Dodgers News: A.J. Ellis Bobblehead Night Set For September 7

The Los Angeles Dodgers season is less than two months away and as always, the team is putting together another strong promotional schedule. Fans voted a few weeks ago for a bobblehead in the 2014 season and Brian Wilson was the overwhelming winner.

However, when the Arizona Diamondbacks visit Dodger Stadium on September 7, the first 50,000 fans in attendance will receive their very own A.J. Ellis bobblehead. Ellis was among one of the nominees for the fan vote bobblehead along with third baseman Juan Uribe.

The news comes on the heels of his wife, Cindy Ellis, sending out this tweet just three days ago:

All I want for my birthday is an @AJEllis17 bobblehead! Make it happen @Dodgers

— Cindy Ellis (@Cindyluellis) January 25, 2014

Ellis will be entering his second season as the Dodgers primary catcher and will be looked upon as a leader in the clubhouse after the departures of Skip Schumaker, Nick Punto, Jerry Hairston Jr. and Mark Ellis.

Here’s the official press release from the Dodgers about his special night:

LOS ANGELES – As part of their 2014 promotional schedule, the Los Angeles Dodgers will add an A.J. Ellis bobblehead. The first 50,000 fans in attendance on September 7 (vs. ARI) will receive an Ellis bobblehead. This marks the catcher’s first Dodger Stadium bobblehead.

 

Ellis has served as the Dodgers’ starting catcher for the past two years and is entering his 11th season with the organization after he was selected in the 18th round of the 2003 draft. The hard-working backstop guided the Dodgers’ pitching staff to the Majors’ second-lowest team ERA last year (3.25), when the club’s hurlers established a franchise record for strikeouts (1,292), and ranked second among MLB qualifiers by throwing out 40.7% of runners attempting to steal. At the plate, Ellis tied for third on the club with a career high-tying 52 RBI and hit 10 homers in 2013, including a game-winning solo shot on Sept. 19 at Arizona in the Dodgers’ division-clinching victory. In the postseason, the 32-year-old batted .323 with four doubles, a triple, a home run and three RBI, while catching every inning of the Dodgers’ 10 playoff games.