Indians promote three within Baseball Operations department

The Cleveland Indians and Executive Vice President and General Manager Chris Antonetti today announced the promotion of ROSS ATKINS to Vice President, Player Personnel, CARTER HAWKINS to Director of Player Development and PAUL GILLISPIE to Director of Pro Scouting.

Atkins spent the previous eight seasons leading the club's Player Development system, beginning his tenure in the organization in 1995. He played five seasons at the Minor League level before becoming Assistant Director of Player Development in 2001. In his new role, Atkins will work to enhance the connection between the organization's player acquisition areas (amateur, international and pro scouting) and the Player Development System. Ross will support the acquisition process in all those areas and assist with the transition process into the organization for those acquired. The Miami, FL native will also directly manage the club's Special Assistants, oversee Player Development and Latin American operations while continuing to serve as a key resource on staffing, personnel, and programmatic decisions throughout Baseball Operations.

Hawkins has assisted Atkins for the last four seasons as the club's Assistant Director of Player Development after joining the organization in 2008, working in advance scouting and professional scouting before joining the Player Development staff in October, 2010. Hawkins will coordinate all aspects of Player Development with the specific mission of developing championship-caliber Major League players. Hawkins graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2007 with a degree in Human and Organizational Development and was a 4-year letter-winning catcher for the Commodore baseball team during his time in Nashville.

Gillispie recently completed his sixth season as Assistant Director of Scouting, where he assisted Brad Grant in all phases of the department, specifically managing the Amateur Scouting staff and coordinating the execution of the annual First-Year Player Draft. In his new role Gillispie will perform professional scouting duties while coordinating the club's professional scouting assignments and staff. Paul graduated from the University of Virginia and was a captain of the Cavalier baseball team in 2003-04.