Somerset Patriots Land 13-Year MLB Vet Endy Chavez

Bridgewater, NJ- The Somerset Patriots have signed 13-year Major League veteran outfielder Endy Chavez for the 2018 season.

“I previously had the chance to play against Somerset and really liked the atmosphere,” said the former New York Met. “The fans seem really great and the stadium is close to home so it makes a lot of sense for me to play there.”

Chavez enters his first season with the Somerset Patriots and second in the Atlantic League. He previously played for the Bridgeport Bluefish in 2016. That year, Chavez led the league with a .345 batting average along with two home runs and 37 RBI. Last season, he hit .343 with five home runs and 59 RBI over 93 games with Pericos de Puebla in the Mexican League.

The Venezuelan national has 13 seasons of service in the big leagues. Chavez broke into the majors in 2001 with the Kansas City Royals before spending the next three seasons with the Montreal Expos. He appeared in 91 games with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2005, after which he signed as a free agent with the Mets and began a notable three-year stint in Queens.

Chavez hit a career-high .306 with four home runs, 42 RBI and 12 stolen bases over 133 games with the Mets in 2006, but is best remembered for his game-saving catch in Game Seven of the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. He robbed Scott Rolen of a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to keep the game tied and send Shea Stadium into a frenzy, resulting in two curtain calls. Chavez spent the next two seasons in New York, earning fan-favorite status before he was traded to the Seattle Mariners in 2009.

“We are extremely excited to add the veteran presence of Endy Chavez to our team,” said Somerset Patriots manager Brett Jodie. “Endy has been the model of consistency over his career. He plays the game the right way, providing stellar defense and always putting together solid at-bats. He will be an extremely tough matchup for our teams and will be a leader for us on and off the field.”

Chavez resurfaced in the majors in 2011 where he hit .301 over 83 games with the Texas Rangers. He then spent parts of the next three seasons at the game’s highest level with the Baltimore Orioles and again with the Mariners.

The left-handed outfielder has been known for his defense throughout his career. He once led the National League in double plays turned as an outfielder (5, 2004). Chavez also led the National League in fielding percentage as an outfielder in 2006 as a Met (1.000). That year he did not commit a single error over 218 chances in the outfield. Overall, he committed just 19 errors in over 1,000 games as a Major League outfielder.

At the plate, Chavez owns a .270 career average with 30 home runs, 266 RBI and 106 stolen bases over 13 seasons in the big leagues. He also owns a .291 overall average over his 20-year professional career.

The Somerset Patriots led the Atlantic League in attendance and made their 14th appearance in the playoffs last season. The Somerset Patriots will welcome their 7,000,000th fan in their 20th season at TD Bank Ballpark in 2018.  Tickets are now on sale for the 2018 Season presented by Ford beginning at home on Friday, April 27^th. For more information, please visit www.somersetpatriots.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 38 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 900 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.

For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.