Bluefish reel in 11
Published on March 28, 2007 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Bridgeport Bluefish News Release
Bridgeport, CT (March 28, 2007) - The Bridgeport Bluefish announced that they have signed eleven players for the upcoming 2007 season. Joining the team this year will be pitchers Albie Lopez and Franklin Perez. Also coming to Bridgeport for the first time will be outfielders Jeremy Ware and Shaun Boyd, along with infielders Jesse Hoorelbeke and Milko Jaramillo. The Bluefish also re-signed several members of their 2006 North Division Champion squad. Rejoining the team are pitchers Matt Beech and Sean Fesh, along with infielders John Nathans, Luis Figueroa and outfielder Bobby Darula. The Bluefish also announced that Pitching Coach Brian Warren will be returning to the team in the same capacity.
Lopez, 35, joins the Bluefish after spending 11 seasons in the big leagues with the Indians, Devil Rays, Diamondbacks, Braves and Royals. Lopez had his best season in 1998 with Tampa Bay going 7-4 with a 2.60 ERA in 79.2 innings out of the bullpen. The right-hander also won a World Series with Arizona in 2001.
Perez, 28, is a big, tall right-hander who split last season between AA Altoona and AAA Memphis. The 6-foot, 220 pound native of the Dominican Republic is a veteran of eight professional seasons. During his Altoona stint in 2006, he amassed a 2-1 record and a 2.57 ERA in 16 appearances. Perez had his best professional season in 2005 when he collected 23 saves for AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre.
Ware, 31, is a veteran of 12 minor league seasons, spending the majority of his career in the Montreal Expos organization. Last year, the Ontario native played for the Edmonton Cracker-Cats of the Northern League and posted a .283 average with 7 homers, 40 RBI and 23 doubles. The six-foot righty was a member of the Canadian baseball team during the 2004 Olympics.
Boyd, 25, was a first round pick (13th overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2000 amateur draft. The 1st team High School All-American out of Vista, CA split last season between AA Springfield and AAA Memphis. He went a combined .247 with 3 dingers and 28 RBI last season.
Hoorelbeke, 29, joins the Bluefish after a monster season with the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks where he hit .322 with 21 home runs and 65 RBI. He also spent some time with the AAA Iowa Cubs and hit 5 homers and drove in 9 in only 14 games. The first-baseman was selected to the Baseball America All-Independent team in 2006.
Jaramillo, a 27 year-old native of Caracas, Venezuela has spent parts of 10 seasons with the Dodgers, Cardinals and Brewers organization. Last year, the shortstop split time between Class-A Brevard County, AA Huntsville and AAA Nashville.
Beech, 35, is returning for his second season in a Bluefish uniform. The lefty had a solid season last year, going 7-6 with a 4.34 ERA. Beech an Oakland, CA native is a veteran of three major league stints with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Fesh, a Bethel, Connecticut native is entering his 17th professional season and his third with the Bluefish. Last year, Fesh posted impressive numbers, compiling a 3-3 record with a 3.57 ERA pitching out of the bullpen.
Nathans, 27 returns to the 'Fish after splitting last season between Bridgeport and the Newark Bears. The C/OF hit .230 during his 39 game stint in Bridgeport.
Figueroa, 30, also returns to Bridgeport after posting a .319 average with 3 homers and 17 RBI in 32 games. He's a veteran of 12 professional seasons, spending a majority of his time in the Seattle Mariners organization.
Also returning to the Bluefish is Greenwich, CT native Bobby Darula. The 32-year old outfielder split time last year between Bridgeport and AA Mississippi before his year was cut short due to injury. During his brief stint with the 'Fish, he hit .358 and knocked in 10 in 21 games.
Warren, 39, will be entering his second season as Bluefish Pitching Coach. Warren pitched two seasons for the Bluefish in 2004 and 2005 out of the bullpen. He will assist Field Manager Tommy John with the development of the Bluefish pitching staff.
The Bridgeport Bluefish Professional Baseball Club, a charter team in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, plays its home games at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard, located off Exit 27 of I-95 on the corner of Broad Street and South Frontage Road in Bridgeport. 2007 season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 203-345-4800. The Bluefish home opener is May 4th at 7:05 pm vs. the York Revolution. Visit the Bluefish on-line at www.bridgeportbluefish.com.
Atlantic League Stories from March 28, 2007
- Bluefish reel in 11 - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Another strange sighting around downtown York - York Revolution
- Bears sign infielder Colina, add pitcher Trujillo - Newark Bears
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
