Indians add five (5) players to 40-man roster
CLEVELAND, OH - The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has selected the contracts of the following five players, adding them to the club's 40-man roster.
RHP CODY ANDERSON (AA Akron) INF GIOVANNY URSHELA (AAA Columbus)
RHP SHAWN ARMSTRONG (AAA Columbus) C/INF TONY WOLTERS (AA Akron)
LHP RYAN MERRITT (A Lynchburg)
Anderson, 24, was named the club's 2013 Minor League and Carolina League Pitcher of the Year after going 9-4 with a 2.34 ERA in 23 starts at Class A Carolina (123.1IP, 105H, 32ER, 112K). He spent 2014 with AA Akron where he was 4-11 with a 5.44 ERA in 25 starts (125.2IP, 141H, 76ER, 45BB, 81K). The Quincy, CA native was Cleveland's 14th round pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Feather River (CA) College. He owns a 4-year professional ERA of 3.75 (365.0IP, 358H, 152ER, 118BB, 278K). He was recently named the 10th-best prospect in the organization entering the 2015 season (source: Baseball America).
Armstrong, 24, spent the 2014 season between AA Akron and AAA Columbus, going a combined 6-2 with a 2.41 ERA in 49 relief appearances (56.0IP, 43H, 15ER, 22BB, 72K, .213 AVG, 11.6 SO/9.0IP). The New Bern, NC native wrapped up the season with 3.0 scoreless innings for the Clippers in the International League playoffs. The 6-2, 210-lb right-hander was Cleveland's 18th round selection in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of East Carolina University. He owns a 4-year professional ERA of 2.43 in 128 relief outings (162.2IP, 123H, 44ER, 80BB, 200K, .212 AVG, 11.1 SO/9.0IP).
Merritt, 22, earned Carolina League and organizational (source: MILB.com) postseason all-star honors in 2014, going 13-3 with a 2.58 ERA in 25 starts for the Class-A Carolina Mudcats (160.1IP, 128H, 46E4R, 25BB, 127K). He led the Carolina League in wins (13) and innings pitched (160.1) while finishing 3rd in ERA (2.58) and 4th in strikeouts (127). He led all organizational pitchers in ERA, was 2nd in wins and 3rd in innings. The 6-0 lefty from Celina, Texas was the club's 16th round pick in the 2011 draft out of McLennan C.C. and has posted a 4-year professional ERA of 3.16 (370.0IP, 369H, 130ER) in 69 games/64 starts.
Urshela, 23, split the 2014 season between AA Akron and AAA Columbus, hitting a combined .280 (136-485) with 36 doubles, 6 triples, 18 home runs, 84 RBI and 78 runs scored. On the season, Urshela ranked 1st in the Indians system in runs (78), 2nd in RBI (84), 3rd in hits (136) and 4th in home runs (18) while compiling a.977 fielding pct. at third base for Columbus (5E, 220TC). The Cartagena, Colombia native was signed as a 16-year old free agent in July of 2008. He recently completed a winter ball stint in Venezuela, hitting .398 (43-108) for Zulia in the Venezuelan Winter League with 2 2B, 3 3B, 3HR & 22 RBI in 27 games before suffering a left knee injury running out a triple on November 15. At the time of his injury he was first in the LVBP in average (.398) and second in RBI (22) and total bases (60).
Wolters, 22, spent the entire campaign at AA Akron, his second since being converted to the catching position. In 2014 he hit .249 (85-341) with 15 doubles, 2 triples, 1 home run and 34 RBI in 94 games before left knee soreness ended his season on July 26. Last season the versatile Vista, CA native appeared in 66 games at catcher and 18 games between shortstop and second base, throwing out 47% (25/53) of would-be base stealers while behind the dish. The 2010 third round selection recently completed a stint in the Arizona Fall League where he batted .255 (14-55) with 5 runs scored and 8 RBI in 15 games.
The Indians 40-man roster is currently full at 40.