Brian Bixler
Encyclopedia
Brian Joseph Bixler (born October 22, 1982 in Sandusky, Ohio
) is a Major League Baseball
shortstop
for the Houston Astros
.
for the Delaware Cows.
. He spent 2004 in the short-season New York - Penn League
playing for the Williamsport Crosscutters
. He spent his first full professional season with the Class-A Hickory Crawdads
. In , Bixler played for both the High-A Lynchburg Hillcats
and the Double-A Altoona Curve
. He was invited to spring training
by the Pirates in , batting
.359 with a .970 OPS
. http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/stats/sortable_player_stats.jsp?c_id=pit&baseballScope=PT1&teamPosCode=all&statType=Overview&timeSubFrame=23&sitSplit=&venueID=&Submit=Submit&timeFrame=1 In 2007, Bixler played for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians
, and was named the team's most valuable player. On November 20, 2007, the Pirates purchased his contract, protecting Bixler from the Rule 5 Draft
.
. That same day, Bixler made his major league debut against the Florida Marlins
as a pinch hitter
and struck out
in his only at bat
.
He spent the majority of the season in Indianapolis
, but made several short appearances for the Pirates. On September 2, he was recalled again when the rosters expanded.
, but was reassigned to AAA (Indianapolis Indians
) on March 30.
He was recalled to Pittsburgh in late April after Jack Wilson was placed on the disabled list
. In 8 games with Pittsburgh, he batted .200. He was optioned back to AAA when Wilson returned from injury.
After the June call-ups of AAA outfielders Steven Pearce, Garrett Jones
and Jeff Salazar
to Pittsburgh, Bixler began to see playing time in center field due to the shortage of players on the roster.
Bixler was again recalled to Pittsburgh in mid-August.
for Jesus Brito. He was designated for assignment
by the Indians on March 17, 2010 to make room on the 40-man roster for Anderson Hernández
, and was subsequently sent outright to the minors. On July 11, he was traded back to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was traded to the Washington Nationals towards the end of the season for cash.
Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Erie County. It is located in northern Ohio and is situated on the shores of Lake Erie, almost exactly half-way between Toledo to the west and Cleveland to the east....
) is a Major League Baseball
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...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.
College career
Bixler attended college at Eastern Michigan. Bixler also played in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate LeagueGreat Lakes Summer Collegiate League
The Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League is an collegiate summer baseball league in the Great Lakes region of the United States that is affiliated with the Alliance of Summer College Baseball and comprises teams with collegiate baseball players from around North America. Players are not paid so...
for the Delaware Cows.
Professional career
Bixler was Pittsburgh's second-round pick in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft2004 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
. He spent 2004 in the short-season New York - Penn League
New York - Penn League
The New York – Penn League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the northeastern United States. It is classified as a "Short-Season A" league; its season starts in June, after major-league teams have signed their amateur draft picks to professional contracts, and ends in early...
playing for the Williamsport Crosscutters
Williamsport Crosscutters
The Williamsport Crosscutters are a Short-Season A classification minor league baseball team based in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
. He spent his first full professional season with the Class-A Hickory Crawdads
Hickory Crawdads
The Hickory Crawdads are a Minor League Baseball team in Hickory, North Carolina, USA. They are a Class A team in the South Atlantic League, and have been a farm team of the Texas Rangers since 2009. Previously, they were a Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Crawdads play home games...
. In , Bixler played for both the High-A Lynchburg Hillcats
Lynchburg Hillcats
The Lynchburg Hillcats are a minor league baseball team in Lynchburg, Virginia. They are a Class High-A team in the Carolina League, and currently are a farm team of the Atlanta Braves. They had been a farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1995, with the Cincinnati Reds fulfilling the final...
and the Double-A Altoona Curve
Altoona Curve
The Altoona Curve are a minor league baseball team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve . The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club...
. He was invited to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
by the Pirates in , batting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.359 with a .970 OPS
On-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging is a sabermetric baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The ability of a player to both get on base and to hit for power, two important hitting skills, are represented. An OPS of .900 or higher in Major League...
. http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/stats/sortable_player_stats.jsp?c_id=pit&baseballScope=PT1&teamPosCode=all&statType=Overview&timeSubFrame=23&sitSplit=&venueID=&Submit=Submit&timeFrame=1 In 2007, Bixler played for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
, and was named the team's most valuable player. On November 20, 2007, the Pirates purchased his contract, protecting Bixler from the Rule 5 Draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
.
2008
Bixler did not make the Pirates' opening day roster in , but received a call-up on April 6 when Jack Wilson was placed on the disabled listDisabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
. That same day, Bixler made his major league debut against the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
and struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
in his only at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
.
He spent the majority of the season in Indianapolis
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
, but made several short appearances for the Pirates. On September 2, he was recalled again when the rosters expanded.
2009
Bixler attended spring trainingSpring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, but was reassigned to AAA (Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
) on March 30.
He was recalled to Pittsburgh in late April after Jack Wilson was placed on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
. In 8 games with Pittsburgh, he batted .200. He was optioned back to AAA when Wilson returned from injury.
After the June call-ups of AAA outfielders Steven Pearce, Garrett Jones
Garrett Jones
Garrett Thomas Jones is a Major League Baseball outfielder/first baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates.In 1999, Jones graduated from Victor J. Andrew High School in Tinley Park, Illinois....
and Jeff Salazar
Jeff Salazar
Jeffrey Dewan Salazar is a Major League Baseball outfielder. He made his major league debut on September 7, ....
to Pittsburgh, Bixler began to see playing time in center field due to the shortage of players on the roster.
Bixler was again recalled to Pittsburgh in mid-August.
2010
On January 18, Bixler was traded to the Cleveland IndiansCleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for Jesus Brito. 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 Indians on March 17, 2010 to make room on the 40-man roster for Anderson Hernández
Anderson Hernández
Anderson Hernández is a middle infielder in Anderson Hernández is a middle [[infielder]] in Anderson Hernández is a middle [[infielder]] in [[Major League Baseball]...
, and was subsequently sent outright to the minors. On July 11, he was traded back to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was traded to the Washington Nationals towards the end of the season for cash.