Former big-leaguer Reggie Abercrombie will patrol centerfield for the Sioux Falls Pheasants once again this summer. The veteran has signed a contract to play his third consecutive year in Sioux Falls, Pheasants manager Steve Shirley announced on Wednesday.
Despite an injury-hampered start in 2011, Abercrombie finished the season batting .306 with 17 home runs and 66 RBI, second on the team in each of those categories. In August, he hit a blistering .371 with four home runs and 24 RBI while swiping 15 bases. Abercrombie ranked second in the league with 33 stolen bases.
"We are thrilled to have Reggie back," Shirley said. "He is a dynamic difference-maker on the field with his ability to do everything from hitting home runs to stealing bases. But he also brings great leadership skills to the clubhouse."
Abercrombie has been a centerpiece of the lineup and popular with Sioux Falls fans since joining the Pheasants in 2010. In two full seasons, he has batted .315 with 39 home runs and 156 RBI. He needs just five steals to become the team's career leader. In 2010, the all-star center fielder was near the top of the league in every major offensive category, including setting a new league record for runs scored (89).
From 2006 – 2008, Abercrombie played in 180 major league games with the Florida Marlins and Houston Astros. In 34 games in 2008 with Houston, he batted .309 with a .509 slugging percentage. A professional since 2000, Abercrombie has over 1,300 hits and 300 stolen bases in his career. Abercrombie was selected by the L.A. Dodgers in the 1999 draft.
