Akron RHP Joe Colon named Indians Minor League Player of the Week

CLEVELAND, OH - The Cleveland Indians today announced that Double-A Akron RHP JOE COLON has been named Indians Minor League Player of the Week for May 26-June 1. The Indians Player of the Week Award recognizes an individual performance from within the Indians Player Development System and is announced each Tuesday through the end of the Minor League season.

Colon, 24, began the week with his first career complete game shutout on May 26 vs. Reading, scattering just 3 hits and a walk while notching 4 strikeouts. Colon followed that up with 6.0 quality innings on Sunday vs. Harrisburg, earning the win in the RubberDucks 6-3 victory over the Senators. The 6-foot, 167-pound right-hander has strung together 10 consecutive starts of at least 5.0 innings, allowing 3 earned runs or fewer in each of those outings. A stretch dating back to his second start of the season, Colon has allowed one or fewer earned runs in 7 of those 10 starts. On the season, Colon is 5-2 and ranks 6th in the Eastern League with a 2.37 ERA (17 ER/64.2 IP). Colon was also named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the period of May 26-June 1. 

Originally drafted by the Indians in the 12th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, Colon entered the 2014 season having logged 66 appearances/61 starts across 5 minor league seasons with the Tribe. The Caguas, PR native has missed time due to right elbow injuries during the 2010 and 2013 seasons. In 2012, his first full season in the minors, Colon ranked 6th in the entire Player Development System with a 3.43 ERA.