DELMARVA SHOREBIRDS Class A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles For Immediate Release - August 5, 2016 Contact: Brendan Gulick, 410-219-3112 Yermin Mercedes Named South Atlantic League Player of the Month SALISBURY, MD - The Delmarva Shorebirds are pleased to announce that Minor League Baseball has recognized several players across the game for their outstanding performances in the month of July. Accordingly, former Shorebirds catcher Yermin Mercedes was named the South Atlantic League’s July, 2016 Player of the Month. Mercedes was recently promoted to the Class A-Advanced Frederick Keys in the Carolina League after an outstand- ing three months on the Eastern Shore. In July, Mercedes hit for a .375 average in 26 games with 12 doubles, four home runs and 14 RBI’s. By comparison, he collected 13 doubles in April, May and June combined. He led the league in hits (36), extra-base hits (17) and OPS (1.105). From June 25th until July 8th, Mercedes hit in 14 consecu- tive games which included seven multi-hit games in a row. He also reached base safely in 25 straight contests from June 10th until July 8th, which is the fifth longest on-base streak in the league this season. His capstone game of the season came on July 23rd against the Kannapolis Intimidators. He finished the night 4-for-4 with three solo home runs and a single, becoming the first Shorebird to hit three home runs in a single game since at least 2007. Mercedes left the Shorebirds with the South Atlantic League’s highest active batting average (.353), best slugging percentage (.579), second highest on-base percentage (.411) and fourth most home runs (14). He totaled 383 plate appearances, which surpassed the 376 necessary to qualify for the league batting title at the end of the season. He played in 91 games from April 10th to July 30th. Furthermore, in his last 41 games with the team (dating back to June 11th), Mercedes raised his average from .321 to .353 by going 60-152 (.392) with 10 home runs, one triple, 14 doubles and 30 RBI. He had 15 multi-hit games in his last 30 contests. He currently leads the league batting title race by .027 over Asheville Tourists’ first baseman Brian Mundell. Delmarva Shorebirds ---------------------------- The Delmarva Shorebirds are the Class “A” Affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The Shorebirds are owned by 7th In- ning Stretch, LLC, the same company that owns the Stockton Ports of the California League and the Everett Aqua- Sox of the Northwest League. The Shorebirds celebrated their 20th season in 2015, and have entertained nearly five million fans since beginning play at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Md. in 1996. The team has captured South Atlantic League titles in 1997 and 2000 while successfully hosting the South Atlantic League All-Star Game in 1999 and 2011. For more information on the Shorebirds, call 410-219-3112 or visit theshorebirds.com. ###.