Indians place Travis Hafner on the DL; Recall LHP Scott Barnes

The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has placed DH TRAVIS HAFNER on the 15-day Disabled List with inflammation in his right knee, retroactive to May 24. To replace Hafner on the 25-man Major League roster, the Indians have recalled LHP SCOTT BARNES from Triple-A Columbus.

Hafner is currently hitting .242 (32-132) with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 6 home runs and 23 RBI in 39 games for Cleveland in 2012 (.380OB/.439SLG/.819OPS). He currently ranks tied for 9th in the American League in walks (26), 23rd in OPS (.819) and 14th in on-base pct (.380), even though his last game action came on Wednesday, May 23rd vs. Detroit. He is beginning his eighth career stint on the Major League Disabled List.

Barnes, 24, has spent the entire 2012 season at Triple-A Columbus where he has gone 0-2 with a 3.81 ERA in 11 games/3 starts (28.1IP, 17H, 12ER, 12BB, 30K, .175AVG). After making three starts in April (0-2, 5.05ERA, 16.0IP, 9ER), he was moved to relief in May where he has recorded an ERA of 2.19 (8G, 12.1IP, 5H, 3ER, 5BB, 13K, .122AVG) out of the bullpen. Over his last 7 outings he owns an ERA of 0.84 (10.2IP, 3H, 1ER, 11K). The Springfield, MA native has limited right-handed batters to a .174 (12-69) average against with lefties hitting at a .179 (5-28) clip as he has not allowed a home run in 28.1 innings this season.

Barnes was acquired by Cleveland from the San Francisco Giants on July 27, 2009 in exchange for INF Ryan Garko. In 2011 Scott went a combined 8-4 with a 3.45 ERA in 17 starts (18G, 99.0IP, 85H, 38ER, 107K) before his season ended on July 10 due to a left knee injury. Barnes will be making his debut at the Major League level wearing #51.

The Indians now have six players on the Major League Disabled List (Carrasco, Sizemore, R Perez, Santana, Hannahan, Hafner).