April 3, 2008

SALT LAKE CITY - The Salt Lake Bees have released their 24-man roster for opening day of the 2008 Pacific Coast League season and it includes former Trevecca All-American Bradley Coon in the outfield.

 

Trevecca fans will have a chance to see Coon in action in late April and early May. The Bees will play in Memphis against the RedBirds April 28-May 1 and visit Nashville to play the Sounds May 2-5.

 

Coon split the 2007 season between Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the Advanced-A California League and Double-A Arkansas Travelers of the Texas League.

 

It's the furthest a former Trojan has moved up in the minor leagues since former Trojan Mike Mills reached the Triple-A level in the San Diego Padres organization. Mills was drafted in the seventh round by the San Diego Padres during the 1983 amateur draft.

 

Coon was selected to the 2007 California League All-Star game. The native of Euclid, Ohio ranked amongst the California League leaders in stolen bases all season. Coon led the Angels organization in stolen bases in 2007.

Coon, a 15th round pick of the Angels in the 2005 amateur baseball draft, was a standout for Orem Owls of the Pioneer league in 2006. Coon was selected to play in the prestigious Arizona Fall League in 2006 after a standout summer with the Owls.

 

Click for Salt Lake Bees website - including live internet broadcast

Click for Bradley Coon's Minor League Career Statistics

 

On the mound, Salt Lake will return seven pitchers who saw action for the Bees in 2007 while welcoming the Angels number two prospect and 2003 Baseball America Youth Player of the Year Nick Adenhart. Kasey Olenberger, who finished 2007 with a 10-7 record and 5.25 ERA, returns to the Bees for his third season.

 

In the infield, Salt Lake will once again feature the 2005 Minor League Baseball Player of the Year, Brandon Wood. Wood begins his second consecutive season ranked as the number one prospect in the Angels system by Baseball America after making his major league debut in 2007. Kendry Morales, who played 43 games with the Angels in 2007, returns to Salt Lake for a third straight season.

 

2007 PCL All-Star Terry Evans will team up with newcomer Dermal (Dee) Brown, a former league foe with the Sacramento River Cats, to roam the outfield for the Bees. Behind the plate, Salt Lake will have big league experience in Ryan Budde and talented youth in Bobby Wilson to start the season.

 

The Salt Lake Bees begin the 2008 PCL season on the road against the Las Vegas 51s on Thursday, April 3 at 7:05 p.m. (MT).