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Indianapolis Indians

Bixler Named 2007 Indians Most Valuable Player

September 7, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS -- Infielder Brian Bixler has been named the 2007 Indianapolis Indians Most Valuable Player after hitting .274 with five homers, 23 doubles, 10 triples, 28 stolen bases and 51 RBI in a team-high 129 games.

Bryan Bullington (Comeback Player of the Year), Michael Tejera (Left-Handed Pitcher of the Year), John Van Benschoten (Right-Handed Pitcher of the Year), Luis Ordaz (Defensive Player of the Year) and Michael Ryan (Slugger of the Year) were also honored prior to the final home game of 2007.

Bixler represented Indianapolis at the 2007 Triple-A All-Star Game and was the only Indians player to receive International League Postseason All-Star honors. The Triple-A rookie tied for first in the league in triples, ranked fourth in runs (77) and tied for fourth in stolen bases.

Bixler collected 28 multi-hit performances and eight multi-RBI efforts during the campaign. The 24-year-old notched three hitting streaks of 10+ games (April 5-April 18, April 22-May 5, June 25-July 6), and committed just 16 errors in 568 total chances between shortstop and second base.

Bixler was named the team's June Player of the Month after batting .283 with two dingers, seven RBI and 16 runs in 27 affairs. He also swiped 11 bases during the month.

Bullington went 11-9 with a 4.00 ERA in a team-high 26 starts after missing all of 2006 while recovering from right shoulder surgery. The 26-year-old former Ball State University star and No. 1 overall selection paced the squad in wins and innings pitched (150.2).

Bullington was named the club's April Player of the Month after posting a 4-0 record and 1.17 ERA in five starts. He was also credited with the win in the 2007 Triple-A All-Star Game.

Tejera went 8-5 with a 3.90 ERA in 27 appearances. He fired the team's only nine-inning, complete-game on July 28 vs. Charlotte. The 30-year-old also collected eight quality starts (6+ IP; less than 4 ER) -- all since June 20.

Van Benschoten went 10-7 with a 2.56 ERA in 19 starts for the Indians. He was honored as the team's May Player of the Month after turning in a 5-1 record and 2.27 ERA in six starts. The 27-year-old hurled a seven-inning, complete-game shutout on Aug. 27 vs. Columbus.

Van Benschoten was named the IL's Pitcher of the Week twice during 2007. He went 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in two starts from May 7-13 and 2-0 with a 0.66 ERA in two starts from Aug. 6-12. He also recorded the club's longest scoreless innings streak of 2007 -- 20.2 innings from April 27-May 12.

Ordaz recorded a .991 fielding percentage with just four errors in 463 total chances between second base and shortstop. The 32-year-old was involved in 66 of the team's 149 double plays and was one of just four Indians to start at least 100 contests this season.

Ordaz also led the Tribe with a .302 BA and ranked second with 30 multi-hit performances before being placed on the disabled list Aug. 23 with a right-ankle sprain.

Ryan batted .259 in 121 tilts for Indianapolis. The 30-year-old led the Indians in homers (16), slugging percentage (.472) and on-base + slugging (.782) while placing third in RBI (52).

Ryan was named the team's July Player of the Month after hitting .299 with an IL-best 10 homers and 25 RBI in 28 games. He was also honored as the league's Batter of the Week for the period of June 18-24 after registering a .481 BA and .926 SLG in seven games.

Bullington and Van Benschoten were promoted to Pittsburgh after the 2007 Triple-A regular season.

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