New Faces Join Chiefs

PEORIA, IL- The Peoria Chiefs in conjunction with the Chicago Cubs announced a series of roster moves on Friday morning. Infielders Marwin Gonzalez and Jose Made along with outfielder Kyler Burke have returned to extended spring training in Mesa, Arizona. Taking their place with the Chiefs will be 2007 draftees, outfielder Brandon Guyer, INF Jeffery Rea and catcher/first basemen Luis Bautista.

Taking their place with the Chiefs will be 2007 draftees, outfielder Brandon Guyer, infielder Jeffery Rea and catcher/first basemen Luis Bautista. The three players are expected to join the Chiefs in time for Friday’s 6:30 PM game in Beloit, Wisconsin. The three players are expected to join the Chiefs in time for Friday’s 6:30 PM game in Beloit, Wisconsin.

Guyer, a 5th round pick in last June’s draft out of the University of Virginia, split last season between Rookie Ball Mesa and Short Season-A Boise in the Northwest League. The 22-year-old played 17 games in Mesa before being promoted to Boise where he hit .268 in 19 games with 14 RBI. Overall, Guyer hit a combined .245 with one home run and 19 RBI in 36 games. He was injured during spring training this March and stayed back in Mesa to rehab. During his senior season at Virginia, Guyer hit .483 with eight home runs and 23 RBI and was named team’s most valuable player. He led the Cavaliers in hits (80), total bases (128), extra-base hits (30) and home runs (17). His senior season also featured a 26-game hitting streak.

Rea, an 18th round selection last June out of Mississippi State University, split his rookie campaign between Mesa and Advanced-A Daytona in the Florida State League. He started his first professional season in Mesa and hit .341 in 11 games with five RBI and two doubles. Rea, who was also injured this spring training, skipped over Boise and Peoria in a July 2007 promotion to Daytona. The 23-year-old hit .335 in 43 games for Daytona while driving in 11 and stealing seven bases. In 54 total games, Rea hit a .337 with eight doubles, 34 runs scored and 16 RBI. Last season, Rea’s Mississippi State squad made it to the NCAA College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. He led the Bulldogs with 30 stolen bases in 2007 and Second-Team All-SEC. Rea finished his Bulldogs career with 176 games started and a school record 335 hits. Rea was named the Mississippi Player of the Year during his senior season at Nettleton High School. That season he hit .676 with 41 RBI and only struck out one time the entire season. He was also a perfect 26-for-26 in stolen base attempts on the year.

Bautista was a 32nd round selection last June out of Florida International University. He began his pro career in Mesa last June batting .268 with a home run in five games. The catcher/first baseman was then promoted to Boise where he hit .313 in 23 games while driving in 11 runs. In a combined 28 games, he hit .325 with a homer and 16 RBI. He started in 42 games behind the plate for Florida International and hit .331, tying for second on the team with six home runs. As a catcher, he threw out 21-of-66 potential base stealers in his final season at FIU. In ’07, he split time as a catcher and also at first base. He committed three errors in 88 total chances at first base in Boise. Bautista’s brother Jose is a third basemen with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Burke, a former 1st round supplemental pick of the San Diego Padres, hit .206 with two home runs and eight RBI in 35 games with Peoria this season. He started 30 games in right field and four at first base while collecting five doubles and a triple. Burke’s best offensive game came on April 14 against West Michigan when he went 3-for-3 including his first home run of the season. He had an eight-game hit streak end last weekend in Clinton and struggled on the four-game homestand against Quad Cities going 1-for-13. The 20-year-old Tennessee native was acquired by the Cubs in a trade that sent Michael Barrett to San Diego last June.

Gonzalez played in 33 games for the Chiefs this season batting .224 with nine RBI and seven doubles. He started 17 games at second base and 16 at shortstop while committing 10 errors. The 19-year-old Venezuelan native was signed by the Cubs in November 2005 and hit .288 in Mesa last season.

Made joined the Chiefs during the 10-game roadtrip when Josh Vitters returned to extended spring training. In eight games, Made scored five times but was just 2-for-29 (.063) at the plate. The second baseman doubled once and drove in one run.