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Orange County Flyers Outfielder Ben Johnson Signed by Detroit Tigers After Hot Start

June 7, 2010 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Orange County Flyers News Release


EDMONTON, Alberta (June 7, 2010) - The Detroit Tigers have purchased the contract of Orange County Flyers outfielder Ben Johnson, who will report immediately to their Double-A affiliate in Erie, Pennsylvania. Johnson will be reunited with last season's Flyers manager Phil Nevin who was hired to manage the Erie SeaWolves in the off-season. Current Flyers manager Paul Abbott and Exec. VP Player Personnel Harris Tulchin negotiated with Nevin and Detroit's Director of Minor League Operations Dan Lunetta over the weekend to make the deal.

Johnson, who turns 29 later this month, ranks among the top five in the Golden Baseball League in homeruns (4), RBI (17), and batting average (.405), and has hit safely in all 12 games he has played in this season. On opening night, he smashed two homeruns and drove in a franchise record-tying seven RBI in a 15-14 win over the St. George RoadRunners. He started the first 12 games of the year for the Flyers in right field.

"Ben Johnson is more than ready to continue his major league career," said Flyers manager Paul Abbott. "We're very proud of the job he did for our club this season, and we wish him the best of luck with the Tigers."

After being a 4th round draft choice of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1999, Johnson spent three seasons in the Major Leagues with the San Diego Padres (2005-2006) and New York Mets (2007). It was with the Padres where he and Nevin were teammates. Nevin brought Johnson to Orange County last season, where he appeared in 14 games over the final month of the regular season. Now the duo will reunite again as manager and player with the SeaWolves.

Johnson is 10th player to have his contract purchased by a Major League organization in Orange County Flyers franchise history and the 95th GBL player signed since the league's inception in 2005. He is the first Flyer to have his contract purchased by the Tigers.

Added Tulchin, "Ben's move to the Tiger organization embodies the OC Flyers' spirit, as we continue to find and nurture talented players who we believe can quickly display their skills, get noticed, and make the jump to, or in Ben's case get back to MLB clubs. We are extremely happy for Ben."

Orange County continues its season-opening 18-game road trip with a five-game series against the Edmonton Capitals beginning on Tuesday, June 8. The team is 7-6 so far this season and in second place in the GBL South Division. The Flyers' home opener is on Tuesday, June 15 at Goodwin Field at Cal State Fullerton. For ticket information, please call 714-526-8326 or visit www.OrangeCountyFlyers.com.

Orange County Flyers / GBL information The Orange County Flyers - the 2008 Golden Baseball League Champions - are an independent, professional minor league baseball team, which plays home games in Fullerton, Calif. The team will be managed in 2010 by 11-season MLB veteran and Sunny Hills (Fullerton) High School alum Paul Abbott. Past managers include former Major League stars Garry Templeton, Gary Carter and Phil Nevin. The league, which was founded in 2005, consists of 10 teams from California, Arizona, Utah, Western Canada and now Hawaii and Mexico. The GBL is widely considered one of the most talent-laden independent leagues in the nation, with former major leaguers on most every roster. Notable former Major Leaguers to play in the GBL include Rickey Henderson, Jose Canseco, Jose Lima, Hideki Irabu, Junior Spivey and Scott Speizio. This season, former NL All-Star Byung-Hyun Kim will take the mound for the Flyers as one of three former big-leaguers on the squad.

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