Courtesy Bridgeport Bluefish

By Bob Phillips

BRIDGEPORT – Sometimes, life in the Atlantic League resembles an Edgar Allan Poe poem. Indeed, “The Raven Syndrome” has struck the – Sometimes, life in the Atlantic League resembles an Edgar Allan Poe poem. Indeed, “The Raven Syndrome” has struck the Bridgeport Bluefish once more. Do what you may to construct the most competitive team as possible, your best players—particularly pitchers—seem to get plucked off by MLB organizations seeking depth to stockpile in the high minors, or by foreign professional leagues (primarily Mexico and Asia) that can offer far more money than what is available in Independent League Baseball. And so it is that the ’Fish have had one of their top pitchers—starter Cory Riordan—scarfed up by the Fubon Guardians of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) in Taiwan.

Riordan, who started 14 games this year for Bridgeport, owned a 7-3 record with a 3.29 ERA, 88 strikeouts in 93 innings. The 6-4 right hander from Killingworth also had two complete games on his resume—tied for the Atlantic League lead in that category—at the time of his departure.

Named a member of the Liberty Division All Star Team earlier this month, Riordan made his Atlantic League debut in 2015 with the ‘Fish. That year he posed a 3.61 ERA with 82 strikeouts in 117.0 innings in 18 appearances (17 starts). Then, midway through that season, earned his first trip to Asia when his contract was purchased by the Lamigo Monkeys ( Kaohsiung, Taiwan) of the CPBL. Later that season, he returned to Bridgeport and finished the 2015 campaign with the 'Fish. Atlantic League players signed to short-term contracts often return to their “home bases” late in the season.

During the 2015-16 offseason, Riordan was signed by the Detroit Tigers organization that following offseason, and split his time in 2016 between Detroit affiliates AAA Toledo of the International League and AA Erie of the Eastern League, the league in which the Hartford Yard Goats currently play. In 27 combined games, Riordan won six games, striking out 113 batters and posting a 4.86 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 153.2 innings.

“Cory has been great for us on the mound this year, as well as in 2015 during his Bluefish debut,” said Bluefish general manager Paul Herrmann. “We wish him the best of luck overseas.”

Riordan is the seventh Bridgeport player to have his contract purchased during the 2017 season. No word as yet regarding who will take his spot on the roster.

The Bluefish wrap up a three-game series in York, Pa., vs. the Revolution and return to the Park City tomorrow night where they will open a three-game weekend series with their cross-Sound arch rivals, the Long Island Ducks. First pitch on Friday night will be at 7:12 p.m. Friday will be “Bark in the Park” night. Fans are invited to bring their four-legged friends, and complementary Bluefish bandanas will be given to the first 500 fans through the turnstiles. Tickets are available at the Bluefish box office at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard, or by clicking HERE .



—with staff reports