(Sugar Land, Texas, March 1, 2017) – The Sugar Land Skeeters announced today that the club has re-signed the 2016 Atlantic League Player of the Year, outfielder Jeremy Barfield for the 2017 season. Last season, the Houston, Texas native became the first Skeeters player to win the league MVP award in the franchise’s five-year history.
Jeremy Barfield led the Atlantic League and set single season franchise records in home runs (27), total bases (272) and extra-base hits (60). He became the first Skeeters player ever to win the Atlantic League home run crown. Barfield also finished second in the league in runs scored (87), tied for third in RBI (85), fourth in slugging percentage (.533) and walks (62), tied for fourth in hits (156) and finished fifth in doubles (31).
The 28-year-old also set a single season franchise record in multi-hit games (51) while placing second in hits (156), RBI (85) and third place in doubles (31). In 2016 Barfield was voted to the ALPB All-Star Game, named to the End-Of-Season All-Star team and was also named the Skeeters MVP hitting .306 with 27 home runs, 95 RBI, 87 runs and 31 doubles. Jeremy batted .308 in the playoffs and helped lead the Skeeters to their first ever Atlantic League championship and a perfect 6-0 record in the post season.
Barfield played most of his minor league career in the Oakland A’s farm system reaching as high as AAA Sacramento in 2013. He spent a short time with the Skeeters in 2015 appearing in 17 games, but in that short time, helped the Skeeters put together a 10-game winning streak which tied for second longest in franchise history before being signed by the Colorado Rockies and reaching the AAA level for the second time in his career.
The Klein High School graduate (Klein, TX) was drafted by the New York Mets in the 9th round of the 2006 MLB June Amateur Draft. The Oakland A’s chose him in the 8th round of the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft, but decided to attend college first (San Jacinto College, TX). In eight minor league seasons he batted .260 with 72 HR and 392 RBI. Barfield is the son of former major leaguer Jesse Barfield and the brother of former major leaguer and Atlantic League player Josh Barfield.
About the Sugar Land Skeeters
The Skeeters play at Constellation Field, a state-of-the-art stadium located at the intersection of State Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 90A in Sugar Land. The Skeeters are a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) and play 140 regular season games. The Skeeters Baseball Foundation promotes youth education and healthy activities lifestyles by providing support to culturally, racially and economically diverse areas of the community. For more information please call 281-240-4487 or visit sugarlandskeeters.com.
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 36 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 800 players and 50 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment to metropolitan markets serving nearly 15% of the US population.
For more information, please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.
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