Half a Dozen Bridgeport Players Had a Year Off, Yet Fulchino, Krum and Bluefish Are Doing Well

The roster the Bridgeport (CT) Bluefish are using to dominate the early going in the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League has a rare twist to it.  Nearly one-fourth of the team—six of the 26 players—were virtually nowhere to be seen one year ago.

Such former Independent players as Seattle closer Tom Wilhelmsen and newly-prized Los Angeles Angels reliever Dane DeLaRosa , both of whom missed at least one full season, are living proof a player can step aside for a time and come back, maybe even playing better than ever.  But six on one team.  That seems pretty unusual.  The number actually was seven until a couple of days ago when moundsman Wardell Starling walked away.

Anyway, the entire starting outfield that boosted Bridgeport to its eighth win in 12 games and a four game divisional bulge was out last season, as were three of Willie Upshaw’s relievers.  And the smiles adorning their faces leave little doubt they are delighted to be back on the diamond.

Closer Jeff Fulchino has returned after shoulder surgery, fellow right-hander Edward Rodriguez had elbow surgery and rightfielder Alexis Gomez admits he is just lucky to be alive after being the third party in an accident that took the lives of two motorcyclists.  Gold Glove leftfielder Austin Krum and reliever Travis Minix found themselves without a team to play for last year and heavily-publicized centerfielder Adam Greenberg admits he took virtually the entire 2012 season off “to get my life in order” even though much of the effort was to get his nutritional business (LuRong Living) on solid footing.

Fulchino, at 33-year-old with 163 games of major league relief (9-10, 4.84), and Krum have jumped out to league leadership although except for Rodriguez, who probably needs more time to fully recover from the Tommy John surgery, everyone in the group is putting up solid numbers.  Fulchino leads the Atlantic League in saves (five) and has a 1.50 ERA with eight strikeouts for six innings of work.  Krum, 27, vaulted to the top of the league hitting chart (16-for-40, .400) with a 4-for-4 day as Bridgeport topped Southern Maryland (Waldorf) 8-4 in a School Day game on Wednesday.

“I feel close to being back to where it (93-96 MPH) was,” said the 6-foot-4, 255-pound Fulchino, whose most extensive major league time has been with Houston .   “I just need repetition; I need the innings.”

“I think my skills are better (now); my focus is different,” said Krum, released the last day of spring training one year ago from the New York Yankees’ Triple-A team despite having won a Gold Glove as the top leftfielder in all of minor league baseball.

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In Minors, Chavez, Minicozzi Have Been Hot

Thinking about catchers, Zane Chavez reeled off seven hits in 13 at-bats over a four-game stretch until he took an 0-for-4 today (Thursday), but his first try at affiliated baseball still sees him hitting .299 with a .385 on-base percentage and playing regularly for Frederick, MD in the Baltimore system.  He started out in the Can-Am League (New Hampshire, Pittsfield, MA, New Jersey Jackals) and moved on to the Texas cities of Grand Prairie and El Paso in the American Association the last two seasons.

Another Can-Am ( Worcester , MA ) and Atlantic League ( Camden , NJ ) player along with time at Winnipeg and Kansas City , KS when the current American Association cities were in the Northern League, infielder Mark Minicozzi also went hitless today after four games in which he went 7-for-16 for San Francisco ‘s Double-A farm in Richmond , VA. He is at .247 for 25 games with eight doubles and 11 runs batted in.

Cheering for This Air Force Vet

Frontier League players, with rare exceptions, must be no older than 27, but the league has a new rule exempting military veterans.  This gives a fresh opportunity to 28-year-old Blake Helm , whose college career at Lincoln Land Community College ( Springfield , IL ) and Murray (KY) State was plaqued by issues such as a tumor at the top of his femur, two surgeries for a torn tendon in his hand, still another hand injury and a separated shoulder.  He was in the Air Force from 2009 until January, and only recently signed on to try making it with the Schaumburg (IL) Boomers.

“I couldn’t be happier to have the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream here in Schaumburg”, he said.  Young Mr. Helm, a 6-foot outfielder, should have plenty of emotional support.

By BOB DUTTON The Kansas City Star

Updated: 2013-03-26T05:37:57Z

            (This is an excerpt from the column Bob Wirz writes year round on Independent Baseball.  Forty columns are planned during 2013.  Fans may subscribe at www.WirzandAssociates.com , enjoy added stories on the blog www.IndyBaseballChatter.com , or comment to RWirz@aol.com .  The author has 16 years of major league baseball public relations experience with Kansas City and as spokesman for two Commissioners and lives in Stratford, CT.)