Midwest League 1997

Burlington Bees

This page is a profile of the 1997 Burlington Bees, a Single-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of the Midwest League. The profile was first published in early April and was revised periodically; this final revision was completed in early September.

All statistics quoted on this page are through the end of the season.

Burlington, Iowa; affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds.
Manager: Phil Wellman (#30)
Coach: Derek Botelho (#27) (Pitching)

High Attendance: 1,479 (August 1)
Low Attendance: 334 (April 23)
Average Attendance: 826
1996 Season Average: 824

Post-Season Wrapup

This team had a lot of experience, by MWL standards, and it helped.

Burlington's offense could kill you; they had both power and speed, and both were used well. While the speed was concentrated near the top of the order, there's power in most of the slots. Outfielder Brady Clark's season was extremely fine; he's fast, he gets on base, and he scores. Outfielder Darron Ingram strikes out too much--once or twice every game--but is a frightening batter to face, and one of the best young prospects in the league. Second baseman James Lofton's got a leadoff hitter's skills, and outfielder Mike Hampton shows terrific skills but hasn't hit well (this sort of player drives the home fans crazy). The squad led the league in runs scored, and everyone contributed.

The pitching was about the league's average, overall; except they walked way too many batters. No pitcher on this staff is an outstanding prospect, though Jayson Peterson had an outstanding season this summer and Scott MacRae pitched quite well. Closer Dwayne Cushman probably pitched a bit better than his stats show. All in all, I'd like to think the Reds could recruit a better future than this.

Team Leaders

• Best Player on the Team: Outfielder Brady Clark

• Pitching: 72-68 (.514), 4.49, 4 CG, 2 Shutouts, 28 saves, 924 Ks
• Hitting: .270, 785 runs, 143 HR, 162 SB
• First Half: 39-31 (.557), 1st, ---
• Second Half: 33-37 (.471), 2nd (Tie), 3.5 behind
• After August 1: 15-14 (.517)
• Lost to Cedar Rapids in the first playoff round, 2-0 (Western Division)

• Best Starting Pitcher: Scott MacRae (3.82, 11-4, 160 IP, 89 Ks)
• Bullpen Stopper: Dwayne Cushman (3.02, 1-4, 19 saves, 51 IP, 54 Ks)
• Best Strikeout Pitcher: John Riedling (104 Ks in 103 innings)
• Best Control Pitcher: Joe Giuliano (76 Ks, 44 BB in 114 innings)
• Best Hitter: Brady Clark (.325, 108 runs, 29 doubles, 7 triples, 11 homers, 63 RBI, 31 steals) or Darron Ingram (.265, 74 runs, 29 homers, 97 RBI)
• Highest BA: Brady Clark (.325)
• Home Run Leader: Darron Ingram (29)
• Best Baserunner: Brady Clark (31 steals, 7 triples)

July Evaluation

This team scores runs pretty much at will, but the pitching staff is only about average for the league. The result is a team which wins more games than it loses. Outfielder Brady Clark had a splendid July, but Darron Ingram (also an outfielder) is the team's star even though he leads the minors in strikeouts. Pitchers Jay Peterson and Scott MacRae are having very good seasons, and closer Dwayne Cushman is reliable. The team leads the league in runs scored and in home runs; nearly everyone contributes to that effort.

June Evaluation

This team leads the league in runs scored, largely because it has a large lead in home runs. The Bees' offense is really quite excellent--but the pitching is strictly league-average. The best hitters are Brady Clark, who sets the table, and MWL home run leader Darron Ingram, who drives him in. Starter Jay Peterson's having a very good year.

May Evaluation

This is an unremarkable team, really, except it's a bit older than the league norm. The pitching is about average for the MWL this summer, and the hitting's a bit better than that. Which is about how things stand....

Players to watch? Reliever Todd Etler's been effective. On offense, Marlon Allen's the big gun; Darron Ingram's having a terrific year, too.

April Evaluation

This team is a good hitting team; the pitching staff is, at best, mediocre. The Bees like to run.

Where they played last season

This team is a version of the team the Reds fielded last summer in Charleston, West Virginia, in the South Atlantic league; this is equivalent to a team repeating a year in this league. Most of the "new" players were demoted from Winston-Salem in the Carolina League. Although the Charleston team had a rather poor season, this team should play well this summer; experience helps enormously at this level.

Team             League         W/L   Place(Teams)  Hitters Pitchers
Winston-Salem    Carolina       74-65     3(8)        5       2
Charleston (WVA) South Atlantic 58-84    12(14)       6       8
Billings         Pioneer        23-49     7(8)        1       2
Princeton        Appalachian    28-40     7(9)        1       1

Several players are counted on two teams, one played for three. Two players were free agents last summer, and another spent his season in another system.

• Oldest Player:
  • Dwayne Cushman (P), born 11-27-71 (25)
• Youngest Player:
  • Lance Davis (P), born 9-1-76 (21)
• Average Team Age:
  This information is based on an early-season roster.
  • Pitchers: 22.2
  • Position Players: 23.2
  • Team Average: 22.6

• First Round Draftee:
  • Jay Peterson (P), 1994 (Cubs)

• Baseball America Reds Prospects (Post-Season)
  • Darron Ingram (best power hitter)
• USA Today Baseball Weekly Minor League All-Star Team
  • Darron Ingram (outfielder "worth watching")
• 1997 Midwest League All Star
  • Brady Clark (outfield)
• Howe SportsData Post Season Wrapup
  • Jayson Peterson (honorable mention, minor league Comeback Player of the Year)
• Baseball America Mid-Season Highlights
  • Darron Ingram (best MWL power prospect)
• All-Star Game, June 17, Lansing
  • Marlon Allen (1B starter)
  • James Davis (C)
  • Mike Hampton (DH starter)
  • Darron Ingram (OF starter)
  • James Lofton (3B starter)
  • Jayson Peterson (P)

• Marlon Allen
  • April 27: double, home run, 4 RBIs
  • April BA (.405) was the fifth best in the minors.
  • May 8: 2 home runs, 5 RBI
  • June 10: 5 RBI
• Brady Clark
  • Topps Midwest League Player of the Month for July.
  • April 21: double, triple, homer
  • April 24: 4 for 6
  • July 3: double, homer, 4 runs batted in
  • July 18: 4 for 5, double, 3 home runs
  • Led the minors in hitting (.440; 40 for 91) during July.
  • August 23: double, homer
• Benny Craig
  • August 8: 4 for 5
• James Davis
  • July 7: 2 doubles, homer
• Mike Hampton
  • April 29: 4 for 4, 2 homers, 7 RBI
  • May 3: double, home run
  • July 13: triple, homer
• Darron Ingram
  • April 7: 2 doubles, homer
  • April 10: 2 homers, 4 RBI
  • April 20: double, homer, 4 RBI
  • May 13: double, triple
  • June 19: homer, double
  • June 22: 3 homers, 5 RBIs
  • June 24: double, homer
  • August 24: double, homer, 4 RBIs
  • August 26: double, homer
• James Lofton
  • May 21: double, home run
• Scott MacRae
  • July 1: shutout win
• Christian Rojas
  • May 17: triple, home run
  • June 15: 2 homers
  • July 28: 2 doubles, triple, 4 RBI
• Yuri Sanchez
  • April 25: 4 RBI
  • May 16: double, home run
  • June 15: 2 homers
  • July 24: triple, homer
• Tom Scott
  • July 12: 4 for 5
• Jay Sorg
  • June 14: 2 homers
  • July 26: double, homer, 4 RBI
  • August 16: double, homer
  • August 27: 4 for 4
  • August 31: homer, double
• Trovin Valdez
  • April 18: double, triple
• Jason Williams
  • May 16: double, home run
  • June 10: 4 for 5, 4 runs scored
  • June 15: double, homer
• Scott Wright
  • August 24: 6.2 shutout innings