{{short description|American baseball player (born 1982)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Brian Bixler | image = Brian Bixler on July 2, 2012.jpg | image_size = | caption = Bixler with the Houston Astros in 2012 | position = Shortstop / Outfielder | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|10|22}} | birth_place = Sandusky, Ohio, U.S. | bats = Right | throws = Right | debutleague = MLB | debutdate = April 6 | debutyear = 2008 | debutteam = Pittsburgh Pirates | finalleague = MLB | finaldate = July 28 | finalyear = 2012 | finalteam = Houston Astros | statleague = MLB | stat1label = Batting average | stat1value = .189 | stat2label = Home runs | stat2value = 2 | stat3label = Runs batted in | stat3value = 14 | teams = * Pittsburgh Pirates ({{Baseball year|2008}}–{{Baseball year|2009}}) * Washington Nationals ({{Baseball year|2011}}) * Houston Astros ({{Baseball year|2012}}) |medaltemplates= {{MedalSport | Men's baseball}} {{MedalCountry|the {{bb|USA}}}} {{MedalCompetition|Baseball World Cup}} {{MedalGold| 2007 Tianmu | Team}} }}
'''Brian Joseph Bixler''' (born October 22, 1982) is a former American professional baseball shortstop and outfielder. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Nationals and Houston Astros as well as for the United States national baseball team.
==College career== Bixler attended college at Eastern Michigan University. Bixler also played in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League for the Delaware Cows, as well as for the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |date= |accessdate=January 9, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2003&T=Brewster_Whitecaps |title=2003 Brewster Whitecaps |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}}</ref>
==Professional career==
===Pittsburgh Pirates=== 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 {{Baseball year|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 {{Baseball year|2007}}, batting .359 with a .970 OPS. [http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/stats/sortable_player_stats.jsp?c_id=pit&baseballScope=PT1&teamPosCode=all&statType=Overview&timeSubFrame=23&sitSplit=&venueID=&Submit=Submit&timeFrame=1]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} 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' opening day roster in {{mlby|2008}}, but received a call-up on April 6 when Jack Wilson was placed on the disabled list.<ref>{{cite news |last=Langosch |first=Jenifer |title=Bucs place Wilson on the 15-day DL |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080406&content_id=2497562&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit |work=MLB.com |date=2008-04-06 |accessdate=2008-04-07 }}</ref> That same day, Bixler made his major league debut against the Florida Marlins as a pinch hitter and struck out in his only at bat. He spent the majority of the season in Indianapolis, but made several short appearances for the Pirates. On September 2, he was recalled again when the rosters expanded. He got into 50 games for the Pirates in 2008, with a .423 OPS. In 2009, Bixler attended spring training, but was reassigned to the AAA Indianapolis Indians on March 30. He was recalled to Pittsburgh in late April after Jack Wilson was placed on the disabled list. In 8 games with Pittsburgh, he batted .200. He was optioned back to AAA when Wilson returned from injury. After the June call-ups of AAA outfielders Steven Pearce, Garrett Jones and Jeff Salazar to Pittsburgh, Bixler began to see playing time in center field due to the shortage of players on the roster. Bixler was again recalled to Pittsburgh in mid-August. He got into 18 games for the Pirates in 2009, with a .602 OPS. On January 18, 2010, Bixler was traded to the Cleveland Indians for Jesus Brito.<ref name="Williams">{{cite news |last=Castrovince |first=Anthony |title= Tribe acquires Bixler from Pirates|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100118&content_id=7933158&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|work=MLB.com |date=2010-01-18 |accessdate=2010-01-18 }}</ref>
===Cleveland Indians=== On January 18, 2010, the Indians acquired Bixler from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jesus Brito.<ref name="Williams"/> He was designated for assignment by the Indians on March 17, 2010, to make room on the 40-man roster for Anderson Hernández, and was subsequently sent outright to the minors. While in the Indians' organization, he played 64 games for the AAA Columbus Clippers. On July 11, 2010, he was traded back to Pittsburgh.<ref name="William">{{cite news|last=Nicholson-Smith|first=Ben|title=Pirates Re-Acquire Brian Bixler|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/07/pirates-reacquire-brian-bixler.html|date=July 12, 2010}}</ref>
===Return to the Pirates=== On July 11, 2010, the Pirates re-acquired Bixler.<ref name="William"/> He played in 11 games for the AAA Indianapolis. On August 7, 2010, the Pirates sold Bixler to the Washington Nationals.<ref name="illiam">{{cite news|last=Links|first=Zach|title=Nationals Acquire Brian Bixler|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/08/nationals-acquire-brian-bixler.html|date=August 7, 2010}}</ref>
===Washington Nationals=== [[File:Brian Bixler 2011.jpg|220px|thumb|Bixler during his tenure with the Washington Nationals in 2011]] On August 7, 2010, the Pirates sold Bixler to the Washington Nationals.<ref name="illiam"/> He played in 27 games for the AAA Syracuse Chiefs. Bixler re-signed with the Nationals following the 2010 season<ref name="resigning">[http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Brian_Bixler/1372639 Nationals re-signed SS Brian Bixler to a minor league contract], Rotoworld.</ref> and had his contract purchased on April 22, 2011.<ref>[http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Brian_Bixler/1580559/bixler-called-up-by-nats Bixler called up by Nats], Rotoworld.</ref> He got into 79 games with the Nationals in 2011, with a .532 OPS.
===Houston Astros=== The Houston Astros claimed Bixler off waivers from the Nationals on November 3, 2011.<ref name="illia">{{cite news|last=Nicholson-Smith|first=Ben|title=Astros Claim Brian Bixler|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/11/astros-claim-brian-bixler-.html|date=November 3, 2011}}</ref> In October 2012, Bixler elected minor league free agency.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/10/minor-moves-28-players-elect-free-agency.html|title=Minor Moves: 28 Players Elect Free Agency|last=Axisa|first=Mike|date=October 6, 2012}}</ref>
===New York Mets=== On November 16, 2012, the New York Mets announced that Bixler had been signed to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring training.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121116&content_id=40316214&vkey=news_nym&c_id=nym |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122211614/http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121116&content_id=40316214&vkey=news_nym&c_id=nym |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 22, 2012 |title=Mets sign Brian Bixler to Minor League deal with Spring training invitation |publisher=Newyork.mets.mlb.com |date= |accessdate=2013-12-26}}</ref>
===Philadelphia Phillies=== Bixler signed a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies on February 4, 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url =https://www.mcall.com/2014/02/07/phillies-sign-veteran-infielder-brian-bixler-to-minor-league-contract/ |title =Phillies sign veteran infielder Brian Bixler to minor league contract |last =Schuler |first =Jeff |date =February 7, 2014 |website = |publisher =The Morning Call |access-date =February 23, 2014 }}</ref>
===San Diego Padres=== Bixler signed a minor league deal with the Padres on April 25, 2014. He became a free agent after the 2014 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2041924-padres-sign-brian-bixler |title=Padres Sign Brian Bixler {{!}} Bleacher Report |website=bleacherreport.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426202411/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2041924-padres-sign-brian-bixler |archive-date=2014-04-26}}</ref>
==International career== Brian Bixler was named as one of the 24 players that would be part of Team USA in the IBAF 2007 Baseball World Cup. He had a .160 BA with a double and 5 walks in 9 games. The USA won gold in Taiwan.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Biography|Baseball}} {{Baseballstats |mlb=444448 |espn=29089 |br=b/bixlebr01 |fangraphs=8055 |brm=bixler001bri}}
{{Mid-American Conference Baseball Player of the Year navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bixler, Brian}} Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:Pittsburgh Pirates players Category:Washington Nationals players Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:Houston Astros players Category:Eastern Michigan Eagles baseball players Category:Brewster Whitecaps players Category:Williamsport Crosscutters players Category:Hickory Crawdads players Category:Lynchburg Hillcats players Category:Altoona Curve players Category:Indianapolis Indians players Category:Syracuse Chiefs players Category:Columbus Clippers players Category:Oklahoma City RedHawks players Category:Las Vegas 51s players Category:San Antonio Missions players Category:El Paso Chihuahuas players Category:Major League Baseball shortstops Category:Sportspeople from Sandusky, Ohio Category:Baseball players from Erie County, Ohio Category:Venados de Mazatlán players Category:American expatriate baseball players in Mexico