{WICHITA, Kan.} — The Wichita Wingnuts re-signed former Major League outfielder Brent Clevlen on Sunday.
Clevlen (pronounced KLEEVE-lehn) opened spring training on the Wingnuts' roster before signing with the Cincinnati Reds' organization. In 29 games for the Triple-A Louisville Bats, Clevlen hit .247 with three home runs and 10 RBI.
Since 2006, Clevlen has spent parts of four seasons in the Major Leagues, including three with the Detroit Tigers where he was a teammate of both Wingnuts' owner Nate Robertson and Wingnuts' manager Kevin Hooper. Clevlen appeared in four games with the Atlanta Braves last season, while spending most of the year at Triple-A Gwinnett.
Clevlen was originally drafted by the Tigers out of high school in the second round in 2002. A right-handed hitter and fielder, Clevlen started his career later that summer with the Tigers' Gulf Coast League affiliate, and hit .330 with 21 RBI in 28 games. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound outfielder hit 12 home runs the following season for the Midwest League's West Michigan Whitecaps. In 2005, Clevlen was named MVP of the pitcher-friendly Florida State League. That season, and at just 21-years old, Clevlen hit .302 with 18 home runs and 102 RBI for the Lakeland Tigers. The Austin, TX native has reached double digits in home runs in five different seasons, including a career-high 22 for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens in 2008.
