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The Bees are starting their 2017 season off with quite a bit of veteran experience. This year’s team has 2,500 major league games played between them.
“The guys we are starting are pretty seasoned,” Keith Johnson, Bees manager, said. The Bees roster has a good mix of youth and veterans, and Johnson said they know what it takes to be in the big leagues.
Starting pitcher Alex Meyer has the potential to be a valuable asset to the team with his past major league experience, as well as Kaleb Cowart. Cowart has not had the success in the major leagues as he has down in the minors, but this season he is eager to turn the corner. He had a good season last year and is hoping to have an even better season this year.
“It's important not to get upset that you are still in the minors, just stay on the course and everything will be all right,” Cowart said about his experience in the league. Cowart is entering his third year with the organization. “A lot of people get discouraged, but we obviously have things to work on or else we wouldn’t be here, we would be in the major leagues.”
Cowart has been back and forth between the Los Angeles Angels and the Bees the past few years and is focusing on what makes him a better baseball player and what will get him to the next level.
The roster has many players that have played in the big leagues and know that it takes consistency to get back to MLB. As well as Cowart and Meyer, Eric Young Jr., Justin Miller, Cody Ege, Deolis Guerra and 11 other players have played in the major leagues.
Earlier in the day, the Bees announced an extended affiliation with the Los Angeles Angels for two additional years, which makes it a 20-year partnership with the Angels. In the end it is about the major league team winning.
