Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez - All-Time MLB Single-Season Save Leader

Autographed Francisco Rodriguez Official Atlantic League Baseball
Autographed 2018 Francisco Rodriguez Long Island Duck Pocket Schedule

On April 29, 2018, the Long Island Ducks announced that they had signed the all-time, single-season MLB save leader (62) Francisco Rodriguez to minor league deal. Also known as “K-Rod”, Rodriguez is ranked 4^th in all-time Major League career saves with 430 -- trailing only Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman and Lee Smith on the career saves list.

The Venezuelan-born closer, and six-time MLB All Star, lead the American League in saves in three different seasons (2005,06,08); having save conversion percentages of around 90% or higher in each of those seasons.

Al Sontag - 2000 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year

Autographed 2000 Bridgeport Bluefish Multi-Ad Team Set #38 (Pitch/YR Card)
Autographed 2001 Bridgeport Bluefish Multi-Ad Team Set # 38

Having the distinction of being the first pitcher to toe the mound in Bluefish history, Al Sontag would leave the mound in Bridgeport 5 years later (1998-2003) as the franchise leader in wins (45), innings pitched (677), games started (97) and complete games (15).

The Plainedge High School (Massapequa, Long Island) grad was drafted twice by the Baltimore Orioles in 1983, but began his affiliated career by being successfully drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 1984, eventually reaching as high as AAA ball with Edmonton in the Angels’ organization. In 1985, Sontag would lead the Midwest League in innings pitched (220.1), complete games (15), shutouts (6) and strikeouts (213) which would foreshadow a record-setting 2000 Atlantic League season.

Serving the dual role as both starting pitcher and the Bluefish pitching coach during his tenure in Park City, Sontag had a commitment to strong pitching mechanics that served him well with durability and success during his 'Fish years.

These mechanics allowed Sontag to set the Atlantic League single-season record for innings pitched (207) -- a mark that still stands to this day -- on his way to claiming the 2000 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year Award.  In addition to leading the league in innings pitched that year, Sontag led the league in ERA (2.70), strikeouts (158), shutouts (3) and WHIP (1.01).

Sontag concluded his Atlantic League and baseball career in 2002, after 15 years in professional ball, within the top eight of Atlantic League career leaders in wins (45), innings pitched( 677), and strikeouts (460).

Gary Gaetti - 4X Gold Glove Award Winner and 1987 ALCS MVP

Autographed 2012 Sugar Land Skeeters Choice Team Set #3

Signed by the Minnesota Twins in 1979, Gary Gaetti was instrumental in helping the Twins win their first-ever World Championship in 1987, by his play in the American League Championship Series upsetting the Detroit Tigers. For his efforts, Gaetti was named the 1987 ALCS MVP with 2 home runs, 5 RBI’s and a .650 slugging percentage in the 5-game series.

The 4-time, consecutive Gold Glove third baseman (1986-1989), and two-time All Star (1988/89), was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame in 2007.

Gaetti was named the Sugar Land Skeeters manager in their inaugural season in 2012, and went on to lead his team to 95 wins and a .679 winning percentage in 2013 – an Atlantic League Record.

Corey Smith - Back-to-Back Atlantic League First-Team Selections

Autographed 2013 Somerset Patriots Choice Team Card Set #23 

After being named Baseball America’s Top-High-School Hitter in the Country, Corey Smith was drafted in the first round of the 2000 draft by the Cleveland Indians.

Smith went on to reach the Triple-A level with the Indian, Angel and Dodger organizations.

Spending an abbreviated season with the Somerset Patriots in 2012, and two full seasons the following years -- Smith made them count.  

The Piscataway native was named Atlantic League Player of the Month for May and Atlantic League All-Star Game MVP by winning a "Home Run Off" that decided the game in extra innings in 2013.

The third baseman was also voted back-to-back Atlantic League First-Team selections for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

Dontrelle Willis - 2003 National League Rookie of the Year

Autographed Long Island Ducks
Souvenir Baseball

2013 Long Island Ducks
Choice Team Set Card #25

Exploding on the Major League scene with his high leg kick in 2003, Dontrelle Willis went 14-6 with the Florida Marlins and claimed the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

In 2005, “The D-Train” was runner up to Chris Carpenter for the National League Cy Young Award; winning 20 games for Florida for the first time in Marlin history.

Having a resume that included 9 big-league seasons spanning 4 MLB teams, Willis joined the Long Island Ducks in 2013 and impressed the California Angels organization enough to earn a contract from their Triple-A team, the Salt Lake Bees, the same year.