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Our lineup will be almost identical to the one we had in '88.
Starters
C - Harry Elliott - Age: 35 - still one of the best hitters in the game. Elliott returns to the Brawlers on another one year contract. He is expected to lead by example with his bat and handle a veteran pitching staff.
1B - Kenichi Sato - Age: 29 - Sato will assume his familiar three spot in the lineup when Davenport kicks off the season against Philly. Over the past four years Sato has proven that he is somewhat of an iron man for the Brawlers.
2B - Victor Fernandez - Age: 26 - Fernandez had a breakthrough year last season batting .311 11 HR 75 RBI with a .372 OBP. He became the team's starting second baseman half way through '88.
SS - Len John - Age: 27 - Lenny shifted over to shortstop due to Fernandez's productivity, the odd man out was Ivan Solis. Solis failed to produce in '88 and saw his starting position vanish.
3B - Vern Branch - Age: 23 - Branch will be the new lead off hitter for the Brawlers in '89. Branch proved he could be a run producer in '88 by driving in 87 runs.
LF - Art Abrams/Ivan Arellano - Both Age 27 - Arellano had a great rookie season in '87 but fell into a sophomore slump last year. He will look to regain his powerful bat by platooning left field with second year Art Abrams. Abrams will hope to avoid the same sophomore slump that Arellano fell into.
CF - Jose Llombart - Age: 32 - Llombart was acquired from the Millers at last seasons trade deadline. He will be the Brawlers center fielder in '89.
RF - Scott Neville - Age: 35 - The veteran still has some pop in that bat of his. Neville will be asked to drive in runs from the cleanup and fifth spot in the lineup.
Bench
C - Manny Cisneros - Age: 23 - Potentially the catcher of the future in Davenport, 1989 will be Manny's first full season in the BLB. With Elliott's contract expiring after this season, Cisneros could become the starting catcher next year with a strong performance in '89.
3B - Chet Benton - Age: 23 - With an impressive spring training, Benton won himself a spot on the BLB roster.
SS - Ivan Solis - Age: 24 - Solis hopes to return to his '87 form and work his way back into the starting lineup. Solis remains on the BLB roster because of his glove.
Minors
RF - Victorio Vasquez - Age: 23 - One of the top OFs in the Davenport organization, Vasquez just missed the cut for the opening day roster. He would be one of the first to be called up if one of the regular outfielders goes down with an injury.
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