SKELTON NAMED TO ATLANTIC LEAGUE END OF SEASON ALL-STAR TEAM & RED, WHITE AND BLUE ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM; GRIFFIN NAMED TO RED, WHITE AND BLUE ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM 

 

(New Britain, Conn., October 13, 2016) – The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball today announced its 2016 End-of-Season All-Star Team and Red, White and Blue All-Defensive Team. Players were selected through voting from league club managers and executives. Bees catcher James Skelton and first baseman Jon Griffin were both named to the Red, White and Blue All-Defensive Team, while Skelton becomes the first member of the Bees to be named to the Atlantic League’s End-of-Season All-Star Team.

 

A native of West Covina, CA, Skelton becomes the first member of the New Britain Bees to be named to the End of Season All-Star Team. Skelton appeared in 113 games for the Bees, setting career highs in games played, walks (91) and home runs (10) to go with a .266 batting average. Skelton led the Atlantic League in both walks and on-base percentage (.399). Defensively, Skelton appeared primarily at catcher for New Britain, but also spent time at second base in 2016, finishing the year with just 5 errors in 777 opportunities in the field (.995 fielding percentage). Skelton led all Atlantic League catchers in games played (105 at catcher), total chances (744) and putouts (689). This the first time that the four year Atlantic League veteran has made the Red, White and Blue All-Defensive Team as well as the End-of-Season All-Star Team.

 

Griffin, 27, was named to the Red, White and Blue All-Defensive Team for the first time across his two Atlantic League season. The first player to ever sign with the New Britain Bees on February 18, 2016 after being acquired from the Long Island Ducks, Griffin appeared in 125 games for New Britain this season, with 124 coming at first base. The former Arizona Diamondbacks farmhand finished the season with a .995 fielding percentage, committing just 6 errors in 1102 fielding chances to lead all first basemen in the Atlantic League.

 

For the second consecutive season, the Atlantic League is proud to present the Red, White and Blue All-Defensive Team. This honor, based on a player’s defensive abilities during the 2016 season, commemorates the red and blue stitched Rawlings baseball that was adopted as the league’s official baseball during the 2015 All-Star Game in Bridgeport.

 

“Griffin was a stalwart in the field for us all season, and it’s great to see his defensive play recognized by the Atlantic League,” said Bees manager Stan Cliburn. “With Skelton, he was one of our most valuable players this season, not only calling great games for our pitching staff but acting as the kickstarter for our lineup each night out of the leadoff spot. Both players did an excellent job for us this season and this recognition is well deserved.”

 

The full list of 2016 Atlantic League End-of-Season All-Stars and the full 2016 Red, White and Blue All-Defensive Team are listed below and can also be found here.

 

2016 Atlantic League End-of-Season All-Star Team

 

POSITION	NAME	TEAM
Catcher	James Skelton	New Britain Bees
First Baseman	K.C. Hobson	Lancaster Barnstormers
Second Baseman	Eric Farris	Somerset Patriots
Third Baseman	David Vidal	Somerset Patriots
Shortstop	Luis Hernandez	Bridgeport Bluefish
Outfielder	Jeremy Barfield	Sugar Land Skeeters
Outfielder	Caleb Gindl	Lancaster Barnstormers
Outfielder	Fehlandt Lentini	Long Island Ducks
Designated Hitter	Joel Guzman	York Revolution
Starting Pitcher	Jonathan Albaladejo	Bridgeport Bluefish
Relief Pitcher	Andrew Johnston	Sugar Land Skeeters
Closer	Mike DeMark	York Revolution

 

2016 Red, White and Blue All-Defensive Team

 

POSITION	NAME	TEAM
Catcher	James Skelton	New Britain Bees
First Baseman	Jon Griffin	New Britain Bees
Second Baseman	Eric Farris	Somerset Patriots
Third Baseman	Bryan Pounds	York Revolution
Shortstop	Luis Hernandez	Bridgeport Bluefish
Outfielder	Caleb Gindl	Lancaster Barnstormers
Outfielder	Fehlandt Lentini	Long Island Ducks
Outfielder	Aharon Eggleston	Somerset Patriots
Pitcher	James Simmons	York Revolution

 

The following is the schedule for the remainder of this year’s Atlantic League awards:

 

Tuesday, October 18 – Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Manager of the Year and Rawlings Gold Glove Defensive Player of the Year 

 

Thursday, October 20 – Club Awards, including the Ken Shepard Award for Promotional Excellence, the Joe Klein Executive of the Year, the Ray Cipperly Grounds Keeping Award, Mascot of the Year, Ballpark of the Year, Promotion of the Year and Outstanding Community Service Award