Welington Dotel - 2015 Atlantic League Player of the Year

Autographed 2015 Bridgeport Bluefish Dot Generation Team Set (MVP Card) 

Sometimes sabbaticals are much needed and provide enhanced performance upon the return. After taking the whole 2014 season off from professional baseball, Welington Dotel came back well rested and with a fury in his first year in the Atlantic League.

The former Seattle Mariner farm prospect took the outfield for the Bridgeport Bluefish in the 2015 season and led the league in hits (180), triples (13), extra base hits (52) and total bases (261). He also became the first player in the history of the Atlantic League to lead the league in both stolen bases (45) and slugging percentage (.492) the same year. He was the unanimous choice for 2015 Atlantic League Player of the Year.

In addition, the Dominican Republic-native was electric on the bases with a better than 80% stolen-base-attempt success rate.

As Dotel’s offensive reputation grew throughout the league during the year his defensive reputation kept pace while patrolling right field at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard. Dotel’s explosive speed would allow him to spear hard line drives hit into the right-center field gap as well as to make shoestring, sliding catches on balls hit weakly in front of him denying opposing teams scoring opportunities. Dotel was selected by Atlantic League managers and executives to the inaugural 2015 Red, White and Blue All-Defensive team at season's end recognizing the best defensive player at each position.

Dotel would have also had the batting championship on his resume for the 2015 season, but his .3396 batting average missed league lead by .0007 to Long Island Ducks’ designated hitter, and former Bluefish teammate,  Sean Burroughs.