Long Island Duck Player Headed To Major Leagues

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — The Long Island Ducks' 24th season has been going full swing since it kicked off in April when they they defeated Atlantic League champion Lancaster Stormers at home at Fairfield Properties Ballpark under new manager, Lew Ford.

Just a month into the season, Ducks first baseman and outfielder Rixon Wingrove's contract has been purchased by the Minnesota Twins organization. The Australia native will fly south where he'll report to the team’s Single-A affiliate, the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, in Florida.

“We’d like to congratulate Rixon on this well-earned opportunity,” said Ford. “He’s been very versatile for us and has performed well offensively. We wish him the best of luck with the Twins.”

So far, Wingrove has played in 18 games for the Ducks. He posted a .305 batting average with three home runs, nine RBIs, 13 runs, 18 hits, four doubles, 10 walks, a .406 on-base percentage and a .931 OPS. After going 0-for-4 on Opening Day, he reached base safely in each of his next 16 games with an at-bat, good for the longest on-base streak by a Duck this season and the seventh-longest in the Atlantic League this season. He also put together a 10-game hitting streak from April 28-May 12, the longest hitting streak by a Duck this season, according to the organization.

The move to Florida won't be his first time playing in the major leagues. The 24-year-old spent the first five seasons and 348 games of his professional career with the Philadelphia Phillies organization. The lefty hitter was also named a Florida Complex League Post-Season All-Star in 2019 after batting .298 and posting an .874 OPS in 48 games, the Ducks said.

Wingrove is the fifth Duck to have his contract purchased by a Major League organization or a foreign professional league in 2024. In April, pitcher Chris Ellis went to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Dan Straily joined the Chicago Cubs and Raynel Espinal joined Rieleros de Aguascalientes. In May, pitcher Tyler Zuber had his contract purchased by the Tampa Bay Rays organization

Since beginning play in 2000, the Ducks have had 30 players reach the Major League level after joining Long Island, and 111 have had their contract purchased.