2015 Atlantic League Champions Somerset Patriots

Autographed 2015 Somerset Team Set Cards of Brett Jodie (MLB), Robert Andino (MLB), Sean Bierman, Aharon Eggelston, Matt Gamel (MLB), Greg Hopkins, Nate Spears (MLB), Jonny Tucker and David Vidal

Ending a five-year drought and claiming their league-leading sixth championship (2001/03/05/08/09/15), the Somerset Patriots defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in four games to win the 2015 Atlantic League Championship. Roy Merritt was named Playoff MVP by going 3-0 (0.49 ERA) in the postseason. Brett Jodie claimed his first championship at the helm of the Patriots, and his forth affiliated with the team as either a player or a coach.

The dominant force of the Somerset team claimed both half division titles and overall best league record at 89-50.

Sean Bierman set the single-season ERA record in 2015, with an ERA of 1.79, despite being signed by the Baltimore Orioles club the last day in July -- but having enough league innings to qualify for the crown. With this, and the contributions of pitchers like Matt Zielinski (2.86 ERA), Mikey Storey (2.53),  John Hunton (3.09) and other staff members, Somerset also set the team single-season league ERA record with 3.04 in 2015. #LETSEAT!

Bryant Nelson - All-Time Atlantic League Hit King!



Autographed 2012 Long Island Ducks Choice Team Set #10
Autographed 2013 Long Island Ducks Choice Team Set #19

Drafted in the 1993 MLB amateur draft by the Houston Astros, Bryant Nelson would achieve the Major League level with 25 games with the Boston Red Sox in 2002.

Nelson would enter the Atlantic League in 2006, and throughout the next 11 seasons would be a staple of the league with tenures in Bridgeport (2006/15), Long Island (2008/12/13), Lancaster (2010/15), York (2011/14), Camden (2009/14) and Southern Maryland (2015/16).

Far from being just a hired journeyman, the switch-hitting Nelson had instrumental roles with the 2011 York Revolution and back-to-back 2012/13 Long Island Ducks championships earning three Championship rings.

In 2011, Nelson hit a walk-off homerun in the first game of the Freedom Division Series against Lancaster to set the stage for York moving onto the Championship Series and eventually the 2011 Atlantic League Championship trophy.  

Likewise, Nelson was an instrumental player in the 2012 & 2013 Long Island Ducks' championships. The Crossett, Arkansas-native launched a 2-run, eighth-inning home run while the Ducks were trailing Southern Maryland and facing elimination in the 5^th game of the 2012 Liberty Division Championship; propelling the Flock to the Championship Series they would eventually win.

In 2013, Nelson had the game-winning hit in game two, and drove in the championship winning RBI in game five, against the Somerset Patriots to bring the second, consecutive Championship to Long Island in what is arguably the most classic, intense Championship Series in Atlantic League history.

Nelson joined the Atlantic League 1,000-Hit Club on June 2, 2016, joining only Jeff Nettles (7/27/2012) and Ray Navarrete (8/3/2013) to achieve this career league milestone.

On August 3rd, 2016, Bryant Nelson replaced Jeff Nettles as the All-Time Atlantic League Hit King with career league hit 1,053 off of Lancaster pitcher Bryan Evans in Waldorf.

Nelson’s consistency and value to a roster has had him achieved at least 100 career hits with five different Atlantic League teams (Bridgeport, Camden, Lancaster, Long Island and Southern Maryland).

The fan-favorite Nelson was selected by the Long Island Ducks organization as the 3rd baseman for the team's 15^th Anniversary Team in 2014.