For Mudcats' Brown, Demotion Comes with Learning

Of all the Mudcats, 23-year-old Emil Brown has the most big league experience. He spent all of '97 with the parent club, Pittsburgh. There he played in 66 games.

"It was a thrill to just come out to the ballpark everyday," Brown says. "As far a helping my career, it gives me a year experience over the guy who doesn't have anytime at all."

To get more experience, Brown is playing in Zebulon. The demotion was humbling, but Brown believes playing AA ball is beneficial right now.

"I've got a lot of time on my side because I'm young," Brown admits. "Other than that, I just take it day by day. I can't give myself a time table because my timetable may not be theirs."

Brown wants to make a return trip to Pittsburgh for good, but as a Mudcat, he is happy playing everyday for an organization that is known for producing some of the best talent in the bigs.

"I'm sure there are a lot of guys in minor league baseball who wish they were playing with the Pirates," says Brown. "I'm happy with the situation I'm in, you know? I'm thankful for it at the same time."

The Pirates may be thankful they drafted this guy.