The Lincoln Saltdogs filled a gap in their 2009 lineup on Wednesday, purchasing the contract of outfielder Josh Burrus from New Hampshire of the Can-Am League.  The transaction gives Lincoln three speedy outfielders to patrol the expanses of Haymarket Park.

Burrus, a former first-round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves, spent his first year in independent baseball in 2008.  He hit .263 with ten home runs and 49 RBI for Atlantic City in the Can-Am League.  He appeared in 89 games, 70 of them in left field, and rang up eight outfield assists.  Josh also displayed his tremendous speed on the base paths, swiping 26 bags in 38 attempts.

“Really, Josh is an excellent combination of power, speed and defense,” said Saltdogs manager Marty Scott.  “The speed is obvious—he would have ranked third in our league in stolen bases last year—but he’s also reached double digits in home runs three times over his career.  He’ll cover a lot of ground no matter where we play him in the outfield, and he surprised quite a few runners last year with his arm.  We’re fortunate to acquire a player who’s such a multi-talented threat.”

The 25-year-old Burrus spent seven seasons in the Braves’ organization after being taken in the first round of the 2001 draft, directly out of high school.  He was named the team MVP of the Class A Rome Braves in 2004, and reached Class AAA Richmond in 2005.  A series of injuries, however, took their toll in 2006 and 2007.  After his successful 2008 season for Atlantic City, that franchise folded, and New Hampshire made him their first pick in the Can-Am dispersal draft earlier this month.

Lincoln now has 22 players officially under contract for the 2009 season.  The Saltdogs still plan to announce another acquisition or two in the next couple of weeks.  The players will report to Lincoln by May 1st, with spring training set to begin May 2nd.

The 2009 Lincoln Saltdogs season begins on May 14 in Wichita, with the home opener scheduled for May 22 against Fort Worth. For more team and ticket information, go to www.saltdogs.com.