Devil Rays’ Bierbrodt Shot During Dispute

Tampa Bay Devil Ray pitcher Nick Bierbrodt, a former Long Beach Millikan High standout, was shot Friday while in a taxi as he waited in a drive-through line at a fast-food restaurant in Charleston, S.C.

The left-handed pitcher, who was optioned to the Class-A Charleston RiverDogs on Wednesday, was shot in the chest and in the right arm shortly after 3 a.m., according to a police report.

Bierbrodt remained in serious condition at the Medical University of South Carolina late Friday, hospital spokesman Jeff Watkins said.

According to the report, Bierbrodt was in the right rear seat of the cab when a man rode up beside the cab on a bicycle.

Witnesses said there was a verbal exchange between Bierbrodt and the man, who then fired shots and rode off on the bicycle.

No arrests had been made late Friday.

Bierbrodt’s teammate John Vigue was a passenger in the car but was not injured, Devil Ray General Manager Chuck LaMar said.

*

The Cleveland Indians traded infielder-outfielder Russell Branyan to the Cincinnati Reds for minor league first baseman Ben Broussard. Branyan, 26, was batting only .205 with eight homers and 17 runs batted in in 50 games and had struck out 65 times this season. To make room on the 25-man roster for Branyan, the Reds put right-hander Jose Rijo on the 15-day disabled list.... Charles Nagy, who pitched the last two seasons without any cartilage in his right elbow, was put on the 15-day disabled list by the Indians and might be out for the season.... The Detroit Tigers agreed to terms with top draft pick Scott Moore, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound shortstop from Cypress High.

*

Ronald Laitsch, the literary agent for Jose Canseco’s planned tell-all book, predicted the story will earn an advance of $500,000 and estimated a deal with a publisher will probably be signed by the end of the month.

Laitsch said he and Canseco met with publishers this week in New York. During those conversations, Laitsch said Canseco promised the book will document his steroid use during a 462-home run career. Canseco also divulged names of players who he said used steroids.

“Those names are not for public consumption yet,” Laitsch said. “We’ve got to have something to sell.”