SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Former RiverDog Brandon Laird Promoted to New York Yankees

July 18, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, S.C. - Former Charleston RiverDog Brandon Laird has been promoted to the New York Yankees from AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the club announced Monday.

Laird had been enjoying a solid season in his first full year in the International League, batting .266 with 10 home runs, 21 doubles, 49 RBI and 37 runs scored. The Cypress, California native had a breakout campaign in 2010 when he earned a late call-up to AAA after tearing up the AA Eastern League as a member of the Trenton Thunder. In Trenton, Laird hit .290 with 23 home runs, 22 doubles and 90 RBI to take home the EAS Rookie of the Year Award along with MVP honors.

A 27th round selection of the Yankees in the 2007 draft, Laird did his share of damage in the South Atlantic League during the 2008 season. Laird teamed with catcher Jesus Montero to help the RiverDogs set a franchise record for wins in a half, going 45-25 to finish one game out of the top spot in the Southern Division.

Laird wielded a solid glove at the hot corner, but made his mark on the Holy City by showing off his prodigious power. He smacked 23 home runs and 31 doubles en route to racking up 86 RBI, while batting .273 and scoring 71 runs.

The 23-year old becomes the second big league player in his family, as his older brother Gerald has spent parts of nine seasons with the Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals.

Laird becomes the fifth former RiverDog to comprise the Yankees' current 25-man roster, joining pitchers Phil Hughes, Hector Noesi and David Robertson, and infielder Eduardo Nunez. He is the 19th RiverDog to make it to the Bronx since the club became an affiliate of the 27-time World Champions prior to the 2005 season.

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