The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Bridgewater, NJ – The Somerset Patriots have announced the signing of outfielder Carlos Guzman.
“Somerset is a first-class organization,” Guzman said. “I talked to [manager] Brett [Jodie] and will be playing mostly right field, but I can help out any way that they need me. I am just happy to come over and start playing.”
Guzman enters his first season with the Somerset Patriots and third in the Atlantic League. He previously played briefly for the York Revolution and the Road Warriors in 2011 before spending all of 2015 with the Camden Riversharks.
The Brooklyn, New York native played in 135 games with the Riversharks last season (second-most in the league). He ranked third in the league in RBI (76), seventh in stolen bases (23), eighth in hits (140) and ninth in batting average (.276). He also tallied 10 home runs, 27 doubles and led the league among right fielders in outfield assists (10).
Guzman spent the first five years of his professional career in the New York Mets organization, reaching as high as Double-A Binghamton from 2009-2011. He spent the next three seasons in the Can-Am league, including a year with the New Jersey Jackals (2012) and a year with the Newark Bears (2013).
“Carlos was a very tough out for us last year and we are extremely excited to have him on our side now,” manager Brett Jodie said. “Carlos is very athletic, can play all three outfield spots and corner infield as well, if necessary. He possesses a very strong and accurate throwing arm as well. Guzman truly has all of the tools necessary to be a great ball player.”
The switch-hitter owns a .269 batting average with 62 home runs, 382 RBI, 132 doubles, and 64 stolen bases over his nine-year career.
Guzman was acquired in a trade from the New Britain Bees, who received catcher/infielder James Skelton.
The Somerset Patriots won their Atlantic League leading sixth championship during the 2015 season. Tickets are now on-sale for the upcoming 2016 season and the schedule can be viewed at www.somersetpatriots.com. For more information or to purchase tickets for the 2016 season, 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 is the most innovative league in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball. In the league’s 18-year history, over 34 million fans have attended ALPB games and more than 800 players have joined MLB organizations. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcases the talent of top-caliber players and offers affordable family entertainment to metropolitan markets serving nearly 15% of the US population. ALPB clubs serve the communities of Bridgeport and New Britain, Conn., Lancaster and York, Pa., Central Islip, N.Y., Bridgewater, N.J., Waldorf, Md., and Sugar Land, Texas. For more information, please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com
