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Team Profile
Season Summary
- First Half: 36-36 (.500), 3rd, 4.5 behind
- Second Half: 27-41 (.397), 4th, 10.0 behind
- Pitching: 63-77, 3.81, 15 CG, 8 shutouts, 30 saves, 1059 Ks
- Hitting: .248, 567 runs, 77 HR, 181 SB
- April: 10-10 (.500)
- May: 16-15 (.516)
- June: 13-14 (.481)
- July: 14-14 (.500)
- August: 7-20 (.259)
- September: 3-4 (.429)
- Best Player on the Team: Outfielder Andy Burress or pitcher Josh Harris
- Best Starting Pitcher: Josh Harris (3.05, 10-12, 177.1 IP, 169 Ks)
- Bullpen Stopper: David Shepard (6.48, 1-4, 10 saves, 40 Ks)
- Best Strikeout Pitcher: Scott Harrell
- Best Control Pitcher: Josh Harris
- Best Hitter: Andy Burress (.281, 75 runs, 9 HR, 67 RBI)
- Highest BA: Wilmy Caceres (.293)
- Home Run Leader: Benny Craig (15)
- Best Baserunner: Gookie Dawkins
- Best Batting Eye: Wylie Campbell
July Profile
Not much change to report; they're still an average team, they still have good speed, they still don't have a real star. They've been more willing to take a walk, though.
Outfielder Andy Burress is a fine player, with some power and good speed. He's just not star quality. The best Bees baserunners are shortstop Gookie Dawkins and outfielder Dewayne Wise; the only legitimate power source is DH Benny Craig. Josh Harris is a very good pitcher, while the other starters are a mixed lot; Lance Davis is probably the best. Lots of guys are trying out the short pitching roles; while none are standouts, few are failing completely.
One more to watch: Second baseman Wylie Campbell.
June Profile
The Bees are a solidly average Midwest League ballclub without any particular stars. They strike out too much, and they like to run when they get on the basepaths.
Burlington's lineup lacks a big gun, but most of the regulars play good ball. Andy Burress is the best hitter, but Travis Dawkins, Dewayne Wise, and Benny Craig are comparable talents and worth having on a team. The pitching staff is similar; with Josh Harris pitching well but unspectacularly and the others making worthwhile contributions. No one has claimed the closer role, now that Scott Wright's been promoted; starter Randi Mallard has also been promoted.
May Profile
The Bees are pretty much an average MWL team; the pitching's a bit better than the hitting, and the only star on the team's the closer.
Although there are no exceptional hitters on the squad, there are a lot of decent players; they can put a decent team on the field and still have some strength on the bench. The pitching staff's about the same. So far, Scott Wright's been nearly unhittable in relief; I expect the Reds will move him up in the post-draft player shuffle. Lance Davis has 4 wins, a 1.80 ERA, and most of a no hitter to his credit, but I still need some convincing.
April Profile
The Bees could have a long summer. If the best hitter you can run out there is Andy Burress, you aren't going to score a lot of runs. The league, as a whole, has pretty weak offenses this summer; this gang is typical. There are some promising pitchers on the staff, but the staff's too weak to carry this burden.
Pre-Season Profile
Manager
Manager Phillip Wellman has managed in the minors for 6 years, mainly in short-season leagues; this is his second Burlington season. He rarely calls for intentional walks; he lets his runners steal and calls for bunts more than most MWL managers.
Where they played last season
The Burlington team is largely drawn from the Reds' farms in Charleston and Billings; both had good seasons last summer.
Team League W/L Place Hitters Pitchers
(Teams)
Burlington Midwest (A) 72-68 3(14) 2 4
Charleston (WVA) South Atlantic (A) 76-62 2(14) 5 5
Billings Pioneer (R) 39-32 2(8) 9 5
As this chart suggests, the Reds treat their MWL affiliate as their Advanced-A team. All other MWL squads are at the Low A level in their systems.
Two players were hired from outside the Cincinnati system, and three of the players logged some time at higher levels in the system last year. Many players were moved during the season and are counted twice in this table.
This information is based on the opening-day roster.
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Oldest Player:
- Scott Wright, 25 (10/15/72; oldest non-rehab player in the league)
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Youngest Player:
- Travis Dawkins, 19 (5/12/79)
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Average Team Age:
- Pitchers: 22.1
- Position Players: 21.5
- Team Average: 21.8
First Round Draftee
- Brandon Larson (1997; 14th pick) (injured April, 1998; likely to be out for season)
Honors
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Gene Altman
- Baseball America Top Reds System Prospects: #15 prospect, best fastball
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Wylie Campbell
- 1996 Pioneer League: All-Star second baseman
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Mark Corey
- Midwest League Player of the Month for July
- Midwest League Pitcher of the Week for July 19-25
- Midwest League Pitcher of the Week for July 12-18
- Baseball Weekly Prospect Report: "Up and Coming"
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Travis "Gookie" Dawkins
- Baseball America Top Reds System Prospects: #6 prospect
- Baseball America Reds 1997 Draft Analysis: fastest runner, best defensive player
- 1997 Pioneer League: #2 prospect, All-Star shortstop
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Josh Harris
- Baseball America Reds Post-Season Prospect Summary: keep an eye on
- Baseball America Best Tools: best control
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Brandon Larson
- Baseball America Top Reds System Prospects: #9 prospect, best infield arm
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Randi Mallard
- 1998 Midwest League All-Star Game selection
- Baseball Weekly Prospect Report: "Up and Coming"
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Andre Montgomery
- Baseball Weekly Prospect Report: "Up and Coming"
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Marc Suarez
- 1998 Midwest League All-Star Game selection
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DeWayne Wise
- 1998 Midwest League All-Star Game selection
- Baseball America Top Reds System Prospects: #4 prospect
- Baseball America Reds 1997 Draft Analysis: best athlete
- 1997 Pioneer League: #3 prospect, All-Star outfielder
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Scott Wright
- 1998 Midwest League All-Star Game selection
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