Worcester Inks Ed Riley
January 24, 2011 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
The Worcester Tornadoes announced today that the club added 13 years of minor league experience, eight years of pitching experience in the Boston Red Sox system, and another player with local ties - as well as 15 siblings - with the signing of new manager Ed Riley. "We are delighted to have Ed back in the Tornadoes family. There are tremendous synergistic advantages with Ed as our manager on the field and in the community," said owner, Todd Breighner.
In Riley, the Tornadoes have a leader who has enjoyed substantial success throughout his baseball career, with both affiliated and independent teams. In 280 appearances over his 13 minor league seasons, Riley compiled a career record of 81-69 with an impressive 3.40 ERA. He later came out of retirement to join the Worcester Tornadoes in 2005 during their inaugural season in the Can-Am League. He retired completely from playing baseball mid-season and subsequently was named the Tornadoes' Director of Baseball Operations. "I ¬â¢m excited and honored to be involved again with the Tornadoes," said Riley.
Riley was a standout prep pitcher at St. Peter-Marian High School. As a senior at St. Peter-Marian in 1988, Riley was named Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year and was a finalist for National Player of the Year honors. He attracted nationwide attention when he pushed his winning streak to 33 games, tying a national record for high school lefties.
Riley ¬â¢s prep success attracted the attention of the Red Sox, who selected him in the sixth round of the 1988 draft. By 1992 he was pitching for the Double-A New Britain Red Sox, where he went 10-8 and registered a 2.45 ERA en route to the Eastern League Lefthanded Pitcher of the Year award. By the end of that same season, Riley had reached Triple-A with the Pawtucket Red Sox, just one step below the big leagues.
Riley went on to enjoy three more seasons in the Red Sox system, splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A. In 1996, he signed with the Albany Diamond Dogs, a member of the independent Northeast League. Riley dominated immediately, notching an 11-1 record and 1.78 ERA to earn Northeast League Pitcher of the Year honors.
After a 7-1 campaign in 1997, Riley moved even closer to home, signing with the Nashua Pride of the independent Atlantic League. Again, he made an immediate impact in his new surroundings, winning a league-leading 13 games in 1998. In three seasons with the Pride, Riley tallied 26 total wins, a career franchise record that still stands in Nashua.
Following the 2000 season, Riley returned to the Red Sox, this time as a member of the major league staff. He assisted Red Sox pitching coach Joe Kerrigan and hitting coach Rick Down for the 2001 season, managing batting and pitching practices and assembling video for the two.
Since his playing days, Riley, the youngest of 16 children, has spent the last several years operating Riley Baseball Instruction in West Boylston.
"Ed has a wealth of minor league playing experience and I think that is going to resonate extremely well with our younger players," said General Manager, Jorg Bassiacos
Canadian American League Stories from January 24, 2011
- Worcester Inks Ed Riley - Worcester Tornadoes
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