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In celebration of Somerset Patriots 10th Season Anniversary, the Patriots and the Courier News asked fans to vote for the top Patriots player at 13 different positions. After close to 50,000 votes on-line and at the ballpark, here are the results:
![]() First Baseman- Mike Glavine Glavine, a left-handed power hitter, was a feared part of the Somerset Patriots line up in 2001 and 2002. He hit one of the most dramatic home runs in league history with his two run shot in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game Four of the Atlantic League Championship Series. Glavine played in 194 games for Somerset and had a .264 batting average, 90 runs scored, 188 hits, 44 doubles, 33 home runs, and 111 RBI. Following his time with the Patriots, Glavine signed with the New York Mets and made his Major League debut with the team in September of 2004.
- Glavine won with 74% of the voting over Luis Lopez (18%) and Brian Traxler (8%).
![]() Second Baseman- Emiliano Escandon A fan favorite for his leadership on and off the field, Escandon became the first captain of the Somerset Patriots and in the Atlantic League. He holds the Patriots record for most games played (582), at bats (2,086), runs scored (370), hits (587), triples (20), and walks (310). He is the only three-time champion as a player in league history. Escandon also finished his Patriots career with a .281 batting average in the 582 games he played for Somerset.
- Escandon won with 74% of the voting over Jeff Berblinger (21%) and George Sandel (5%).
Shortstop- Kevin NicholsonNicholson had an All-Star 2005 season with the Patriots and helped the team win their third championship. He returned for a second stint with the team in 2006. Nicholson finished his time with the Patriots with a .263 batting average, 116 runs, 212 hits, 55 doubles, three triples, 14 home runs, 118 RBI, and four stolen bases in 216 games played. - Nicholson won with 46% of the voting over Ken Arnold (42%) and Eric Martin (12%). Third Base- Jeff NettlesNettles has been one of the top players in Somerset Patriots and Atlantic League history, ranking among the Patriots career leaders in just about every category. He is the team’s career leader in RBI (377), home runs (103), and doubles (127). Nettles is second in games played (533), at bats (1,960), and hits (568). Nettles set the Somerset Patriots single-season home run record, along with right fielder Ryan Radmanovich, with 28 homers during the 2005 season. Nettles was the Playoff MVP for the 2003 season for his .450 batting average, a home run, and five RBI during the post-season. - Nettles won with 73% of the voting over Andy DiOrio (20%) and Lipso Nava (7%). Lefty Pitcher- Justin JensenJensen holds most Patriots career-pitching records including wins (35), games starter (87), innings pitched (527). He was the Atlantic League’s “Pitcher of the Year” in 1999 for his 12-5 record, 2.76 ERA, and 111 strikeouts in 156.1 innings pitched in 24 games. He returned to form in 2003 with a 9-3 record, 2.88 ERA, and 79 strikeouts in 125 innings pitched in 19 games started. Jensen has a career Patriots record of 35-24, a 3.62 ERA, six complete games, and 385 strikeouts in 527 innings pitched in 88 games. - Jensen won with 71% of the voting over Robert Dodd (20%) and Darrin Winston (9%). Closer- David ElderElder has been one of the most dominant and dependable relievers in Atlantic League history. He is a two-time All-Star with the Patriots. When needed during the 2006 season, Elder made five spot starts for Somerset. He has a 10-5 record with a 2.45 ERA, 12 saves, and 148 strikeouts in 117.2 innings pitched in 73 games. - Elder won with 47% of the voting over John Briscoe (42%) and Hector Almonte (11%). Catcher- Carlos PaganPagan was a very popular player in Somerset in each of his two seasons with the team. He played in 154 games and had a .253 batting average, 64 runs, 118 hits, 25 doubles, a triple, 22 home runs, 78 RBI, and two stolen bases. - Pagan won with 59% of the voting over Fernando Lunar (24%) and Jorge Morales (17%). Left Field- Kevin DattolaDattola became an instant fan favorite and team leader during his two seasons with the Patriots. He set a team home run record (21), an RBI record (96), and longest hitting streak (16 games) mark during the 2000 season in which he had a .300 batting average. All the records he set have since been broken. He returned in 2001 to help lead Somerset to their first championship. Dattola ended his playing days with the Patriots with a .288 batting average 125 runs, 264 hits, 48 doubles, a triple, 34 home runs, 162 RBI, and 59 stolen bases in 250 games. - Dattola won with 75.3% of the voting over Larry Barnes (16.6%) and Norm Hutchins (8.1%).
![]() Center Field- Michael Warner
Warner was one of the most complete players in Atlantic League history and one of the most productive in Patriots history. His 2001Atlantic League MVP season helped Somerset clinch their first league championship. In 2001, Warner hit .351 with 99 runs, 144 hits, 31 doubles, four triples, 17 home runs, and 103 RBI in 113 games played. That season he was named Baseball America’s and the New Jersey Sportswriters’ “Independent Minor League Player of the Year.” Warner finished his Patriots career with a .310 batting average, 273 runs, 420 hits, 96 doubles, eight triples, 34 home runs, 207 RBI, and 116 stolen bases in 370 games played. - Warner won with 72% of the voting over Jeremy Owens (23%) and Edgard Clemente (5%).
Right Field- Ryan RadmanovichRadmanovich is the most feared power hitter in Patriots history, holding the team’s career home run record with 87 going into this season, as well as the single season record of 28 with Nettles in 2005. Radmanovich is a three-time All-Star for the Patriots and always a legitimate MVP candidate for the league. Radmanovich was the MVP of the 2005 Playoffs with a .400 batting average, three home runs, and nine RBI in six playoff games. He hit a game-winning three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a tie with the Atlantic City Surf in a deciding Game Three of the South Division Championship. Radmanovich has a career .290 batting average, 256 runs, 421 hits, 88 doubles, six triples, 87 home runs, 261 RBI, and seven stolen bases in 402 games. - Radmanovich won with 81% of the voting over Will Pennyfeather (17%) and DaRond Stovall (12%).
Left Field- Greg BlosserBlosser will forever be linked with the most memorable home run in Patriots history. In Game Four of the Atlantic League Championship Series, Blosser launched a game-winning two-run home run in the bottom of the tenth inning to give Somerset a 7-6 win to force the decisive Game Five against the Newark Bears. Blosser was one of team’s best sluggers and clutch performers in Patriots’ history. He finished his Somerset career with a .278 batting average, 109 runs, 174 hits, 33 doubles, a triple, 43 home runs, 137 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 194 games. - Blosser won with 57% of the voting over Victor Rodriguez (33%) and Charles Poe (10%).
Righty Pitcher- Ray DavisDavis was one of the toughest pitchers in the Atlantic League during his four seasons with the Patriots. He holds the Atlantic League record for most strikeouts in a game with 16 and holds the Patriots’ career record with 414. Davis finished his time in Somerset with a 32-21 record, a 3.59 ERA, nine complete games, 436.1 innings pitched, and 414 strikeouts in 82 games played. - Davis won with 60% of the voting over Brian Tollberg (20%) and Jason Dickson (20%).
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