Hempstead, NY - Shortstop Austin Gauthier, a 2021 graduate of Hofstra University and a four-year member of the Pride baseball team, has signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization it was announced today. He is the eighth player in program history to sign with a major league organization as a free agent and he first since David Leiderman inked a deal with Miami in 2018.

A native of Lorton, Virginia, Gauthier is coming off a 2021 season that saw him earn First Team ABCA/Rawlings All-Northeast Region and All-Colonial Athletic Association accolades after batting .338 with 14 doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 22 RBIs, and 36 runs scored in 38 games. He walked 42 times and posted a .503 on-base percentage and a .617 slugging percentage.

Gauthier led the Pride in doubles, runs, on-base percentage and slugging, and ranked second in batting, home runs, and RBIs.

During the shortened 2020 season, Gauthier batted .411 in 14 games with six doubles, three home runs, 11 RBIs and 20 runs scored.

Over his four-year career, Gauthier played in 145 game with 144 starts. He compiled a career .285 batting average with 34 doubles, five triples, 14 home runs, 73 RBIs, and 108 runs scored.

Gauhier's signing comes on the heels of the MLB First Year Player draft that saw the Pride's Jimmy Joyce selected in the 16th round by the Seattle Mariners.