After an offseason full of exciting news that included an overhaul of the front office and the promotion of Hitting Coach Lew Ford to the team’s Manager, the Long Island Ducks finalized their game day management team as new assistant coaches have been hired by the team.
The Ducks continued to promote people with experience within the organization as ex-player Bobby Blevins was elevated to the Pitching Coach Role last week according to a recent press release by the team.
The Syracuse, NY native pitched for parts of eight seasons in the Atlantic League (2012-19), including five with the Ducks (2012-16). He was a member of the Ducks back-to-back Atlantic League championship runs in 2012 and 2013.
In three postseason starts, he combined to allow just six earned runs in 20.0 innings, good for a 2.70 ERA, while striking out 11 batters and walking none during the regular season with the Ducks. Throughout his tenure with the team, the right-hander went 17-22 with a 3.88 ERA and 291 strikeouts over 73 games (69 starts).
Blevins, 39, began his professional career in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, reaching as high as Triple-A Albuquerque in his four seasons (2007-10) with the club. He went 20-30 with a 4.32 ERA, six saves and 264 strikeouts in 95 games (48 starts) during that span.
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| New Pitching Coach Bobby Blevins pitching for the Ducks. LI Ducks |
Casilla, 39, played in the big leagues for nine seasons, playing with the Twins and Orioles throughout the entirety of his time in the show.
In 578 MLB games, the Dominican-born infielder compiled a .247 batting average with 12 home runs, 157 RBIs, 225 runs, 419 hits, 80 stolen bases and a .302 on-base percentage.
Casilla led the American League with 13 sacrifice bunts during the 2008 season and ranked second in stolen base percentage (95.46%) during the 2012 campaign. Defensively, the infielder posted a .977 career fielding percentage, spending time at second base, shortstop and third base.
The ex-big leaguer will reunite with Ford after nearly a decade after they played their last game together as both look to team up to bring another championship back to Long Island this upcoming season.
Opening Day for the club’s 24th season of play will take place on Thursday, April 25th, at 6:35 p.m. when the Ducks host the defending ALPB champion Lancaster Barnstormers at Fairfield Properties Ballpark, as well as the debut of the new look of the front office and coaching staff.