Feeling right at home with Ducks

After playing some level of professional baseball for his entire adult life soon following his selection by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 13th round of the 2002 Major League Draft, Reid Gorecki took some time off last year.

“I got away from the game for a bit, and it was the best thing for me,” said Gorecki, who starred at Kellenberg High School while growing up in East Rockaway. “I gave my body some time to heal and evaluated if I wanted to continue on my career path or look for a different avenue,” he added.

Three years removed from a memorable 31-game stint with the Atlanta Braves, Gorecki, 31, is patrolling the outfield for the Long Island Ducks these days and seeking a championship ring. In the first half of the Atlantic League season, he batted .253 with four homers, 25 RBIs and 11 stolen bases to help the team to 39 victories and the Liberty Division title.

“Reid’s had some clutch hits and brings a veteran presence to the field and locker room,” Ducks manager Kevin Baez said. “He’s got a great baseball mind and plays to win.”

Gorecki spent six years in the Cardinals organization, earning their Minor League Player of the Year award in 2004 and reaching the Triple-A level in ‘06, before signing as a free agent with the Braves. He began 2009 at Gwinett (AAA) and made his MLB debut Aug. 17 of that year, picking up his first big league hit and RBI two days later against the Mets in front of a large contingent of family and friends at Citi Field.

“It was everything I imagined it would be,” he said of putting on a major league uniform. “I couldn’t have asked for a better place to get my first hit.”

Gorecki, who had five hits in 25 plate appearances for the Braves, signed with the Yankees prior to the 2010 campaign and spent the majority of the year in AAA with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre where he drove in 30 runs and swiped 12 bases. He’s experienced plenty of team success, winning three minor league championships, and hopes there’s another ring to come in the not-too-distant future.

“The competition is this league is fierce,” Gorecki said. “It’s nice to be part of something where people want to win, and we’ve had different guys come up big all season long.”

Second stint for Esposito

Gorecki’s roommate on the road, Joe Esposito, grew up in Baldwin and starred on the high school team still coached by his father, Frank. Joe is in his sixth year of pro ball and second stint with the Ducks.

“Everything about the Ducks is great,” said Joe, a 2003 Baldwin graduate who batted .607 as a senior and earned All-Long Island honors. “There’s a lot of Long Islanders on the team and staff, and they’re all great guys.”

In 2010, before signing with the Philadelphia Phillies and becoming a part of the starting pitching staff of Reading (AA) of the Eastern League, Esposito won three games for the Ducks, struck out 53 batters in 48 innings, and appeared in the Atlantic League All-Star game. In 2011, he enjoyed a stretch of 26 consecutive scoreless innings out of the bullpen for Reading.

This year, Esposito, 27, has been limited by a back injury that could require surgery, but the manager is optimistic he can return. He started seven games in the first half, going 2-3 with a pair of no-decisions. “Joe pitched really well for us a few years ago and was signed by Philly,” Baez said. “Like Reid, he’s got a tremendous work ethic and is a great guy to have on the team.”

Six Ducks in All-Star Game

Infielders Ray Navarrete, Dan Lyons, and Shawn Williams, outfielder Kraig Binick, and pitchers Jason Monti and Jeremy Hill were selected by fan, media, league official and coaching staff voting to play in this year’s Atlantic League All-Star Game in Camden, NJ. Baez, who won the 2004 All-Star Game MVP award while playing for the Ducks, coached the Liberty Division team.

Navarrete enjoyed a huge first half with a .322 average, 85 hits, nine homers, 48 RBIs and 43 runs. Binick, a Chaminade High School graduate and Hicksville native who last year batted a league-leading .343 with 42 stolen bases, leads the Ducks in steals again with 16 and has 72 hits and 39 runs, while Monti has five wins on the mound and 51 strikeouts in 62 innings.