Slugger Russell Branyan Returns to Buffalo

The Cleveland Indians today announced that they have signed INF/OF Russell Branyan to a minor league deal and assigned him to the Bisons. Branyan is expected to join the club this week.

Branyan, 31, returns to the Buffalo where he played 255 games during the 1999, 2000 and 2004 seasons. In that time, the slugger hit 76 home runs, the second most in the Bisons Modern Era and just three shy of Jeff Manto's 79-homer mark. He hit 30 homers in 109 games in 1999 (T5th most in a single-season) and 21 more in just 64 games in 2000. Branyan returned to the team in 2004 and hit 25 home runs in only 82 games before being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Branyan has hit .243 (228-937) in his Bisons career with 36 doubles, five triples, 202RBI and 155 runs scored. His RBI-total is the 3rd highest in the Modern Era while his .536 slugging percentage is T3rd. He ranks 7th in total bases (502) and 18th in games played (255).

Branyan played 61 games with San Diego this season, hitting .197 (24-122) with five doubles, a triple, seven home runs and 19RBI. He has also seen big league time with Cleveland, Cincinnati and Milwaukee. He hit 20 homers for the Indians in 2001 and 24 in 2002 between the Tribe and the Reds. In 688 career Major League games, Branyan has hit .229 (419-1827) with 118 home runs and 293RBI.

-herd-