Jose Brizuela Signs with the New York Mets
June 7, 2018 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
FLORENCE, Ky - Three weeks in to the 2018 Frontier League season, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, announced on Wednesday that utility infielder, Jose Brizuela has signed a contract with the New York Mets organization and will be deployed to their Short-Season A affiliate, the Brooklyn Cyclones.
Brizuela was hitting .234 with 4 home runs at the time of his signing, and his 18 runs batted in were good for fifth most in all of the Frontier League. No stranger to affiliated baseball, the Florida State alum was whisked away from Florence on August 8, 2017 by the Los Angeles Dodgers where he hit .353 (18-51) with four doubles over 16 games for the Advanced A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
"Jose is probably the most deserving guy to get this opportunity," said fourth year Freedom manager, Dennis Pelfrey, "Brizuela is a pure hitter and has become more athletic so he can play multiple positions in the infield and will hit at any level."
Originally a 46th round draft choice of the Cincinnati Reds out of Archbishop McCarthy high school (Southwest Ranches, FL) in 2011, Brizuela opted to play at Florida State (Tallahassee, FL) where he was again drafted after the 2014 season in the 16th round by the Oakland A's. While a member of the A's organization, the native of Maracay, Venezuela ascended as high as the Advanced A Stockton Ports in 2015 and 2016 before joining the Florence Freedom in the Frontier League for the 2017 season.
Brizuela becomes the third Freedom player to sign with the New York Mets in the last calendar year, joining relief pitcher Matt Pobereyko and southpaw starter Marty Anderson. In total, the Florence Freedom organization has sent thirty seven players to affiliated baseball, including four in 2017 alone.
"He is definitely a guy we can't replace," Pelfrey attested, "But we wish nothing but the best for Jose."
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