Brian Bixler

Bixler attended college at Eastern Michigan University. Bixler also played in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League for the Delaware Cows, as well as the Cape Cod Summer League for the Brewster Whitecaps.\n', '

Bixler was Pittsburgh\'s second-round pick in the 2004 Major League Baseball draft. He spent 2004 in the short-season New York–Penn League playing for the Williamsport Crosscutters. He spent his first full professional season with the Class-A Hickory Crawdads. In 2006, Bixler played for both the High-A Lynchburg Hillcats and the Double-A Altoona Curve. He was invited to spring training by the Pirates in 2007, batting .359 with a .970 OPS. In 2007, Bixler played for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, and was named the team\'s most valuable player. On November 20, 2007, the Pirates purchased his contract, protecting Bixler from the Rule 5 draft. Bixler did not make the Pirates\…