Indians sign 1B David Cooper

The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed free agent 1B DAVID COOPER to a Major League Contract.
 
Cooper, 26, was originally signed by Cleveland on August 13th and appeared in 13 games between the Tribe's rookie Arizona League club and Triple-A Columbus to finish out the 2013 campaign. The former first round pick split the 2012 season between Triple-A Las Vegas and the Toronto Blue Jays, beginning the year in Las Vegas where he hit .314 (82-261) with 27 2B, 10HR & 52 RBI in 62 games before being promoted to Toronto in May, batting .300 (42-140) with 11 2B, 4HR & 11 RBI in 45 games with the Blue Jays. His 2012 campaign ended in late August due to a mid-back strain, an injury that led to his March 2013 release from Toronto and required surgery in April prior to signing with the Indians.
 
The Stockton, CA native is a career .301 (593-1972) hitter in the Minor Leagues and over two Major League seasons with Toronto in 2011-12 he batted .270 (57-211) with 18 2B, 6HR & 23 RBI in 72 games. The left-handed hitting Cooper led the Pacific Coast League in batting average (.364) and doubles (51) for AAA Las Vegas in 2011 and owns a career Minor League batting average of .301. He was Toronto's first round pick (17th overall) in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft and played collegiately at Cal State Fullerton and the University of California.