Monday.
Mazzola is the Goldeyes' all-time leader in home runs (70) having played for the club from 2012-15, and returns to Winnipeg after spending the previous two seasons with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. Last year, Mazzola played in all 100 regular season games for the RedHawks, hitting .239 with 15 home runs and 57 RBI. The San Diego, California native was an American Association All-Star for the RedHawks in 2016, batting .259 with 20 home runs and a league-best 78 RBI. Defensively, Mazzola compiled a stellar .955 fielding percentage in 192 games at third base with Fargo-Moorhead. Mazzola ranks second all-time in American Association history in career home runs (105), third in RBI (404), 10th in base hits (613), and has played in a remarkable 594 of a possible 599 games during his six years in the league.
"I'm pleased to have Josh back in Winnipeg," said Goldeyes' manager Rick Forney. "Josh has been a proven run producer since joining the American Association. His defensive versatility also provides us with more lineup options versus left- or right-handed starting pitchers."
Mazzola first joined the Goldeyes in 2012 where he helped the club win its first championship in 18 years. The 32-year-old third baseman tied for third in the American Association with 18 regular season home runs before posting a .400 batting average in the playoffs. In Game Two of the American Association Division Series at Fargo-Moorhead (September 6th), Mazzola smacked two home runs, including the game-winning, two-run shot in the top of the eighth that propelled the Goldeyes to a 5-3 come-from-behind win (as well as a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series). The game-winning home run came off American Association Reliever of the Year Tom Boleska . Mazzola had accounted for the only home run against Boleska during the regular season. In the Goldeyes' championship clinching game at Wichita on September 14th, Mazzola collected three hits, scored two runs, and received the final putout in the bottom of the ninth. Following the game, Mazzola presented the baseball to Forney.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Mazzola recorded 60-plus RBI in each of the next three seasons for the Goldeyes, and led the American Association with 20 home runs in 2015. On July 26th, 2015 at Kansas City, Mazzola passed former Goldeyes' great Terry Lee for the franchise home run record. A right-handed hitter and fielder, Mazzola also ranks third in Goldeyes' history in RBI (269) and fourth in slugging percentage (.505, minimum 1,000 plate appearances). In addition to his time at third base, Mazzola has seen extensive action at first base, shortstop, and the outfield in a Goldeyes' uniform.
Mazzola originally signed with the San Francisco Giants' organization as a non-drafted free agent out of Missouri State University (Springfield, Missouri) in 2008. In 10 years of professional baseball, Mazzola has helped his team to a winning record nine times, including six playoff berths and three championships. Mazzola owns a career .276 batting average, a .351 on-base percentage, and a .477 slugging percentage, while averaging 103 runs scored, 37 doubles, 26 home runs, and 108 RBI per 162 games played. With 917 career base hits, Mazzola is 83 hits shy of 1,000 as a professional. Mazzola is a lifetime .282 hitter in 961 at bats with runners in scoring position.
The Goldeyes now have 24 players under contract for the 2018 season. American Association clubs may carry up to 28 players during spring training, which begins May 5th.
2018 Winnipeg Goldeyes Signings
CF Reggie Abercrombie
1B/DH David Bergin
RHP Edwin Carl
RHP Victor Capellan
LHP Zack Dodson
2B Jordan Ebert
C Kevin Garcia
RHP Zach Hartman
OF Grant Heyman
LHP Kenny Mathews
3B Josh Mazzola
IF Matt McCann
LHP Kevin McGovern
RHP Cameron McVey
OF Ty Moore
OF Jonathan Moroney
RHP Marshall Pautsch
1B/OF Reynaldo Rodriguez
RHP Charle Rosario
IF Jose Sermo
SS Andrew Sohn
RHP Cody Strayer
C Gavin Stupienski
OF Dalton Wheat
Notes: Luis Alen is the Goldeyes' all-time leader in RBI (347)...Harry Berrios ranks second (319)...John Allen ranks second on the American Association career RBI list (445), while Reggie Abercrombie ranks first (474)...Abercrombie also tops the American Association's career home run list (115)...in 212 career games at Shaw Park, Mazzola is a .288 hitter with 40 home runs and 144 RBI...Mazzola compiled a career-high 19-game hitting streak while playing for the Goldeyes in 2012...Mazzola's composite .955 fielding percentage at third base the past two seasons ranks second in the American Association...St. Paul's Nate Hanson ranks first during that same period (.965)...in 30 head-to-head games against the Goldeyes, Mazzola hit .318 with 24 runs scored, eight home runs, and 27 RBI...in 135 combined career games against the RedHawks and Saints, Mazzola is a .273 hitter with 24 home runs and 86 RBI...Mazzola's three professional championships came with the Giants' Rookie Arizona League affiliate (2008), the High-A California League's San Jose Giants (2010), and the Goldeyes (2012)
The Winnipeg Goldeyes open the 2018 season on May 18th on the road against the Cleburne Railroaders. The Goldeyes' 2018 home opener is Friday, May 25th versus the Sioux Falls Canaries at Shaw Park. Season tickets, 10-game mini packs, and group outings for the 2018 season are on sale now. For more information, call the Goldeyes' office at (204) 982-BASE, or visit the Goldeyes' official website at www.goldeyes.com.
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American Association Stories from April 17, 2018
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- Franchise Home Run Leader, 2012 Champion Returns - Winnipeg Goldeyes
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