The Long Island Ducks had another banner year not only on the field but as an organization. The franchise had a number of players contracts bought by big league teams and they set even more attendance records this season.
The accolades haven't stopped for this year as the ALPB announced its Drake All-Defensive Team for the 2024 season and Ducks catcher Aaron Antonini was selected to the team, as voted on by the league’s member clubs.
Ducks Manager Lew Ford was quick to point out not only Antonini's defense but his overall game impressed the coach this season. “He had a terrific season defensively as well as offensively this year and was among the league’s best catchers.” said Ford.
Antonini's .988 fielding percentage ranked second among all qualified catchers in the Atlantic League. He was fourth among catchers with 32 assists and 645 putouts. As Ford pointed out his offense was on point as well leading the Ducks in hits and doubles.
Antonini is the eighth Ducks player to earn an ALPB All-Defensive honor since the team’s inception in 2015. Last year Tejada won the award.
With such a big season of players' contracts being bought it was a perfect season to award the Ducks again. The ALPB announced its Front Office and Administrative Awards for the 2024 season. The Long Island Ducks have been chosen as the recipient of the league’s inaugural Player Transfers Award, presented to the team who had the most player contracts purchased by Major League organizations or foreign professional leagues during the season.
The Ducks led the Atlantic League with 10 player whose contracts were purchased during the 2024 season and promoted to MLB or foreign organizations.
They also took home the award for the most outstanding clubhouse. The award goes to the team with the best clubhouse staff.