Pro Baseball League Honors Long Island Ducks First Baseman

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — Long Island Duck first baseman Frank Schwindel has been named Player of the Month by the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, the organization announced Tuesday.

The 31-year-old New Jersey native is currently playing his first season with the Ducks and 11th season in professional baseball. He's on a 17-game on-base streak dating back to May 8, the longest active on-base streak in the Atlantic League and longest by a Ducks player this season, according to the Ducks.

“Frank has done an outstanding job at the plate thus far,” said Ducks Manager Lew Ford. “He is tremendously deserving of this honor and we congratulate him on this accomplishment."

Schwindel led all qualified Atlantic League players during the month of May with a .386 batting average, recording 32 hits in 83 at bats. The three-year MLB veteran totaled seven home runs, 20 RBIs, 19 runs, 13 walks, a .464 on-base percentage and a .675 slugging percentage in May, all of which were the highest among Ducks players, according to a press release.

In addition, his 1.139 OPS was second-best in the league this past month.

This is the second season in a row the Ducks earned an Atlantic League monthly honor among the league’s first round of awards. In 2023, right-hander Stephen Woods Jr. was named the league’s co-pitcher of the Month for April and May after going 4-0 with a 3.03 ERA in six starts.

Schwindel has played in the Major Leagues for three seasons. He played with the Kansas City Royals in 2019, Oakland Athletics in 2021 and Chicago Cubs 2021-22. In 145 MLB games, he batted .269 with 22 home runs, 79 RBIs, 67 runs, 142 hits, 31 doubles, one triple and 35 walks. The St. John’s University alum was a two-time National League Rookie of the Month in 2021 and finished sixth in National League Rookie of the Year voting that season. He spent the 2023 season in Japan with the Orix Buffaloes.