Barnstormers Draft Three From Bridgeport

The Lancaster Barnstormers acquired the rights to three former Bridgeport Bluefish in today’s dispersal draft, it has been announced by manager Ross Peeples.

Left-handed pitcher Chris Rearick, right-hander Jonathan Albaladejo and outfielder Andrew Lambo were the three players selected by the Barnstormers, who drafted in the seventh position of the seven teams in the Wednesday morning draft.

Rearick, 29, was taken by the Barnstormers in the first round.  The Georgia-born southpaw, who now lives in Tomball, Texas, was 4-1 with a 3.02 ERA in nine starts for the Bluefish in 2017 before his contract was purchased by the Los Angeles Dodgers in June.  He made five starts at Class AA Tulsa later in the season.

The left-hander was 5-5 with a 4.23 ERA split between Bridgeport and Sugar Land in 2016.  Originally signed by Tampa Bay in 2010, Rearick reached the Major Leagues with San Diego for five appearances in 2015.

Albaladejo, 35, set the Atlantic League strikeout record with 164 in 2016 while going 15-6 for the Bluefish.  The native of Puerto Rico returned to Bridgeport in 2017 and posted a 7-6 record with a 4.44 ERA in 16 starts, two of them complete game efforts.  His contract was purchased by the New York Mets in late July.  Albaladejo went 2-4 with a 4.50 ERA at Class AAA Las Vegas, throwing a complete game win over Tacoma in his final start of the season.

The right-hander pitched in the Major Leagues for a portion of five seasons from 2007-12, appearing in games for the Washington Nationals, New York Yankees, and Arizona Diamondbacks.  He has a 6-3 record and 4.38 ERA over 66 big league appearances, all in relief.

Lambo, 29, joined the Bluefish in the middle of last season after beginning in the Oakland A’s system with Class AAA Nashville.  The lefty batter hit .293 for Bridgeport with five homers and 33 RBI, appearing in all three outfield positions.

Previously, the California native spent parts of four seasons in the Major Leagues with Oakland and Pittsburgh, appearing in 60 games.  He has one big league home run, off Cincinnati’s Logan Ondrusek, in 2013.  He is a career .276 hitter in the minor leagues.

“I think we got three really good players,” said Lancaster manager Ross Peeples.  “I decided to go the starting pitching route.  Both are veterans who have pitched well in our league.  Lambo gives us a veteran lefty bat.  I think all three can add great value to us.”