The Cleveland Indians today invited two (2) more players to Major League camp from their player development system, bringing the total number of internal invites to nine (9) and non-roster spring invitees to 18 for the 2010 Spring Training camp in Goodyear, Arizona.

JUDY, Josh, RHP

Began the season at A Kinston, picking up three saves in five contests (0.00ERA, 4.2IP, 4H, 7K) before getting promoted to AA Akron for the rest of the year...Was 4-3 with 11 saves in 36 games/1 start for the Aeros, yielding a 3.10ERA (49.1IP, 35H, 17ER, 18BB, 63K)...Limited Eastern League hitters to a .198 avg (35-177)...Allowed only 3ER over the final 19 games going 1-0 with 9 saves to close out the season (1.07ERA, 25.1IP, 13H, 6BB, 43K)...Pitched for Peoria Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League going 2-2 with a 1.59ERA in 11 games (17.0IP, 13H, 3ER, 8BB, 20K).

PUTNAM, Zach, RHP

Spent majority of the year with AA Akron after starting five games for Kinston, going 2-0 with a 4.13ERA (24.0IP, 22H, 11ER, 5BB, 23K)...After the call up to Akron, was converted to a reliever where he went 4-2 with 2 saves and a 4.13ERA (56.2IP, 59H, 26ER, 18BB, 57K)...Carried a 2.40ERA while going 2-1 over 18 games at home (30.0IP, 29H, 8ER, 6BB, 26K)...At the end of the year, Baseball Prospectus ranked him as the 11th best prospect in the organization...Also pitched for Peoria Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League going 0-1 with a 8.76ERA in five starts (12.1IP, 18H, 12ER, 18K).

Full list NON-ROSTER INVITEES (18)

PITCHERS

20 GOSLING, Mike, LHP

35 GRILLI, Jason, RHP

73 HERRMANN, Frank, RHP

80 JUDY, Josh, RHP

64 PINO, Yohan, RHP

81 PUTNAM, Zach, RHP

27 REYES, Anthony, RHP

56 RIVERA, Saul, RHP

79 WHITE, Alex, RHP

CATCHERS

65 ESPINO, Damaso

INFIELDERS

9   BUSCHER, Brian

76 CHISENHALL, Lonnie

12 GRUDZIELANEK, Mark

78 MILLS, Beau

6   RODRIGUEZ, Luis

74 ROMERO, Niuman

OUTFIELDERS

47 DUNCAN, Shelley

26 KEARNS, Austin

Jordan Brown (Clippers All-Star and IL batting champ ) talks about his 2009 season and frustration/regrets concerning the Indians at the MLB Rookie Career Development Program.

http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=7150391&topic_id=7961660

Just announced...

2010 Dave Matthews Band Summer Tour

Tuesday, June 22nd - Huntington Park

The Cleveland Indians, in partnership with Minor League Affiliates Columbus Clippers, Akron Aeros, Lake County Captains and Mahoning Valley Scrappers, today announced a unique ticket package called AROUND THE HORN.

AROUND THE HORN TICKET PACKAGE has been created to allow local fans the opportunity to enjoy a baseball game at each of the Cleveland Indians affiliated professional baseball venues in the region at a discounted price and with exclusive benefits.

Packages will be sold by the Cleveland Indians and their Northeast Ohio Minor League Affiliates, Akron Aeros, Lake County Captains and Mahoning Valley Scrappers as well as the Columbus Clippers in Central Ohio. Ticket packages will be available for purchase at each club's ticket office and online at each club's website, with a link to the online order page here.

AROUND THE HORN FOUR PACK is valued at $132 and will include the following for a special price of ONLY $74 (SAVINGS OF $58!). As an optional add-on for Columbus, fans can purchase a FIVE PACK valued at $160 for ONLY $94 (SAVINGS OF $66!):

Two tickets & concession item at each venue, good for any game in the designated months listed:

AROUND THE HORN FOUR PACK-   ONLY $74

Cleveland Indians:                            Two Bleachers Tickets & $20 food credit

Good for any game in June or September

Akron Aeros:                                     Two Reserved Tickets & Two Hot Dogs

Good for any game in August

Mahoning Valley Scrappers:           Two Box Tickets & Two Hot Dogs

Good for any game in July

Lake County Captains:                    Two Box Tickets & Two Sodas

                                                            Good for any game in June

AROUND THE HORN FIVE PACK W/CLIPPERS-   ONLY $94

Columbus Clippers:                          Two Reserved Tickets & Two Medium Sodas

Good for any game in June

The 2010 Cleveland Indians Press Tour will stop in Columbus on Thursday, January 28th at Gameworks (Easton Towne Center).

Guests include:
Manny Acta, Manager
Mark Shapiro, General Manager
Michael Brantley, Outfielder
Jensen Lewis, Pitcher
Tom Hamilton, Broadcaster
Bob DiBiasio, Vice President of Public Relations

Press Conference: 4:30pm
Sponsor Event: 5:30pm
Event: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Tickets: $5, available only at the door

Click here for complete 2010 Press Tour schedule and details

Baseball America has released its' 2010 Indians top prospects and awards lists. Enjoy!

Top Ten Prospects
1. Carlos Santana, C
2. Lonnie Chisenhall, SS
3. Nick Hagadone, LHP
4. Jason Knapp, RHP
5. Michael Brantley, OF
6. Nick Weglarz, OF
7. Hector Rondon, RHP
8. Carlos Carrasco, RHP
9. Alex White, RHP
10. Jason Kipnis 2B/OF

Best Tools
Best Hitter for Average: Michael Brantley
Best Power Hitter: Nick Weglarz
Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Carlos Santana
Fastest Baserunner: Delvi Cid
Best Athlete: Michael Brantley
Best Fastball: Nick Hagadone
Best Curveball: Alexander Perez
Best Slider: Nick Hagadone
Best Changeup: Carlos Carrasco
Best Control: Hector Rondon
Best Defensive Catcher: Carlos Santana
Best Defensive Infielder: Jason Donald
Best Infield Arm: Carlos Rivero
Best Defensive Outfielder: Jordan Henry
Best Outfield Arm: Matt Brown

Starting Over
by Ben Badler

The Indians thought a few better players or even better fortune would get them to the playoffs. After all, they had scored more runs than they allowed in each of the previous five seasons, which included a pair of 90-plus win campaigns.

The 2009 season disavowed them of that belief.

Read more...

The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed INF/OF SHELLEY DUNCAN to a free agent minor league contract. The contract includes a non-roster invitation to Major League spring training camp.

Duncan, 30, earned International League MVP honors in 2009, batting .277 (125-for-452) with 85 runs, 30 doubles, 1 triple, an IL-record 30 home runs and 99 RBI in 123 games with the Triple-A Scranton Yankees.  He led the IL in runs, homers, RBI and extra-base hits (61), ranking second in slugging percentage (.546), T10th in doubles and 3^rd in OPS (.916).  After the season he was named a Topps Triple-A All-Star, Topps IL Player of the Year and was a mid-season and post-season IL All-Star selection. He appeared in 79 games in right field and 5 games at first base.   He also appeared in 11 games for the New York Yankees in September (.200, 3-15, 1RBI).  

He owns a minor league career average of .258 (854-3314) with 201 2B, 170HR & 599RBI in 905 games and a big league career mark of .219 (32-146, 8HR, 24RBI) in 68 games with the Yankees from 2007-09.  He was New York's second round pick in the 2001 draft out of the University of Arizona.

The club has also signed OF AUSTIN KEARNS to a free agent minor league contract. The contract includes a non-roster invitation to Major League spring training camp.

Kearns, 29, owns a Major League career batting average of .256 (737-2879) with 155 doubles, 105 home runs, 422 RBI, 385 walks and a career on-base % of .353 in 542 games with the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals since 2002.  The Lexington, KY native was the 7^th overall pick of the Reds in 1998.  His 2009 season with Washington was cut short due to a right thumb injury in August, appearing in 80 games for the Nationals prior to the injury (.195, 34-174, 3HR, 17RBI, 32BB, .336 on-base %).   His best season came in 2006 between the Reds and Nationals where he hit a combined .254 (142-537) with 33 2B, 24HR & 86RBI in 150 games (.363OB %).

Columbus Clippers (Triple-A; International League)
Manager: Mike Sarbaugh
Pitching Coach: Charles Nagy
Coach: Lee May Jr.
Trainer: Michael Salazaar

Akron Aeros (Double-A; Eastern League)
Manager: Joel Skinner
Pitching Coach: Greg Hibbard
Coach: Jim Rickon
Trainer: Chad Wolfe

Kinston Indians (Advanced-A; Carolina League)
Manager: Aaron Holbert
Pitching Coach: Tony Arnold
Coach: Rouglas Odor
Trainer: Jeremy Heller

Lake County Captains (Low-A; Midwest League)
Manager: Ted Kubiak
Pitching Coach: Mickey Callaway
Coach: Phil Clark
Trainer: Issei Kamada

Mahoning Valley Scrappers (Short Season A; NY/Penn League)
Manager: Travis Fryman
Pitching Coach: Ken Rowe
Coach: Dennis Malave
Trainer: TBD

AZL Indians (Rookie League)
Manager: Chris Tremie
Pitching Coach: Jeff Harris
Coach: Anthony Medrano
Trainer: Teddy Blackwell

2010 Field Staff Assignments
Field Coordinator: Dave Hudgens
Advisor, Player Development: Johnny Goryl
Pitching Coordinator: Dave Miller
Hitting Coordinator: Bruce Fields
Outfield/Baserunning Coordinator: Gary Thurman
Latin American Field Coordinator: Minnie Mendoza
Catching Coordinator: Chris Tremie
Strength & Conditioning Coordinator: Jake Beiting
Rehabilitation Coordinator: James Quinlan
Sports Psychologist: Charlie Maher

From Anthony Castrovince, MLB.com...

For 13 seasons in an Indians uniform, Charles Nagy was the epitome of durability and dependability, helping guide the Tribe to six AL Central titles in seven years and two AL pennants.

Now, the Indians will be counting on Nagy again, albeit in a different role.

Click here to read entire article

Adam has initiated hand therapy and no timetable has been set for his return to baseball activities.