All-time Bluefish RBI leader returns; Garvey added
(Bridgeport, Conn. – Feb. 19, 2013) – The Bridgeport Bluefish today announced the signings of infielder Luis Lopez and outfielder Robbie Garvey. Lopez returns for his sixth season in the Park City, while Garvey will make his Atlantic League debut.
“It’s a pleasure to have Luis back in a Bluefish uniform,” says Bluefish manager Willie Upshaw. “He has been a tremendous asset to this club and a great presence in the clubhouse since 2008. We’re also pleased to welcome Robbie on board and we look forward to his contributions.”
Lopez will be back in Bridgeport for his 19th season of professional baseball. In 132 games with Bridgeport last year, he recorded a .265 batting average with 73 RBI and 54 runs scored in 472 at-bats. After five successful seasons in the Park City, Luis is now among the all-time Bluefish batting leaders, pacing the franchise in doubles (117), RBI (349), and walks (325). He also ranks second in games played (639), at-bats (2,360), and hits (668), and fourth in runs scored (318). The former Major Leaguer spent two seasons in the big leagues, his first coming in 2001 with the Toronto Blue Jays. He spent the next two years with Sacramento (AAA, Athletics) of the Pacific Coast League before returning to the Major Leagues with the Montreal Expos in 2004. The infielder’s best season came in 1997 with Single-A Hagerstown (South Atlantic) when he paced the league in hits (180) and batting average (.358), while posting career-highs in doubles (47), extra-base hits (63) and RBI (99). In 1,968 career minor league games, Lopez owns a .297 batting average with 2,168 hits, 433 doubles, 162 home runs, 1,172 RBI and 1,054 runs scored.
Garvey enters his fourth season of professional baseball. Last year, the outfielder was a member of the Washington Wild Things of the Independent Frontier League. In 56 games, he batted .220 with 26 runs scored and 17 stolen bases. The 23-year-old was originally signed by the Milwaukee Brewers as an undrafted free agent in 2010 and got off to a hot start in his first professional experience. In 61 games with the Brewers Rookie-level affiliate, he batted .310 with 21 extra-base hits, 45 runs scored, 33 RBI and 13 stolen bases. The following season the speedster stole 14 bases between Rookie-level Helena and Single-A Wisconsin. Garvey owns a .250 average with 105 runs scored and 44 stolen bases in 208 career minor league games.
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. 2013 season tickets and ticket plans are available by calling 203-345-4800. Visit the Bluefish online at www.bridgeportbluefish.com.
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