Mike Loree - 2011 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year

Coming out of Gillette, NJ, 6’6” right-hand pitcher Mike Loree was drafted by the San Francisco Giants organization and headed to their Arizona League team in 2007.

After rising as high as Double A ball with Pittsburgh’s affiliate the Altoona Curve, Loree took the mound for the Long Island Ducks in 2011 and delivered one of the greatest Atlantic League pitching seasons ever recorded.

Finishing the 2011 season with a record of 14-5, with 131 strikeouts and an ERA below two (1.98), Mike Loree had no peers in any of these categories that year as he claimed both the 2011 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year award as well as the Atlantic League Pitching Triple Crown  -- becoming only the second pitcher in league history to dominate in such a way (Magrane-Somerset; 2009).

That year, Loree set a Long Island franchise record with 14 strikeouts in a game (since tied by MLB pitcher Rich Hill in 2015 when pitching with the Ducks), while also shining in the post season with a 2-0 record coupled with an 1.10 ERA.

2012 saw the Villanova alumn be signed away from the Ducks by the Lamigo Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League where Loree would become the most dominant in-season and post-season mound star over the next few years.

Loree matched his-triple crown performance on Long Island with a CPBL triple-crown year in 2015 pitching for the EDA Rhinos finishing with a 16-5 record, 3.65 ERA while striking out 144. 

Loree led the CPBL in wins (13) and ERA (3.98) in the 2016 season, and added a second CPBL league pitching triple crown to his resume in 2017 pitching for the Fubon Guardians (16-4, 2.18 ERA, 154K’s).

Mike Loree was named to the 15^th-Anniversary Long Island Duck team in 2014.

Somerset Coaches: John "The Count" Montefusco & Shane Spencer

(l.) Autographed 2005 Somerset Patriots Choice SGA Strip # 02
(r.) Autographed 2015 Somerset Patriots Choice Team Set #02

Along with Sparky Lyle, the Somerset Patriots have a strong affiliation with the New York Yankees historically with their coaching staff selections:

1975 National League Rookie of the Year, No-hit pitcher (9/29/76) for the San Francisco Giants and 13-year MLB veteran, John “The Count” Montefusco would coach under Sparky Lyle for the Somerset Patriots for 6 years (2000-05). Montefusco finished his career with the New York Yankees from 1983-1986. He is an answer to a favorite trick trivia question as he joined Wally Moon as the only Rookie of the Year winner to hit a home run at his first at bat.

Breaking into the major leagues at age 26 with the storied 1998 New York Yankees team (114 wins), Shane Spencer would go on to set the rookie record for grand slams in a season (3) and be a part of three New York Yankee World Championship teams. Spencer originated Derek Jeter’s famous “flip play” against the Oakland A’s in the 2001 ALDS as it was his throw from right field that Jeter flipped to Jorge Posada to tag Jeremy Giambi out at home plate. Spencer served at Somerset’s hitting/3B coach for 3 years (2013-15).