Two Former Big League Pitchers Join Bluefish

March 26, 2014 - Atlantic League (AtL) Bridgeport Bluefish (Bridgeport, Conn. - March 26, 2014) - The Bridgeport Bluefish today announced the signings of pitchers Hunter Jones and Jaye Chapman. Jones returns for his second tour in the Park City, while Chapman makes his Atlantic League debut.

"Both of these players are great additions to our pitching staff for the 2014 season," says Bluefish manager Willie Upshaw. "Hunter was an important part of our rotation last year and will anchor it once again, while Jaye adds depth to our bullpen."

Jones returns to the Bluefish for his second year in Bridgeport, third in the Atlantic League and ninth of professional baseball. For the first time in his career, Hunter started every game that he appeared for Bridgeport in 2013. He collected an 8-13 record in 26 starts with a 4.19 ERA and two complete game shutouts while striking out 105 in a career high 156.2 innings pitched. After a spring stint with the Boston Red Sox in 2012, the former Major Leaguer was picked up by Southern Maryland marking his first year in the Atlantic League. With Southern Maryland, he started 15 games, compiling a 4.66 ERA with a 3-5 record. The southpaw walked only 31 batters in 87.0 innings pitched, while striking out 68. During his minor league career, Jones owns a 33-37 record with a 3.66 ERA and 532 strikeouts over the course of 627 innings of work.

The 30-year-old lefthander was originally signed by Boston as a non drafted free agent in 2005. His best season came with Triple-A Pawtucket in 2008, where he posted a 7-2 record with a 2.45 ERA in 35 appearances. In 2009 he was called up to the Majors, where he saw action in 11 games from the bullpen and finished one game for the Red Sox. The following season, Hunter was traded to the Florida Marlins where he spent the majority of the year with Triple-A New Orleans (4.17 ERA in 45.1 IP). He did see three games with the Marlins in 2010, pitching in 1.2 innings, allowing no hits. During his Major League career, Jones has appeared in 14 games over the course of 14.1 innings of work striking out 12.

Chapman enters his ninth season in professional baseball and his first in the Atlantic League. Last year, the Florida native pitched in four games out of the bullpen with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. Jaye ended 2012 with the Chicago Cubs and in his only Major League stint; he appeared in 14 games (all in relief) and had a 3.75 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 12 innings.

The 26-year-old was traded in 2012 from the Atlanta Braves organization along with Arodys Vizcaino to the Chicago Cubs for Major League veterans Reed Johnson and Paul Maholm. Before he was promoted to the big leagues in September, 2012, Chapman appeared in 50 games for three minor league teams including the Double-A and Triple-A affiliates of the Cubs, registering a 4.02 ERA combined with seven saves and 72 strikeouts in 65 innings. He began his professional career in 2006 with the rookie league Danville Braves of the Appalachian League after being drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 16th round of the MLB Amateur Draft. In 256 minor league games (eight starts), the right-hander has a 17-24 record with a 4.21 ERA, 28 saves and 411 strikeouts in 388.2 innings.

The Bridgeport Bluefish are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard. For further information, call 203-210-BLUE (2583) or visit BridgeportBluefish.com.

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Two Former Big League Pitchers Join Bluefish