WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyes will have a familiar face in center field for the 2018 season.
Reggie Abercrombie, the all-time leader in home runs in the American Association and fan-favourite in Winnipeg, is putting off retirement and returning for his fifth season with the Goldeyes next season. The former Major Leaguer had 16 home runs, 82 RBI’s, and 20 stolen bases while hitting .272 with the Fish in 2017, helping lead them to a second consecutive league title.
The Columbus, Georgia native was an original draft pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 23rd round in 1999 and began his professional career in the Dodgers’ organization in 2000. Abercrombie spent time in the Arizona Diamondbacks organizations before joining the Florida (now Miami) Marlins’ organization in 2005 where he combined for 25 home runs and 26 stolen bases at two levels. Abercrombie would make his Major League debut in 2006, spending the entire year on the Marlins’ active roster and helping the Marlins to a 78-84 season. Abercrombie would spend the next two seasons in baseball’s highest level, suiting up in both the Marlins and Houston Astros organizations. Through his time in the Majors, Abercrombie has hit home runs off Roger Clemens and CC Sabathia, and base hits against Hall of Famers Tom Glaviner and John Smoltz.
The Goldeyes welcome back a consistent slugger who’s 82 RBI’s last season were second in the American Association and rank third on the Goldeyes’ singl-season list.
A proven playoff performer, Abercrombie drove in 10 runs in nine postseason games along with a pair of home runs, helping the Fish to their second consecutive championship. He’s also one of only eight players in franchise history to win multiple championships.
2018 will be the eighth season in the American Association and 19th professional season overall for Abercrombie, who first joined the league in 2010 where he helped the Sioux Falls Pheasants (now Canaries) to a league-best 63-33 record and a trip to the Championship Series.
Abercrombie, one of only 11 players to spend five-or-more seasons with the Goldeyes, signed with the club just before spring training in 2014 and played a starring role on a team that won a franchise-record 63 games that season, contributing 19 home runs, 74 RBI’s, and 23 steals.
With spring training set to open May 6, the Goldeyes now have 16 players under contract for the 2018 season, which includes 10 from last season’s championship club.
Bill Burfoot, Manitoba Post
Photo supplied by Winnipeg Goldeyes