The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Bridgewater, NJ – The Somerset Patriots have announced that left-handed pitcher Aaron Laffey’s contract has been purchased by the New York Mets. Laffey is expected to report to Triple-A.
Laffey was 2-0 with a 3.10 ERA and 13 strikeouts over 20.1 innings pitched in four starts for Somerset this season. 2018 was his second season with the Somerset Patriots and in the Atlantic League.
The southpaw carried a 1-1 record with a 2.82 ERA over four starts with the Somerset Patriots last year, including five shutout innings with seven strikeouts in his first start of the year. He struck out 19 batters over 22 innings before his contract was purchased by the Arizona Diamondbacks organization on May 15. He went 5-3 over 21 appearances (13 starts) with Triple-A Reno to finish his 2017 season.
The Ridgeley, West Virginia resident has eight years of service in the big leagues, including four seasons with the Cleveland Indians (2007-10), half of a season split between the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees (2011) and time with the Toronto Blue Jays (2012-13), New York Mets (2013) and Colorado Rockies (2015). Over 156 games in the majors (68 starts), Laffey recorded 26 wins with a 4.44 ERA in 494.1 innings of work.
Laffey has pitched exclusively in the majors, Triple-A level or with the Patriots over the last seven seasons. In 2016, Laffey went 6-6 with a 3.82 ERA over 29 games (14 starts) with Triple-A Syracuse in the Washington Nationals organization. The year prior, he went 5-4 over 27 games (12 starts) with Triple-A Albuquerque before earning a promotion to the majors with the Rockies. Laffey carries a 47-38 record over 157 games (114 starts) at the Triple-A level.
He becomes the third player to have his contract purchased by a Major League organization off the 2018 Somerset Patriots roster. Pitchers Scott Copeland (New York Mets) and Brett Oberholtzer (Colorado Rockies) each joined MLB teams during Somerset’s spring training in mid-April.
The 2018 Somerset Patriots Season presented by Ford is underway and features the team’s 20th Season at TD Bank Ballpark. For tickets, 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 38 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 900 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.
For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
