Mazzola enters his first season with the Somerset Patriots and first year in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The 6’2” righty was named to the American Association Postseason All-Star team this year after leading the league in RBI (78) and finishing third in home runs (20). Mazzola also hit .259 with eight stolen bases, 18 doubles and was one of only six players in the league to play in all 100 games of the regular season.
The San Diego, California native had spent the previous four seasons with the Winnipeg Goldeyes, including another All-Star campaign in 2015. That year, Mazzola led the American Association in home runs (20) with a .279 average, 63 RBI and nine stolen bases over 99 games.
Mazzola has hit at least 16 home runs in each of his last five seasons in the American Association, including 18 homers (second-most in the league) in 2012 for the eventual league-champion Goldeyes. Additionally, Mazzola has only missed a combined six regular-season games over that stretch.
The Missouri State alumnus began his career in the San Francisco Giants organization, where he hit .281 with 34 home runs and 183 RBI over parts of four seasons. Overall, Mazzola owns a career .280 average with 124 home runs and 530 RBI in his nine-year professional career.