Indians add RHP Esmil Rogers to Major League Roster; option INF/OF Matt Laporta to Columbus

The Indians announced today that the club has added RHP ESMIL ROGERS to the club’s major league 25-man roster. To make room for Rogers, Cleveland has optioned INF/OF MATT LaPORTA to Triple-A Columbus.

Rogers, 26, was acquired from Colorado yesterday in exchange for cash considerations after being designated for assignment on June 9. He has made 23 relief appearances for the Rockies this season, going 0-2 with an 8.06 ERA (23 ER/25.2 IP). The right-hander is averaging 10.2 strikeouts-per-9.0 innings, fanning 29 batters against 18 walks. He has also held left-handed batters to a .235 (12-51) clip. He was originally signed by Colorado in 2003 as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic and has gone 34-30 with a 4.65 ERA (293 ER/567.2 IP), 445 strikeouts and 190 walks in 104 career games/101 starts at the minor league level.

LaPorta, 27, was recalled by Cleveland on June 3 and appeared in 3 games/starts for the Indians (2-for-11, one run). He opened the season with Columbus, where he has hit .307  (51-166)  with  8  doubles,  14  home  runs  and  32  RBI  in  46  games (.399 OBP/.608 SLG/1.007 OPS). He  is  currently  hitting  .333  (19-57)  with  3  2B,  4HR  &  11  RBI  off  left-handed pitching to date.  At the time of his recall with the Indians on June 3, he ranked among International League leaders in slugging (2nd), home runs (T2nd), OPS (3rd), batting average (6th), total bases (7th, 102), runs scored (7th, 31), on-base pct. (7th) and RBI (8th). He has appeared in 19 games in left field and 18 games at first base with the Clippers.