Somerset Patriots Sign Major League Southpaw Keith Hessler

Bridgewater, NJ– The Somerset Patriots have announced the signing of Major League left-handed pitcher Keith Hessler.

Hessler enters his first season with the Somerset Patriots and his first in the Atlantic League. 

In 2015, the Silver Spring, Maryland native made his Major League debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 8^th. He appeared in 18 games with the Diamondbacks that year, striking out 12 batters over 12 and 1/3 innings.

Hessler has split time between the AAA and MLB level since 2015 between the the Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres. Arguably the most impressive season of his professional career came with San Diego in 2016, appearing in 15 MLB games, while maintaining a 3.38 ERA to go along with nine strikeouts in 18.2 innings.

This season, Hessler began his 2017 campaign with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas in the Padres organization. The left-hander struck out 36 batters in 45.1 innings while maintaining a 4.57 ERA over 41 appearances with the team.

Hessler was orginially drafted by the Diamondbacks in the 28^th round of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Coastal Carolina Unviversity. The Padres claimed Hessler off of waivers from Arizona in May of 2016.

Over the course of his seven-year professional career, Hessler has appeared in 304 games (35 starts), with 27 wins and seven saves while striking out 523 batters over 523.0 career innings and owning a 4.16 ERA.

Hessler is expected to join the team and be activated during the series against the Lancaster Barnstormers this week.

Tickets to the 2017 Somerset Patriots Season presented by Ford, which includes the team’s 20th Anniversary, are on sale now. 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 37 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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