The Bridgeport Bluefish today announced the signings of pitchers Julio Manon and Raymar Diaz. Both Manon and Diaz will make their Park City debuts.
“We’re excited to add two experienced arms to our club,” says Bluefish manager Willie Upshaw. “They will help bolster our pitching staff.”
Manon is in his 16th season of professional baseball and fourth in the Atlantic League. He began the year with Laguna of the Mexican League where he went 0-2 with six saves and a 5.30 ERA in 15 appearances out of the bullpen. The righty allowed 19 hits, 11 runs, and 11 walks in 18.2 innings pitched, with 20 strikeouts. The 38-year-old has played for numerous Major League Baseball organizations over the course of his career, including the Cardinals, Rays, Mariners, Expos, Orioles, Reds, and A’s. Julio made it to The Show in 2003 with 23 games out of the ‘pen for Montreal, going 1-2 with a 4.13 ERA. He again reached the Majors in 2006 with Baltimore, going 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 22 appearances. Manon is no stranger to the Atlantic League, having pitched for York for part of last season and Long Island for parts of 2008 and 2009. During his minor league career, the Dominican Republic native has a 58-65 record in 479 games (100 starts), with a 3.92 ERA, 103 saves, and 1,088 strikeouts. Manon was originally signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 1992.
Diaz makes his Atlantic League debut for the Bluefish in his ninth season of professional baseball. He split last season between independent Rockford of the Northern League and St. George of the Golden League, totaling a 6-7 record, 80 strikeouts, 112 innings, and a 3.86 ERA, in 18 starts between the two clubs. Before joining St. George in 2009, the 27-year-old spent his entire career with the Houston Astros organization. He reached as high as Salem in the Carolina League (High A), pitching there from 2006-2008. The Dominican native’s best season in Salem came in 2007, when he went 8-7 with a 3.87 ERA in 33 games (20 starts). He added 116 strikeouts in 137.1 innings on the mound. Raymar has a career 47-40 record in the minor leagues, with a 3.68 ERA and 667 strikeouts in 258 games, including 90 starts. Diaz was originally drafted out of Laredo Community College by the Houston Astros in the 29th round of the 2001 amateur draft, then again by the Astros in the 47th round of the 2002 amateur draft.
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. 2011 season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 203-345-4800. Visit the Bluefish online at www.bridgeportbluefish.com.
