Indians sign C Kelly Shoppach

CLEVELAND, OH - The Cleveland Indians today signed free agent C KELLY SHOPPACH (SHOP-pick) to a Minor League contract and assigned him to the Triple-A Columbus roster.

Shoppach, 33, signed with the Seattle Mariners in the off-season and spent the first two and a half months of the season with Seattle where he hit .196 (21-107) with 7 doubles, 3 home runs and 9 RBI in 35 games before being released on June 20. The Baylor University product later spent July in the Washington Nationals organization (AAA Syracuse) and August in the Pittsburgh Pirates system (AAA Indianapolis) before requesting his release on August 28.

The right-handed hitting catcher returns to the Indians organization where he spent four seasons from 2006-09 after being acquired from the Boston Red Sox in January of 2006. He owns a nine-year Major League batting average of .224 (361-1614) with 92 doubles, 70 home runs and 216RBI in 571 games with five teams since debuting in 2005. He was originally selected in the 2001 draft (2nd round) by the Red Sox out of Baylor.