Fehlandt Lentini is heading back to the Atlantic League after a trade with Bridgeport.
James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers
Tim Livingston, Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations
The Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club agreed to a trade that would send player-manager Fehlandt Lentini to the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League. Lentini will return to the league that he played in for two seasons in 2012 with the Lancaster Barnstormers and in 2014 with the Long Island Ducks. With the Ducks last season, Lentini hit .290/.328/.391 with six homers and 63 RBIs while going 46-for-46 in stolen base attempts.
With Sonoma in 2015, Lentini hit .289/.345/.409 with five home runs and 26 RBIs along with 26 runs scored. He was 6-for-7 in stolen base opportunities.
"Feh brought a ton of passion and energy to this team," said general manager Theo Fightmaster. "We wouldn't have had the success we had without his selfless contributions as a player and a manager. This was not an easy decision, but in our belief was the right one for the organization."
With Lentini's departure, bench coach and third base coach Takashi Miyoshi will take over as interim manager. Miyoshi is in his sixth season as a coach in the American independent leagues, having previously spent the last two seasons with the Grand Prairie Airhogs of the American Association. He has previously managed in the preparatory California Winter League, but with his appointment, he is now the first Japanese-born manager in the history of American professional baseball.
“Yoshi has been a fantastic addition to the clubhouse, the dugout and the organization,” Fightmaster said. “He’s prepared for this challenge and we have the upmost confidence that he can lead this team to continued success.”