Bixler Named Tribe's July Player Of The Month
Published on August 7, 2009 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
INDIANAPOLIS -- Infielder Brian Bixler has been named Indianapolis Indians Player of the Month for July. He will receive a custom-made watch -- courtesy of Windsor Jewelers -- before Saturday night's contest vs. Charlotte.
Bixler went 37-for-108 (.343) with 17 runs, six doubles, three triples, six home runs, 20 RBI, seven walks and six stolen bases during the season's fourth month. The right handed slugger collected a hit in 21 of 28 July contests and also reached base in all but four games during the month.
The 6-1 utilityman's six long balls were the most in a single month for his career, while his six triples pushed him into a tie for the International League lead with a total of eight three-baggers. Bixler also currently ranks third among IL league leaders with 65 runs scored on the season.
The 26-year old also continues to thrive in clutch situations for the Tribe as he is batting a team best .371 (26-for-70) with a team high 29 RBI when runners are in scoring position and is batting .393 (11-for-28) in the ninth inning and beyond.
Bixler has spent all seven years of his professional career in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization after they drafted him out of Eastern Michigan University in the second round of the 2004 draft. At EMU he was a Collegiate Baseball/Louisville Slugger First-Team All-American, the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year and a First-Team All-MAC selection at Eastern Michigan in 2004, while he also received MAC Freshman of the Year honors and was named Most Valuable Player of the league tournament in 2002.
The Ohio native is in his third season playing for the Indians as last year he was selected to the 2008 International League All-Star Team and named the Indians Defensive Player of the year. Bixler was also chosen as the 2007 Indianapolis Indians Team MVP in his first season with the Tribe after he led Indianapolis in games played (129), hits (130), runs (77), and stolen bases (28) and ranked atop the International League in triples (10).
Bixler was also ranked by Baseball America as the Pirates No. 8 prospect entering the 2008 season as he has spent parts of last year and this season in Pittsburgh. The versatile righty has played in eight contests for the Pirates this season hitting .200 (5-for-25) with two runs and two RBI.
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