CLEVLEN, BRENT  
 
Image of    Nickname:   N/A Position:   CF
Home: Cedar Park, Texas Team:   Retired
Height: 6' 2" Bats:   R
Weight: 190 Throws:   R
DOB: 10/27/1983 Agent: N/A
Birth City: Austin, Texas Draft: Tigers #2 - 2002 - Out of Westwood H.S. (Tx.)
Uniform #: N/A  
 
YR LEA TEAM SAL(K) G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO OBP SLG AVG
2002 GCL Tigers   28 103 14 34 2 3 3 21 2   8 24     .330
2003 MWL WEST MICHIGAN   138 481 67 125 22 7 12 63 6   72 111     .260
2004 FSL LAKELAND   117 420 49 94 23 6 6 50 2   44 127     .224
2005 FSL LAKELAND   130 494 77 149 28 4 18 102 14   65 118     .302
2006 EL ERIE   109 395 47 91 17 0 11 45 6 2 47 138 .313 .357 .230
2006 AL TIGERS $327.00 31 39 9 11 1 2 3 6 0 0 2 15 .317 .641 .282
2007 AL TIGERS   13 10 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 .100 .100 .100
2007 IL TOLEDO MUD HENS   90 322 33 71 14 5 7 36 4 4 39 113   .360 .220
2008 AL TIGERS   11 24 4 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 8 .296 .208 .208
2008 IL TOLEDO   126 476 75 133 23 7 22 82 7 2 54 166   .496 .279
2009 IL TOLEDO   128 479 61 127 26 5 16 64 10 1 42 139 .328 .441 .265
2010 NL BRAVES   4 4 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250 .500 .250
2010 SAL ROME   1 4 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .750 .750 .750
2010 IL GWINNETT   53 191 19 49 8 0 3 29 3 0 22 62 .332 .346 .257
2011 EL READING   32 113 26 38 12 0 6 20 5 2 21 34 .440 .602 .336
2011 IL LOUISVILLE   26 89 9 22 2 1 3 10 0 1 7 28 .302 .393 .247
2012 SL MOBILE   67 223 45 58 15 3 10 39 3 1 30 64 .345 .489 .260
2012 PCL RENO   31 77 17 29 5 2 3 17 3 0 8 24 .430 .610 .377
2013 PCL RENO   16 40 6 8 2 0 2 4 1 0 5 11 .283 .400 .200
2013 SL MOBILE   38 121 15 27 4 1 4 17 1 0 10 32 .288 .372 .223

  • In 2001, Clevlen was one of the top performers at the Area Code Games, a tournament organized every year by Major League scouts.

    But in his senior year of high school, he didn't live up to his hype.

  • Brent was an all-district quarterback for Westwood High School in Cedar Park, Texas. He also pitched and won against #5 overall pick Clint Everts (Expos) in the Texas 5-A playoffs.

  • In 2002, he committed to the University of Texas. But the Tigers got him to start his pro career, signing him to an $805,000 contract July 23, 2002. Tim Grieve was the scout who signed Clevlen.

  • Before 2004 spring training, Baseball America rated Clevlen as the second best prospect in the Tigers organization, behind only Kyle Sleeth. But he struggled during 2004, pressing, and was dropped to #14 before 2005 spring training.

    Before 2006 spring camp opened, Baseball America had Brent as 4th-best prospect in the Detroit farm system. And the magazine moved Clevlen up to #3 before 2007 training camps started.

    But Clevlen was dropped to #16 in the Tiger organization in the spring of 2008.

  • During 2005 spring training, Clevlen met former Major Leaguer Larry Herndon, who was hitting coach for the Lakeland Tigers. It was a good match, and Brent really took off that season in the Florida State League.

  • For the 2005 season, Brent was the Florida State League MVP. He led the league in RBIs (102) and on-base percentage (.387), and was fourth in hits (149).

  • Clevlen dated Amanda Kreller for several years -- since his sophomore year in high school. And on September 8, 2007, Brent and Amanda traveled to Troy, Michigan to pick out wedding bands for their December, 2007 wedding.

    "I was like a minute from my apartment [in Toledo]—that's when I got the call," Clevlen said. "I was pretty much back home. I just figured, 'Pack up, go home and get ready for the offseason.' Definitely a good surprise."

    He was planning on driving home to Texas the next day. Those plans obviously changed when he heard the news he was promoted at about 2:00 p.m. ET on September 8, 2007. He trekked back to Detroit and was in uniform and available for that day's game. The Tigers called him up because he could provide the best defense in the outfield.

    TRANSACTIONS

  • June 2002: The Tigers chose Clevlen in the second round, out of Westwood High School in Cedar Park, Texas.

  • December 2009: Clevlen signed with the Braves organization.

  • May 9, 2011: Brent signed with the Reds organization.

  • June 10, 2011: Clevlen was released by the Reds.

  • August 4, 2011: Brent signed with the Phillies organization.

  • June 15, 2013: The D'Backs released Clevlen.

PERSONAL:
 

  • Brent has a good, fluid swing and good bat speed that produces good power numbers. He should hit more home runs every year. His fine righthanded swing also enables him to hit for a good batting average. He has good balance at the plate.

  • The ball jumps off Clevlen's bat, going to all fields. He battles pitchers every time to the plate, working the count to his favor. He is not opposed to drawing a walk, exhibiting a good eye. He can foul off pitch-after-pitch and work the pitcher until he gives Brent a ball he can hit.

  • He could hit .290-.300 with 30-40 home runs per year, but will probably be more around .280 with 25-30 home runs. At any rate, Brent is going to be a pretty good big league hitter for quite a few years if his pitch recognition improves.

    The bottom line question: Will Clevlen make enough contact to play every day? He has to put the ball in play often enough to be in the lineup every day.

  • Brent could stand to be more aggressive at the plate. He is so selective he can fall too far behind in the count. He falls into the trap of overanalyzing himself as a hitter.

    One other problem: Clevlen can get a bit too pull-conscious, even though his best results come when he uses the whole field. And he will chase a pitch up-and-away out of the strike zone. In fact, in 2007, pitchers saw that Brent struggled with pitch recognition and forced him to chase pitches outside the zone.
  • In 2008, Brent kept his hands lower, focused on hitting the ball up the middle and cut down on his strikeouts. "I'm trying to make it as simple as I can," he said.
BATTING:
 

  • Clevlen has a very strong arm, plenty good enough for right field. He has learned to take good routes to the ball. He has trouble with balls hit directly over his head.

    He has pretty good instincts in the field. So, overall, he should become above average in his defensive skills, even playing center field well.

FIELDING:
 

  • Clevlen runs the 60-yard-dash in 6.75 seconds—a bit above average. So, he really is not much of a threat to steal a base.
RUNNING:
 

  • May 13-July 2007: Clevlen was on the D.L. with a broken right ring finger. 

  • May 25-July 27, 2010: Clevlen was on the D.L. with a sprained toe.
CAREER INJURY REPORT:
 
 
Last Updated 5/9/2019 8:09:00 PM. All contents © 2000 by Player Profiles. All rights reserved.