The Cleveland Indians today announced the following roster moves relative to the 2017 Spring Training roster:
Extended non-roster invitations to 2017 Major League Spring Training Camp to the following players:
Martin, 27, has completed six seasons in the Cleveland organization, going 22-19 with a 3.33 ERA in 186 appearances (four starts). The 27-year-old right-hander spent the entire 2016 campaign with Columbus, going 2-5 with three saves and a 3.41 ERA in 47 relief outings. Martin held opponents scoreless in 35 of his 47 appearances and worked 2.0+ innings on 16 occasions.
Olson, 27, enters his first Major League camp with the Indians since being claimed off waivers from Kansas City in July. The 27-year-old left-hander appeared in nine games for Columbus last year, going 1-0 with a 5.91 ERA. Olson began his professional career as a member of the Seattle Mariners organization, where he spent three years, before being traded to Los Angeles-NL in December of 2015. The southpaw began the 2016 season in the Yankees organization, and made one Major League appearance before being designated for assignment and claimed by the Royals.
Nellie Rodriguez, 22, will begin his sixth season with the Indians organization, who drafted him in the 15th round of the 2012 Amateur Draft. The 2015 Carolina League (High-A) MVP spent his 2016 campaign with Double-A Akron, where he was named a midseason All-Star and helped the RubberDucks win the Eastern League title. In 123 games in 2016, the first baseman hit .250, leading the team with 26 HR (3rd in the Eastern League) and 85 RBI (5th in the league).
Ronny Rodriguez, 24, is entering his seventh season in the Indians organization after being signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2010. The infielder spent the entirety of his 2016 campaign at Triple-A Columbus, where he made 81 starts at second base and 15 starts at first base. In 116 games in 2016, Rodriguez batted .258 with 24 2B, 5 3B, 10 HR and 59 RBI, pacing the West Division champs in triples and trailing only Jesus Aguilar in runs batted in. He recently hit .306 (49-16) for Aguilas in the Dominican Winter League (24 RS, 10 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 12 RBI) in 44 games, appearing at six different positions (all but C, P, CF).
Stamets, 25, is set to make his second consecutive appearance at Spring Training for the Tribe. He was acquired at the 2015 trade deadline from Los Angeles-AL in exchange for David Murphy, and has split time between Akron and Columbus in his time with the organization. In 91 combined minor league appearances in 2016, the shortstop batted .237 with 17 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR and 37 RBI.
Allen, 23, is entering his fourth season with the Indians organization and will be participating in Major League camp for the first time in his career. The 23-year-old outfielder enjoyed a breakout year in 2016, setting single-season career-highs in games played (129), runs scored (119) and average (.295). Allen spent the majority of the year with Class A Lynchburg, batting .298 in 92 games for the Hillcats, before being promoted to Class AA Akron in July. Despite his mid-season call-up, Allen led the Carolina League in runs (93) and finished second in steals (38). His 45 total stolen bases were the most among all Indians Minor League players as he led all Minor Leaguers with 119 combined runs on the season.
Diaz, 25, is also entering his fourth season with the Indians organization. The 25-year-old led the Clippers with a .325 average, which was the second-highest in the International League, en route to being named IL Rookie of the Year. He also led Columbus with a .399 on-base percentage and .860 OPS. Diaz spent the offseason in Venezuela playing for the Leones del Caracas, where he batted .371 over 40 games. The Cuba native owns a career .307 average in 333 Minor League games.
Zimmer, 24, will make his first appearance at big league camp after being rated the Indians' top prospect by a variety of publications prior to last season. In 93 games with Double-A Akron in 2016, the center fielder finished 4th in the Eastern League with 33 steals while hitting .253 with 14 HR and 53 RBI. The Tribe's 2014 first-round draft pick capped his third season in the Indians organization by logging 37 games at Triple-A Columbus. He led Arizona Fall League in runs (25 in 22 games) after the season and was named to the Rising Stars Game and All-Prospect team.
The Indians now have fifteen (15) non-roster invitees to Major League camp.