Hurricane Floyd
06-07-2002, 05:06 PM
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA (TICKER) -- The Cincinnati Reds on Friday acquired third baseman-outfielder Russell Branyan from the Cleveland Indians for minor league first baseman Ben Broussard.
The addition of Branyan, 26, gives the Reds another home run threat in their lineup, but he never seemed to realize his potential in three-plus seasons with the Indians.
Branyan batted just .251 with 45 homers and 115 RBI in 242 games for the Indians. He showed some promise last year with 20 homers in only 315 at-bats, but struggled mightily this season, batting just .205 with eight homers and 17 RBI in 50 contests.
Broussard, 25, was considered one of the top prospects in the Cinncinnati organization but with Sean Casey locked in at first base, probably did not have much of a future with the Reds.
He had spent the entire 2002 season at Class AAA Louisville of the International League, hitting .273 with 11 homers and 30 RBI in 57 games.
The Reds' second round choice in the 1999 amateur draft, Broussard led the Class AA Southern League in hitting last season, batting .320 with 23 homers and 69 RBI for Chattanooga.
To take Branyan's roster spot, the Indians purchased the contract of outfielder Chad Allen from Class AAA Buffalo of the International League.
Allen, who was signed to a minor league contract on May 13, batted .359 with 11 RBI and 11 runs scored in just 16 games for the Bison. The 1996 United States Olympian was limited to 63 contests with the Minnesota Twins and Class AAA Salt Lake Buzz in 2001 due to right knee surgery.
He owns a career average of .275 in 209 games for the Twins from 1999 through last season.
Source: Yahoo Sports!
The addition of Branyan, 26, gives the Reds another home run threat in their lineup, but he never seemed to realize his potential in three-plus seasons with the Indians.
Branyan batted just .251 with 45 homers and 115 RBI in 242 games for the Indians. He showed some promise last year with 20 homers in only 315 at-bats, but struggled mightily this season, batting just .205 with eight homers and 17 RBI in 50 contests.
Broussard, 25, was considered one of the top prospects in the Cinncinnati organization but with Sean Casey locked in at first base, probably did not have much of a future with the Reds.
He had spent the entire 2002 season at Class AAA Louisville of the International League, hitting .273 with 11 homers and 30 RBI in 57 games.
The Reds' second round choice in the 1999 amateur draft, Broussard led the Class AA Southern League in hitting last season, batting .320 with 23 homers and 69 RBI for Chattanooga.
To take Branyan's roster spot, the Indians purchased the contract of outfielder Chad Allen from Class AAA Buffalo of the International League.
Allen, who was signed to a minor league contract on May 13, batted .359 with 11 RBI and 11 runs scored in just 16 games for the Bison. The 1996 United States Olympian was limited to 63 contests with the Minnesota Twins and Class AAA Salt Lake Buzz in 2001 due to right knee surgery.
He owns a career average of .275 in 209 games for the Twins from 1999 through last season.
Source: Yahoo Sports!