Bridgewater, NJ- The Somerset Patriots have announced that left-handed pitcher Rich Mascheri has been re-signed for the 2017 season.

“I am just really excited to get back to the field for the Patriots,” said Mascheri. “Now that I am finally healthy – and have spent the entire off-season working out and training – I am ready to come in and compete.”

Mascheri enters his second season with the Somerset Patriots and second in the Atlantic League. The southpaw appeared in three games with the Patriots last year after he was acquired in a trade with the Southern Illinois Miners (Frontier League) in September. Mascheri earned one win and yielded just one run over his three innings of work in Somerset.

The Wauconda, Illinois native held a 1.88 ERA over 14.1 innings pitched (three earned runs) in his 13 relief appearances with Southern Illinois to begin the 2016 season. Additionally, he struck out 17 batters against just three walks in his time with the Miners.

“Rich joined our club late last season after putting up really good numbers in the Frontier League,” said Somerset Patriots manager Brett Jodie. “We were able to see him in a few outings and are anxious to get him back for our camp to evaluate him further. Rich has good fastball velocity and good speed differential between his pitches. We love the way he competes on the hill and think he will be a good left-handed option out of our bullpen.”

Mascheri began his professional career with the Normal CornBelters in 2012, where he recorded 10 saves with a 2.29 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 35.1 innings pitched. He later signed with the New York Yankees organization that season and recorded a win and a save spread across six appearances with both the GCL Yankees and High-A Tampa. Mascheri’s success with the Yankees carried over to 2013, where he combined to post a 3-1 record with a 1.16 ERA and one save over 12 appearances between GCL Yankees 2 and High-A Tampa.

The Western Illinois University alumnus owns a 5-2 record with a 2.45 ERA over his four-year professional career, including 12 saves and an 11.9 strikeout/nine innings ratio (116 strikeouts over 88 innings pitched).

Tickets to the 2017 Somerset Patriots Season presented by Ford, which includes the team’s 20th Anniversary, are on sale now. TD Bank Ballpark will be the host of the 2017 Atlantic League All-Star Game presented by RWJBarnabas Health and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey on Wednesday, July 12^th. For more information, stop by the ballpark, call (908) 252-0700, or visit www.somersetpatriots.com.

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