AtL Lancaster Stormers

Barnstormers Bladergroen Signed By Seattle Mariners

Published on November 10, 2008 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


LANCASTER, Pa.-Another member of the 2008 Lancaster Barnstormers is headed to a Major League organization. The Seattle Mariners signed Lancaster first baseman Ian Bladergroen, it was announced today. He has been invited to go to spring training with the Seattle Mariners in March.

Bladergroen, who will turn 26 in February, got off to a blazing start with the Barnstormers in 2008. He homered against Bridgeport in each of the first two games of the season and whacked a grand slam at York on May 13.

Through May 19, he was batting .319 with six homers and a league-leading 26 RBIs. That night, he sustained a broken bone in his right hand when he was hit by a pitch from Somerset's Josh Brey. The lefty slugger returned to the lineup on July 18 and finished the season batting .260 with 15 homers and 51 RBIs.

"Ian had a great first half and wound up with a great year in spite of his injuries," said Keith Lupton, Barnstormers vice president of baseball operations. "He contributed to many of our wins this year, and we're extremely happy for him."

Bladergroen's career was also sidetracked by injury in 2004. As a prospect in the New York Mets organization, the Savannah, Ga. resident was batting .342 with 13 homers and 74 RBIs in 72 games for Class A Capital City when he broke a wrist and was shelved for the remainder of the season. He was later acquired by the Boston Red Sox and spent two seasons in their organization before coming to the Atlantic League in 2007.

He batted .275 with nine homers and 51 RBIs for the Road Warriors that season and joined the Barnstormers in 2008.

Bladergroen becomes the second member of the 2008 Barnstormers signed by a Major League organization since the end of the season. Earlier, the Chicago White Sox acquired outfielder Jordan Herr. Overall, eight Lancaster players have been picked up by Major League organizations since the beginning of spring training.

"This is the most players we've had signed off the club in one year," Lupton said. "It just goes to prove the Atlantic League's formula for getting these guys back to Major League organizations is working well."

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