Brent Clevlen
Encyclopedia
Brent Aaron Clevlen is a Major League Baseball
outfielder
who currently plays in the Philadelphia Phillies
organization.
in the 2002 first-year player draft. He made his major league debut on July 30, 2006, in a 6–4 loss to the Minnesota Twins
. He started center field in his first game. His first catch in the field was intended to be a sacrifice fly
by Minnesota catcher
Joe Mauer
, but ended up being an inning-ending double play, as Clevlen threw out Luis Castillo
at home plate. In his first MLB at bat, he doubled off Twins ace Johan Santana
.
On August 1, 2006, in his second major league game, Clevlen hit his first major league
home run
against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
in the 5th inning off pitcher Travis Harper
. He later added another home run in the 9th inning off pitcher Ruddy Lugo
going 3-for-5 for the night, with 3 runs scored and 2 RBI.
Clevlen was optioned down to the Tiger's AAA-affiliate Toledo Mud Hens
later in the 2006 season as Alexis Gómez
emerged as a valuable bench player. Tigers manager Jim Leyland
has stated that Clevlen would benefit from playing everyday in Toledo, and remains second in the team's depth chart for center field. Following the season, Clevlen was named the third-best prospect and rated as possessing the best outfield arm in the Tigers organization by Baseball America
.
In , Brent was called up when the Detroit Tigers
expanded their rosters.
In , Clevlen was called up in place of injured Clete Thomas
, but returned to Toledo when Thomas was activated.
On July 31, , he was designated for assignment
by the Atlanta Braves
.
Clevlen signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds
on May 9, 2011, after starting the season with the Wichita Wingnuts
in independent baseball.
On August 4, 2011 Clevlen signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
who currently plays in the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
organization.
Personal life
Clevlen graduated from Westwood High School in 2002.Major leagues
Clevlen was a 2nd-round pick by the Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in the 2002 first-year player draft. He made his major league debut on July 30, 2006, in a 6–4 loss to the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. He started center field in his first game. His first catch in the field was intended to be a sacrifice fly
Sacrifice fly
In baseball, a sacrifice fly is a batted ball that satisfies four criteria:* There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit.* The ball is hit to the outfield....
by Minnesota catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Joe Mauer
Joe Mauer
Joseph Patrick Mauer is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Minnesota Twins. He is the only catcher in Major League history to win three batting titles...
, but ended up being an inning-ending double play, as Clevlen threw out Luis Castillo
Luis Castillo (baseball player)
Luis Antonio Castillo is a Major League Baseball second baseman who is currently a free agent. Castillo is a three-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner, and won the World Series with the Florida Marlins in 2003....
at home plate. In his first MLB at bat, he doubled off Twins ace Johan Santana
Johan Santana
Johan Alexander Santana Araque is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher who is currently playing for the New York Mets. He is a native of Venezuela....
.
On August 1, 2006, in his second major league game, Clevlen hit his first major league
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
in the 5th inning off pitcher Travis Harper
Travis Harper
Travis Boyd Harper is a former Major League Baseball player from Riverton, WV. Harper was a relief pitcher for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 2000-06.-High school and college:...
. He later added another home run in the 9th inning off pitcher Ruddy Lugo
Ruddy Lugo
Ruddy Joraider Lugo is a Dominican-American Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher in the Detroit Tigers organization. Lugo is the younger brother of Atlanta Braves shortstop Julio Lugo...
going 3-for-5 for the night, with 3 runs scored and 2 RBI.
Clevlen was optioned down to the Tiger's AAA-affiliate Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
later in the 2006 season as Alexis Gómez
Alexis Gómez
Alexis DeJesus Gómez is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently playing for Diablos Rojos of the Mexican League.-Minor leagues:...
emerged as a valuable bench player. Tigers manager Jim Leyland
Jim Leyland
James Richard "Jim" Leyland is a Major League Baseball manager, currently with the Detroit Tigers.He led the Florida Marlins to a World Series championship in 1997, and previously won three straight division titles with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
has stated that Clevlen would benefit from playing everyday in Toledo, and remains second in the team's depth chart for center field. Following the season, Clevlen was named the third-best prospect and rated as possessing the best outfield arm in the Tigers organization by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
.
In , Brent was called up when the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
expanded their rosters.
In , Clevlen was called up in place of injured Clete Thomas
Clete Thomas
Michael Clete Thomas is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball.-Career:...
, but returned to Toledo when Thomas was activated.
On July 31, , he was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
by the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
.
Clevlen signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
on May 9, 2011, after starting the season with the Wichita Wingnuts
Wichita Wingnuts
The Wichita Wingnuts are a professional baseball team based in Wichita, Kansas, in the United States. The Wingnuts are a member of the Central Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball.An expansion franchise in the...
in independent baseball.
On August 4, 2011 Clevlen signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.