Indians claime INF/OF Vinny Rottino off outright waivers from the New York Mets

The Indians today claimed INF/OF Vinny Rottino off outright waivers from the New York Mets. 

Rottino, 32, has split the season between Triple-A Buffalo and the Mets, hitting .307 (43-140) with the Bisons with 10 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs and 25 RBI in 36 games.  The right-handed hitting Rottino hit .333 (11-33) with 2HR & 6RBI off left-handed pitching at Triple-A.  With the Bisons he appeared in 27 games in left field, 6 games in right and 3 games at catcher.  He enjoyed a 3HR/5RBI game on May 19 vs. Indianapolis.  He spent two stints at the big league level with the Mets, May 4-11 and again from May 21-June 24, where he hit .182 (6-33) with a double, 2HR & 5RBI in 18 games before being designated for assignment on June 25. He homered in consecutive games for New York, May 26 & 28.

The Racine, WI native attended the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse and was signed by Milwaukee in 2003 as a non-drafted free agent. His career Minor League batting average is .295 (1154-3917) with 214 2B, 29 3B, 77HR & 557 RBI in 1080 games since 2003 (401BB, 107SB, .363 on-base pct).  He owns a Major League career batting average of .188 (13-69) with 3 2B, 2HR & 9RBI in 44 games over parts of five seasons with Milwaukee (2006-08), Florida (2011) and the Mets (2012). 

To allow room on the 40-man roster the Indians have designated RHP CHRIS SCHWINDEN for assignment.