The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Bridgewater, NJ – The Somerset Patriots have signed outfielder Chris Grayson for the 2017 season. His rights were acquired in a trade with the Washington Wildthings of the Frontier League for a Player To Be Named Later earlier this off-season.
“I have always wanted to play in the Atlantic League, so I am very excited,” said Grayson. “What the players before me have done in recent years is great. This is an awesome opportunity to come into a situation that other guys left in front of me, try my best to live up to that standard and bring a championship back to Somerset.”
Grayson enters his first season with the Somerset Patriots and first in the Atlantic League. The left-handed outfielder started 2016 with the Sioux Falls Canaries (American Association) before he was traded to Washington in late June. From there, Grayson hit .282 over his final 48 games with five home runs, 20 RBI and 18 stolen bases.
The Monroe, Louisiana native was originally drafted in the 13th round of the 2011 draft by the Texas Rangers and spent four years with the organization, reaching Double-A Frisco in 2014. His best season came in 2012 between Single-A Hickory and High-A Myrtle Beach, where the lefty combined to hit 13 home runs with 54 RBI and 34 stolen bases over 126 games.
“We are happy to have Chris join our squad this year,” said Somerset Patriots manager Brett Jodie. “Chris seems to have the right attitude and is eager to come into camp and show what he can do. He has the potential to help our club in a variety of ways, which includes hitting for power, average, stealing bases and proving he is a plus-defender in the outfield. We are excited to get him in here and see him show off those tools.”
The Lee University alumnus has stolen at least 15 bases in four of his six professional seasons (2011-2013, 2016). Overall, Grayson owns a .254 batting average with 34 home runs, 213 RBI and 116 stolen bases in his six-year career.
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 12th. 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.
