The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Bridgewater, NJ- The Somerset Patriots have announced the signing of left-handed pitcher Rick Teasley for the 2017 season.
“The Atlantic League has been a place I have wanted to end up in my career, so to be signing with one of the top teams is really exciting,” said Teasley. “I have heard great things about the coaching staff, the fans and the ballpark, so I do not think I could have asked for a better opportunity.”
Teasley enters his first season with the Somerset Patriots and first in the Atlantic League. The southpaw has pitched for the Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League for the past three seasons, totaling a 28-14 record with a 3.67 ERA in 57 starts.
The Port St. Lucie, Florida native went 8-5 over 17 starts and finished third in the league in complete games (three) with the Miners last year. Teasley’s best professional season came in 2015 with Southern Illinois, where the lefty went 9-4 over 20 starts with a 2.78 ERA. Additionally, he finished third in the league in innings pitched (126.1) and fourth in strikeouts (105) that season.
“We are very anxious to get Teasley into our camp and get our eyes on him,” said manager Brett Jodie. “Rick is a strike-throwing lefty who has done very well so far in his career. He has low walk and high strikeout numbers, but most importantly he is a winner. We have had success with younger pitchers in the past and we cannot wait to work with Teasley and see what doors open for him.”
Teasley led the Frontier League in wins (11) in 2014 along with a 3.57 ERA over 116.0 innings of work. In his three seasons with the Miners, Teasley became the franchise’s all-time leader in starts, innings pitched and shutouts. He also tossed the first no-hitter in team history on June 5th, 2014.
The 25 year-old began his career in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, where he tossed a 2.61 ERA over 41.1 innings of work split between Rookie-level Princeton and Short-Season Hudson Valley. The 2013 23rd round pick of the Rays owns a career 36-22 record and a 3.54 ERA over four seasons of professional baseball.
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.
