Miners Bring Back Gates for 2016
February 10, 2016 - Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
Southern Illinois Miners Center Fielder Aaron Gates
(Southern Illinois Miners, Credit: Quentin Shaw)
Marion, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Miners are pleased to announce the return of all-star center fielder Aaron Gates to the club for the team's 2016 tenth anniversary season.
A native of Villa Park, California, Gates is coming off a tremendous season in 2015 in which he hit .316 with 17 doubles, seven triples, seven home runs, 41 RBIs and 115 total hits as well as 73 runs scored and 11 stolen bases in 15 attempts. Playing in all but one game on the season, he was one of six Miners players to be named to the 2015 Frontier League All-Star game, with his batting average not once dropping below .302. He ended up leading the Frontier League in triples and was third in runs scored as well as top-10 in the circuit in walks, with 54 against only 53 strikeouts.
Gates came to the Miners for the 2014 season, hitting .289 with 15 doubles, 10 homers, 59 RBIs and 91 total hits in 90 games. Prior to his time in Southern Illinois, Gates played with the Rio Grande Valley Whitewings of the United League and also at Single-A Charleston in the New York Yankees organization following a collegiate career at Pepperdine University and Concordia University - Irvine.
"Aaron was a free agent and could have chosen to go anywhere, so we are glad he chose to return to Southern Illinois," Miners manager Mike Pinto said. "He has had two tremendous seasons for us and has built on each season. Aaron plays the game with an all-out style of play that our fans have come to really appreciate as much as our staff does. There are a lot of little things that go into winning games and Aaron also does those very well. It's great to have him back with us."
Images from this story
 Southern Illinois Miners Center Fielder Aaron Gates (Quentin Shaw) |
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