Long Island Ducks Sign Former Mets Outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis

The Long Island Ducks have signed former Mets outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis.

“I am very excited to reunite with Kirk on Long Island,” said Ducks Manager Wally Backman. “It was a pleasure working together while I managed in the Mets organization, and he will certainly help bolster our lineup.”

Nieuwenhuis spent four of his six seasons in the MLB with the New York Mets (2012-15), Los Angeles Angels (2015) and Milwaukee Brewers (2016-17). He appeared in 414 MLB games, hitting 31 home runs, 117 RBIs, 128 runs, 59 doubles, 20 stolen bases and a .986 fielding percentage. The California native hit .252 with seven homers and 28 RBIs over 91 games during his first season in The Show.

Nieuwenhuis was a key part of the Mets' 2015 World Series run, playing in 64 games, and having a three home run game on July 12 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was just the 10th Mets player to hit three home runs in a game.

Nieuwenhuis, 31, had hisbest MLB season came in 2016 with the Brewers. He appeared in 125 games, accruing 13 home runs, 44 RBIs, 38 runs, 18 doubles and 56 walks.

The Azusa Pacific University alum spent the 2018 season with Triple-A Tacoma in the Seattle Mariners organization, jacking four homers, 31 RBIs, 39 runs, 17 doubles and 48 walks over 80 games. During his previous minor league experience, “Captain Kirk” was named an MiLB.com Organization All-Star and a Mid-Season Eastern League All-Star with the Mets in 2010. He also earned both Mid-Season and Post-Season Florida State League All-Star honors in 2009. Nieuwenhuis was originally selected by the Mets in the third round of the 2008 amateur draft.