Salt Lake Bees' roster loaded with veteran players

Matt Brown led the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during spring training in both batting average (.489) and RBIs (19).

Brandon Wood blasted four homers — which was second-best on the team — with 13 RBIs and had a .339 average.

Sean Rodriguez had a nice spring, too, hitting .277 with 8 RBIs while playing solid defense in 22 games for the Angels.

All three can make a strong case for why they should make the Angels' opening-day roster. Instead, they are all headed back to Salt Lake City to play triple-A ball for the Bees.

"It's not an easy thing to accept," said Bees manager Bobby Mitchell of some of his top players getting sent back down to the minors. "But they are outstanding kids. Sure, they will be disappointed, and they wonder when they will get their shot, but that disappointment won't last for a long time. It's just tough because they are with a team that is very good at the major-league level, so it's hard to advance sometimes. It makes it hard to accept, because some of these guys are obviously ready to play at the next level."

Brown, who was a Triple-A All-Star and USA Olympian last season while with the Bees, has a good attitude about being demoted.

"I'm going to go down and hit bullets, make plays and do what I've done all spring," Brown told mlb.com. "What else can you do?"

While several Bees players are upset they couldn't stick with the big-league club, it means there will be plenty of talent for the home team at Franklin Covey Field this season. Salt Lake will be gunning for its fourth consecutive PCL Pacific North Division title.

Here's a closer look at the players expected to be on the Bees' opening-day roster when the 144-game season gets under way, weather permitting, on Thursday:

INFIELDERS

Salt Lake is simply loaded here with veterans from last year's team, most of whom also have major-league experience.

First off is Brown, who represented the Bees as a Triple-A All-Star last season. Brown, who will split time between first and third once again, hit .320 for the Bees with 21 home runs and 67 RBIs.