Wardell returns to the Bluefish for his second season in the Atlantic League and ninth of professional baseball. The righthander last pitched in 2011 with Bridgeport, appearing in 12 games (10 starts) and posting a 4-2 record with a 3.21 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 67.1 innings pitched.

The 30-year-old was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fourth round of the 2002 amateur draft. He spent five years in the Pirates organization, including three 10+ win campaigns and reached as high as the Double-A level with Altoona in 2006.
Prior to making his Park City debut, the hurler recorded his best professional season in 2010 with Edinburg of the United League. He went 8-3 with a 2.94 ERA in 17 starts, including three complete games. Starling also displayed excellent control, finishing with a 4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio (88 strikeouts, 21 walks) in 101 innings pitched. Over the course of 165 career games (141 starts), he owns a 54-43 record with a 4.18 ERA and 580 punchouts in 813 innings of work.