AAA Columbus RHP Danny Salazar wins Player of the Week honors

CLEVELAND, OH - The Cleveland Indians today announced Triple-A Columbus RHP DANNY SALAZAR has been named the Indians Minor League Player of the Week for July 1-7.

Salazar, 23, went 2-0 without allowing a single earned run on just 3 hits through 10.0 innings in 2 starts during the week. On July 1, he allowed just 2 hits over 5.0 shut-out innings, striking out 2 and earning the win at Durham. He followed that up with another scoreless, 5.0 inning start on July 6 vs. Louisville; this time striking out 8 and allowing just 1 hit. Salazar has allowed just 3 earned runs over his last 4 starts (18.0 innings) dating back to June 21 vs. Lehigh Valley and his 1.50 ERA during that stretch is lowest in the International League.

Salazar was promoted to Columbus from Double-A Akron on May 12 after going 2-3 with a 2.67 ERA (10 ER/33.2 IP) through 7 starts for the Aeros. Since his promotion to Triple-A, Salazar is 3-2 with a 3.40 ERA (16 ER/42.1 IP) in 10 starts. On the season, he has limited opposing hitters to a .221 average against (61-276) including a .207 mark (29-140) against right-handed batters.

The 6-0", 190-pound righty underwent reconstructive right elbow surgery in 2010 and spent the majority of the 2011 campaign rehabbing at the Indians Player Development Complex in Goodyear, Arizona. The Santo Domingo, DR native split the 2012 season between Single-A Carolina and Double-A Akron and went a combined 5-2 with a 2.36 ERA (23 ER/87.2 IP, 76 K, 1.118 WHIP) in 22 starts. Originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by Cleveland in 2006, Salazar entered the 2013 season ranked as the 7th best prospect in the Indians system according to Baseball America.