Bridgewater, NJ – The Somerset Patriots have signed right-handed pitcher Alex Gouin for the 2017 season.

“I am most certainly excited about being around an environment with a record of success,” said Gouin. “I have heard great things about the fans, and it is close to home for me. It makes a great deal of sense to play here.”

Gouin enters his first season with the Somerset Patriots and first in the Atlantic League. He has spent the majority of his two seasons in professional baseball with the Rockland Boulders of the Can-Am League. In 2015, Gouin went 8-4 with a 3.84 ERA and 53 strikeouts over 18 appearances (14 starts).

The West Orange, New Jersey native began the 2016 season with the Boulders and went 3-1 with a 3.16 ERA before his contract was purchased in early July by the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. In his lone start with Low-A Hillsboro, Gouin earned a win after allowing two runs over seven innings with 11 strikeouts. He later made 10 starts with Rookie-level Missoula and earned two wins with 46 strikeouts over 58.2 innings pitched.

“We are always looking for local talent to come in and compete for our team, and Alex will do just that,” said Somerset Patriots manager Brett Jodie. “Alex has done well with the limited amount of experience he owns. He can start and relieve for us, and we are anxious to get him in here and get a first-hand look at how he will fit in.”

The University of Hartford single-season saves record-holder (9; 2014) is 14-11 over his two professional seasons with a 3.90 ERA and 135 strikeouts over 36 appearances (29 starts).
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.

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.