Bridgewater, NJ – The Somerset Patriots have announced the signing of infielder Tyler Bortnick for the 2017 season. “Baseball has always been my passion, so going into this season it is ‘business as usual,’” said Bortnick. “This game is everything to me; it is all I think about. I am ready to come in [to Somerset] and get things started.” Bortnick enters his first season with the Somerset Patriots and second in the Atlantic League. He previously spent 52 games with the Lancaster Barnstormers in 2015, sandwiched around 65 games in the Seattle Mariners organization that season as well. Bortnick combined to hit .277 with three home runs, 50 RBI and 16 stolen bases between Lancaster and Double-A Jackson that season. The Mentor, Ohio native spent 2016 in the Detroit Tigers organization, splitting time between High-A Lakeland, Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo. Overall, Bortnick hit .277 with six home runs, 34 RBI and seven stolen bases. Prior to joining the Barnstormers in 2015, Bortnick had spent the previous three seasons in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization at Triple-A Reno. His best season came in 2013, where the utility infielder batted .291 with 33 RBI and 19 stolen bases over 88 games. Earlier in his career, Bortnick enjoyed two seasons in which he stole over 40 bases (2010 and 2011). His 43 steals with High-A Charlotte in 2011 led the Florida State League. “Tyler is a guy you just need to have on your team,” said Somerset Patriots manager Brett Jodie. “He is a solid player who does a lot of things well. He can handle the stick well and puts pressure on the defense with what he can do on the base paths. Tyler is also a very good fielder and we look for him to help us up the middle and some at third. He will be a huge part of our team this year and we are thrilled to have him join the Patriots.” Originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2009, Bortnick was traded to the Diamondbacks in 2012 in a straight-up deal for Major League infielder Ryan Roberts. The Coastal Carolina University alumnus owns a .278 career batting average with 39 home runs, 370 RBI and 197 stolen bases in his eight-year minor league career. Tickets to the 2017 Somerset Patriots Season presented by Ford, which includes the team’s 20th Anniversary and the Atlantic League All-Star Game at TD Bank Ballpark, are on sale now. For more information, stop by TD Bank 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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