IL1 Buffalo Bisons

Outfielder Returns to Buffalo after MVP Season

Published on March 28, 2007 under International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


The Cleveland Indians today announced that they have optioned outfielders Ben Francisco and Shin-Soo Choo and pitcher Juan Lara to the Bisons and reassigned infielder Luis Rivas to minor league camp.

Francisco, 25, had a breakout season with the Herd in 2006, finishing first or second on the team in virtually every offensive category while sharing the Bisons Stan Barron Most Valuable Player honors with outfielder Jason Dubois. He led Buffalo in games played (134), hits (143 -T2nd in International League), doubles (32 -T5th in the IL), extra-base hits (54), runs scored (80 -T4th in the IL) and stolen bases (25 -T9th in IL). He was also second on the team with a .278 batting average and 17 home runs and third with 59RBI. He posted a 25-game hit streak, June 12-July 8, the second-longest hit streak in the Bisons Modern Era (Alex Ramirez, 28-games in 1998). He hit .324 (34-105) with seven doubles and three home runs during the stretch.

The Indians 5th round selection in the 2002 First-Year Players Draft, Francisco hit .293 (12-41) with three home runs and five RBI in 21 games this Spring with Cleveland.

Choo, 24, was acquired by the Indians in a trade with Seattle on July 26, 2006 (Ben Broussard). A Pacific Coast League All-Star with Triple-A Tacoma last year, Choo hit .323 with 13 home runs, 48RBI and 26 stolen bases in 94 games with the Rainiers before being traded to the Indians. He then spent the remainder of the 2006 season with the Tribe, hitting .295 (43-146) with three home runs and 22RBI. Choo has four hits in two Spring games with the Bisons already this Spring (4-9, 2B, 3B, RBI).

Lara, 26, pitched in 13 games with the Bisons in 2006 before making his Major League debut late in the year with the Indians. After going 4-2 with a 2.70ERA and seven saves in 40 games with Double-A Akron, the southpaw went 1-1 with a 3.00ERA and one save with the Bisons from July 22 -September 4. After the conclusion of the Bisons season, he made nine appearances with Cleveland and posted a 1.80ERA with no record.

Lara has been extremely sharp this Spring, allowing just one run in nine games and 12.1 innings for the Indians (0-1, 0.73ERA, 4BB, 10K).

Check out the Buffalo Bisons Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



International League Stories from March 28, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central