All Knights Stadium Team – Second Base

Charlotte, NC Feb. 11, 2013 – Each week, the Knights are giving fans a chance to name the “All Knights Stadium Team” through an online vote. The team will be revealed at Knights stadium on Thursday, April 11 — the final Opening Day in the history of Knights Stadium.

This week the focus turns to the second basemen. Below are the five finalists for the best second baseman in Knights Stadium history.

Luis Castillo – Castillo made his Knights debut in 1997 and appeared in 37 games for the club. The Dominican native hit .354 (46-130) with five RBIs and eight stolen bases in a short amount of time. A year later, he was back with the Knights and hit .287 and led the Knights with 41 stolen bases, which rank as the third-best single-season mark in Knights franchise history.

Willie Harris – Harris played parts of three seasons for the Knights (2002-2003 and 2005) and is among the franchise’s best leadoff hitters. In 2002, Harris swiped a team-high 32 bags while hitting .283 for the Knights in 89 games that season. In limited action in 2003 (28 games), Harris hit .380 (38-100) with nine stolen bases. In all, his 51 stolen bases are good for fourth-best in Knights franchise history.

Aaron Miles – Miles hit .304 with 11 home runs and 50 RBIs in 133 games for the Knights in 2003. He also added a team-high 80 runs scored, 34 doubles, five triples, and eight stolen bases. He finished the season first in the IL in hits (166), tied for fourth in batting average, fourth in total bases (243), and tied for second in runs scored. His 166 hits rank as the most by a Knights player in a season. He was the IL Rookie of the Year and was an IL All-Star that season.

Bry Nelson – A year after playing in Japan, Nelson, 30, hit .288 with 22 home runs and 83 RBIs for the Knights in 2004. He also had 13 stolen bases and tied for fourth in the International League (with teammate Bobby Smith) in doubles with 37.

Jason Bourgeois – Speedster Jason Bourgeois appeared in 211 games for the Knights over parts of two seasons (2007-2008). In 2007, he hit .311 with seven home runs, 34 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. The Texas native returned to the Knights a year later and hit .286 with nine home runs, five triples, 48 RBIs and 30 stolen bases.