Indians extend invites to seven (7) players
The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has invited the following players to Major League camp: INF FRANCISCO LINDOR, C JAKE LOWERY, OF TYLER NAQUIN, OF JAMES RAMSEY, RHP WILL ROBERTS, INF RYAN ROHLINGER and OF JORDAN SMITH.
Lindor, 21, split the 2014 campaign between AA Akron and AAA Columbus, where he hit a combined .276 (140-567) with 16 doubles, 4 triples, 11 home runs, 62 RBI and 75 runs scored in 126 games. He also stole 28 stolen bases, 3rd-most in the Indians organization in 2014. He was named an organizational all-star by MiLB.com, was selected to his third straight SiriusXM Futures Game and was an Eastern League all-star. He enters the season as the #1 rated prospect in the Indians organization according to Baseball America, MLB.com and Baseball Prospectus.
Lowery, 24, was limited to 66 games at AA Akron in 2014 after suffering multiple facial fractures on April 18 after being struck in the face by a pitch. He missed seven weeks before being activated in early June. Jake was a 2014 non-roster invitee and was the club's 4th round selection in the 2011 draft out of James Madison.
Naquin, 23, spent the entire season at AA Akron, batting .313 (95-304) with 12 doubles, 5 triples, 4 home runs, 30 RBI, 14 stolen bases and 54 runs scored in 76 games for the RubberDucks before suffering a broken left hand (HBP) on June 27. The 2012 first round selection was named an organizational all-star by MiLB.com and enters the season as the 6th-best prospect in the system according to Baseball America.
Ramsey, 25, was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals on July 30 in exchange for RHP Justin Masterson. He split the 2014 season between AA Springfield and AAA Columbus, hitting a combined .295 (104-352) with 23 doubles, 2 triples, 16 home runs and 52 RBI in 95 games (.382/.509/.890). He was a Texas League midseason all-star selection and, at the time of the July 30 trade, he was 6th in the Texas League in home runs (13) despite missing three weeks (May 17-June 9) with an abdominal injury. He started in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game for Team USA and enters the 2015 season as the 12th-best prospect in the organization according to Baseball America.
Roberts, 24, enjoyed his best season as a professional in 2014, going 12-12 with a 4.08 ERA in 27 starts (161.0IP, 170H, 73ER) at AA Akron, leading the Eastern League in innings pitched and led the team in starts and strikeouts. Among organizational pitchers he was 3rd in wins and 2nd in innings. He was the club's 5th round pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Virginia.
Rohlinger, 31, has been re-signed to a Minor League contract and invited to Major League camp. He spent 2014 in AAA Columbus where he batted .233 (68-292) with 16 doubles, 5 home runs and 27 RBI in 85 games in his third season in the organization. He hit .330 (31-94) off left-handed pitching with 7 2B, 2 HR and 13 RBI and appeared in 51 games at second base, 31 games at third base and 2 games at first base and shortstop.
2014 SPRING INVITEES (20)
# PITCHERS (9)
39 DOWNS, Scott (LHP)
53 MANSHIP, Jeff (RHP)
38 MARCUM, Shaun (RHP)
66 MARONDE, Nick (LHP)
83 MOLLEKEN, Dustin (RHP)
56 PRICE, Bryan (RHP)
80 ROBERTS, Will (RHP)
65 ROTH, Michael (LHP)
51 SWARZAK, Anthony (RHP)
# CATCHERS (3)
12 HAYES, Brett
86 LOWERY, Jake
52 MOORE, Adam
# INFIELDERS (4)
79 CIRIACO, Audy
67 LINDOR, Francisco
76 ROHLINGER, Ryan
61 SANDS, Jerry
# OUTFIELDERS (4)
77 HOOD, Destin
72 NAQUIN, Tyler
68 RAMSEY, James
84 SMITH, Jordan