(New Britain, Conn., October 16, 2017) – The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) today announced that Bees outfielder Michael Crouse has been named the Rawlings Gold Glove Defensive Player of the Year. Players were selected through voting from league club managers, executives and media.

“We are very pleased to hear that Michael has been named the 2017 Atlantic League Defensive Player of the Year,” says Bees General Manager Brad Smith. “He showed great effort all season long and also made one of the most memorable defensive plays of the year. This is a tremendous honor for him.”

Michael Crouse, who was also named to the 2017 Atlantic League Red, White and Blue All Defensive team, paced the league with 131 games played in the outfield, recording a .986 fielding percentage with 333 putouts and 12 assists. He also made one of the most spectacular catches of the season on June 26^th against the Lancaster Barnstomers at Clipper Magazine Stadium, robbing Lancaster’s KC Hobson of a homerun to become the #1 play on ESPN’s SportCenter Top 10 later that evening. CLICK HERE to watch the amazing catch.

This play was highlighted on multiple major media outlets, including ESPN’s Sportcenter Twitter HERE, ESPN’s Instagram HERE, and MLB.com HERE.

The 2017 Atlantic League Player, Pitcher, and Manger of the Year can be viewed by CLICKING HERE. The remainder of this year’s honors will be announced later this week, including Club Administrative and Community Awards.

About the New Britain Bees
The New Britain Bees are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, and play their home games at New Britain Stadium. For information on tickets packages, group outings and sponsorships call 860-826-BEES (2337) or visit NBBees.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 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.

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