Courtesy of Santa Fe Fuego
We'll miss you, Omar. Good luck in the majors!
A popular player who was part of this year's league champion Santa Fe Fuego baseball team is heading to the majors.
According to a post on the team's website today, Omar Artsen has signed with the Miami Marlins and will report to spring training early next year in Jupiter, Fla.
The slight, fast-moving Artsen set the Pecos Baseball League record with 52 stolen bases, earning a .397 batting average and cheers from crowds at the Fort Marcy Mager's Field as he also played second base last season.
Santa Fe Fuego was an expansion team for the league in 2012 and this summer defeated the Texas-based Alpine Cowboys in the championship series for the baseball club that has now grown to include teams in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Texas.
"I loved my time in Santa Fe," Artsen is quoted as saying on the team's website. "It gave me my opportunity and I enjoyed winning the championship."
Santa Fe Manager Bill Moore calls Artsen a "great player" and says he expects him to do well for the Marlins.
The Fuego home opener for the upcoming season is scheduled for May 20, 2015.
