Former Somerset Patriots Pitcher Donovan Hand Signed By New York Mets

Bridgewater, NJ- Former Somerset Patriots right-handed pitcher Donovan Hand has been signed by the New York Mets to a minor league deal.

Last season for Somerset, Hand pitched 103 innings over 24 games and struck out 77 batters before leaving the team at the start of the playoffs for personal reasons.

Prior to joining Somerset, Hand had two years of service at the Major League level, most recently with the Cincinnati Reds in 2015.  The 6’3” hurler also spent the majority of the 2013 season in the big leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he posted 3.69 ERA over 31 appearances (seven starts). Hand owns a career 3.53 ERA over 71.1 innings of work in the Majors.

The Tecumseh, Alabama native spent the first eight seasons of his professional career in the Brewers organization before playing in the Reds organization in 2015.

Hand set career highs in saves (13) and strikeouts (71) with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds in 2014. Additionally, he carried an ERA in Triple-A below 4.00 from 2011-2013.

He was the 14^th-round draft pick of the Brewers in 2007.

Hand is the ninth member of the 2016 Somerset Patriots team to join a Major League organization. Starting pitcher Darin Gorski (New York Mets) along with relief pitchers Gus Schlosser (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Brandon Sisk (Seattle Mariners) all had their contracts purchased during the season. Infielder David Vidal (Miami Marlins) and pitchers Nik Turley (Minnesota Twins), Alexis Candelario (Los Angeles Dodgers), Jim Miller (Minnesota Twins) and Jeremy Bleich (Arizona Diamondbacks) were all signed earlier this offseason.

Tickets to the 2017 Somerset Patriots Season presented by Ford, which includes the team’s 20th Anniversary, are on sale now. TD Bank Ballpark will be the host of the 2017 Atlantic League All-Star Game presented by RWJBarnabas Health and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey on Wednesday, July 12^th. For more information, stop by the ballpark, call (908) 252-0700, or visit www.somersetpatriots.com.

About The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 36 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 800 players and 50 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment to metropolitan markets serving nearly 15% of the US population.

For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.

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