Four Sign With Bluefish
Published on April 7, 2009 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Bridgeport Bluefish News Release
(Bridgeport, CT - Apr. 7, 2009) - The Bridgeport Bluefish today announced the signings of pitchers Dan Reichert and Steve Bray, infielder Henry Mateo and outfielder Jordan Czarniecki. Mateo returns to Bridgeport after spending last season with the club, while Reichert will enter his third year in the Atlantic League. Bray and Czarniecki will both make their Atlantic League debuts.
Mateo returns to Bridgeport for his 15th season of professional baseball and second in the Atlantic League. Last year with the Bluefish, he set three single-season franchise records in at-bats (535), runs (100) and hits (170). The former Major-Leaguer also set career-highs with a .309 batting average, 31 doubles, six home runs and 47 extra-base hits. Before joining Bridgeport last year, he spent time with Toledo (AAA, Tigers) of the International League. The 32-year-old has played 12 seasons in the Montreal/Washington organization with 190 games at the big league level. He made his Major League debut in 2001 with the Expos and spent parts of the next five seasons with the club. Before getting the call, Mateo posted back-to-back 45-plus steal seasons in 2000 and 2001 with Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Ottawa, respectively. In 1,136 career minor league contests, the speedster has scored 1,143 runs and recorded 318 stolen bases.
Reichert's first season with the Bluefish is his third in the Atlantic League, and his 13th of professional baseball. The former big leaguer spent time in the majors with Royals and Blue Jays and played in the minors with the Brewers, Mariners, Indians and Pirates organizations. The California native began last season with Independent Southern Maryland (Atlantic) before being signed by the Indians and assigned to Triple-A Buffalo. He would finish the year splitting time between Triple-A Indianapolis and Double-A Altoona of the Pirates system. The 32-year-old has 21 career big league victories in 395 innings pitched. His best season came in 1999 when he posted a 9-2 record with a 3.71 ERA in 111 innings for Omaha (AAA, Royals) of the Pacific Coast League, earning him his first big league experience with Kansas City.
Bray joins the Bluefish for his first season in the Atlantic League and seventh of professional baseball. Last year, the Connecticut native split time between Nashville (AAA, Brewers) of the Pacific Coast League and Huntsville (AA, Brewers) of the Southern League. In 46 appearances, the righthander recorded two wins and 72 strikeouts in 75 innings of work. The 28-year-old began his professional career in 2003 as a member of the Rookie-level Royals. He has made four separate appearances at the Triple-A level during his career, with the first one coming in 2005 as a member of Omaha (Royals) of the Pacific Coast League. Bray's best season came in 2007 when he posted a 1.62 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 77 innings pitched with Triple-A Nashville. He owns a career 30-21 record with a 3.40 ERA, 21 saves and 424 strikeouts in 423 minor league innings.
Czarniecki enters his seventh season of professional baseball and first in the Atlantic League. Last year, he split time between Arkansas (AA, Angels) of the Texas League and Salt Lake (AAA, Angels) of the Pacific Coast League. The centerfielder recorded a .275 batting average with 37 extra-base hits, 11 stolen bases and a .991 fielding percentage in 108 games played. Jordan spent five seasons in the Colorado Rockies organization before joining the Angels system last year. The 28-year-olds best season came in 2004 with Asheville (A, Rockies) of the South Atlantic League. The Indiana native ranked eighth in the league with a .315 batting average and set career-highs with 16 home runs, 58 RBI, 120 hits and 30 stolen bases. In 601 career minor league games, he owns a .283 batting average and .989 fielding percentage.
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. 2009 season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 203-345-4800. Visit the Bluefish online at www.bridgeportbluefish.com.
Atlantic League Stories from April 7, 2009
- Four Sign With Bluefish - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Barnstormers add to rotation, bullpen next - Lancaster Stormers
- Blue Crabs Sign Four More Pitchers - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
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