{"id":208,"date":"2019-07-17T18:18:00","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wcsu.wpengine.com\/news-archives\/bierfeldtbigleagues\/"},"modified":"2019-07-17T18:18:00","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:00","slug":"bierfeldtbigleagues","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/news-archives\/bierfeldtbigleagues\/","title":{"rendered":"2013 WCSU baseball star Bierfeldt takes first step toward big leagues"},"content":{"rendered":"
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DANBURY, CONN. <\/strong>\u2014 Western Connecticut State University<\/a> Colonials<\/a> star Conor Bierfeldt<\/a> has wasted no time since his May graduation embarking on his pursuit of a career in professional baseball, landing an assignment to play this summer for a minor league franchise in Maryland after his selection by the Baltimore Orioles in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft held in June.<\/p>\n

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Tapped in the 29th round of the 2013 MLB draft, Bierfeldt signed with the Orioles organization on June 14 and immediately joined the Single-A Aberdeen (Md.) IronBirds<\/a> franchise, owned by legendary Orioles shortstop and Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. and his brother Billy, also a former Orioles infielder. In the first seven weeks of the season through July 30, Bierfeldt has proven a mainstay in the outfield and reliable power hitter batting in the cleanup position, leading the team in home runs and ranking third in runs batted in and runs scored.<\/p>\n

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His solid start with the IronBirds follows an unparalleled four-year record of success with the Western Colonials that shattered school records for offensive production, achieving a remarkable batting average of .412 and 148 RBIs over four seasons from 2010 through 2013. As the recipient of the Little East Conference<\/a> (LEC) Baseball Player of the Year award in both 2012 and 2013, he became the first athlete in conference history ever to earn the honor twice in his college career. His extraordinary achievements also garnered recognition with his selection as a first-team outfielder on 2013 all-conference squads named by the LEC and the Eastern College Athletic Conference<\/a>. He was named American Baseball Coaches Association New England Player of the Year and a first-team All-American in 2012, and was named this year to the All-America third team.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe biggest difference between college and pro ball has been getting used to the grind of playing every day,\u201d Bierfeldt observed. \u201cPro ball is all baseball, all the time.\u201d While he said he has come to appreciate the opportunities to unwind from competition and focus on class work and other off-the-field activities during his college years, he stressed that the demanding travel and full game schedule with only a rare day off \u201creally isn\u2019t that bad at all. I wouldn\u2019t choose it any differently.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In his more than 30 years in baseball coaching and 14 years as head coach of the Colonials, John Susi<\/a> had not experienced the thrill of having one of his players chosen in the MLB draft prior to Bierfeldt\u2019s selection in June. Susi and his assistant coaches had recognized Bierfeldt\u2019s promise when they recruited him in 2009 as a standout player at Torrington High School, but it was not until his emergence as an offensive force and all-conference outfielder in his sophomore year that they sensed his potential to make the leap to professional baseball.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe call some of our best players \u2018jumpers,\u2019 kids whose skills jump from one level to the next, and that\u2019s what Conor was,\u201d Susi said. \u201cHe made it very easy to be his coach; he just worked harder and harder, step by step each year. When he came back for his junior year, we were expecting good things, and his skills just went through the roof.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Bierfeldt noted he has remained in touch with Susi on a daily basis, \u201cand it is incredible to have that support even after I finished my time at school. I know I wouldn\u2019t be where I am today without the tutelage and experience I received at Western. I grew to a different level from high school to now, and the constants through those four years were coach Susi and (assistant Colonials) coaches Bill Walton and Matt Perper.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Susi learned another lesson about his star player when \u2014 realizing that Bierfeldt\u2019s performance in his junior year had made him a legitimate prospect for the 2012 MLB draft \u2014 he offered to begin contacting professional baseball organizations to gauge their interest. \u201cConor told me, \u2018Wait until next year before you start contacting people \u2014 I\u2019m going to graduate first,\u2019\u201d Susi recalled. This May he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in the marketing program of the WCSU Ancell School of Business<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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In the months leading up to the 2013 draft, Susi and Bierfeldt had discussions with representatives of the Orioles as well as several other organizations, including the Kansas City Royals and the Seattle Mariners. The Colonials star joined other prospects at Camden Yards prior to the draft for a workout providing Orioles staff with an opportunity to make first-hand evaluations.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe had a pretty good idea that he would be picked, but the draft days were still a nerve-wracking experience,\u201d Susi said. \u201cYou wait and wait and wait, and when his name was called, it was amazing to hear! It is one of those moments I will remember forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Within a week of his draft selection, Bierfeldt traveled to Sarasota to the Orioles minor league camp and shipped out the same day to Maryland to join the Aberdeen IronBirds. Susi noted the assignment to the Single-A franchise in the New York-Penn League allowed Bierfeldt to bypass the Rookie Leagues, an entry-level tier for many young players starting out in professional baseball.<\/p>\n

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Bierfeldt now plays for first-year Aberdeen manager Matt Merullo<\/a>, a major league veteran and familiar figure in Connecticut sports. Formerly a resident of Ridgefield, Merullo played at the MLB level from 1989 through 1994 as a catcher for the Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians. Since his retirement, he has served as a regional scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks and has operated a baseball academy for youth in Madison, Conn., where he now resides.<\/p>\n

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When Susi recently visited Fishkill, N.Y., to see the IronBirds in action against the rival Hudson Valley Renegades, he had the opportunity to chat with his former player after the game and meet Merullo. The IronBirds manager observed that Bierfeldt was holding his own in competition with higher draft picks from larger colleges, Susi said. Merullo reaffirmed that positive impression when contacted in late July for his evaluation of Bierfeldt\u2019s performance at mid-season.<\/p>\n

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\u201cConor has been a solid player so far this season for us,\u201d Merullo said. \u201cHe has really adapted well to being placed in the cleanup hitter\u2019s role. He stays even-keeled emotionally and has been a great addition for us in the outfield. He makes solid contact with the ball and has translated his success at the Division III level to minor league ball.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Bierfeldt said his manager understands the move from college to professional baseball can be difficult, and has eased that transition with his positive mentoring to share his extensive experience in all aspects of the game.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThere\u2019s no such thing as an easy day at the office because everyone you go up against is a professional just like you,\u201d he remarked. \u201cMatt and his coaching staff are helping all of us rookies get used to the professional mindset. The little things become that much more important \u2014 the way you prepare each day, the way you conduct yourself, the way you deal with failure, the way you deal with success.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Susi observed that Bierfeldt\u2019s personal story holds a wider message for current and future college baseball players. \u201cIt is good for these kids to know that, if they don\u2019t want to pursue their education and their sports at a big university, they will still get noticed in their athletic and academic pursuits at a Division III college,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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\u201cFor Conor, I hope that his career in baseball will be a long and successful story,\u201d he added. \u201cBut I know he\u2019ll be successful at whatever he does in the working world. That\u2019s just the way he is.\u201d <\/p>\n

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For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.<\/p>\n

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\n Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England\u2019s best small private universities.
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