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IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Five More Indians Promoted To Pittsburgh

September 17, 2005 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS -- Bryan Bullington, Matt Capps, Tom Gorzelanny, Ronny Paulino and Jose Bautista were all promoted to Pittsburgh on Friday afternoon, just one day after Indianapolis wrapped up its 2005 campaign in the International League Governors' Cup Finals.

The Pirates purchased the contracts of Bullington, Capps and Gorzelanny, while Paulino and Bautista were already on the 40-man roster and simply recalled.

With Friday's promotions, 17 former Indians are now members of Pittsburgh's active roster. 10 of those 17 -- Bullington, LHP Zach Duke, LHP Paul Maholm, RHP Ian Snell, C Ryan Doumit, C Ronny Paulino, INF Brad Eldred, INF J.J. Furmaniak, INF Ty Wigginton and OF Nate McLouth -- spent at least one month with the Tribe.

Bullington, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound right-hander, went 9-5 with a 3.38 ERA in 18 regular-season Triple-A starts. The Indianapolis native and former Ball State University star ranked second among active Tribe pitchers in wins (9) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.15). Bullington was named Indians Player of the Month for July after posting a 3-1 record and 2.40 ERA with 25 strikeouts and just four walks. He registered a 4-0 mark and 1.00 ERA over five starts from July 29-Aug. 20. The 24-year-old, who was taken with the pick in the 2002 draft, also recorded the longest streak without allowing a walk of any Tribe pitcher this season (30.1 innings from July 14-Aug. 4).

Gorzelanny, a 6-foot-2, 207-pound southpaw, joined the Indians prior to the IL Finals after spending all of 2005 with Double-A Altoona (Pa.). He turned in an 8-5 record and 3.26 ERA in 23 regular-season starts for the Curve. The 23-year-old, who started the Eastern League All-Star Game for the Southern Division, fired a complete-game shutout with no walks and 13 strikeouts in his only post-season start at the Double-A level. Gorzelanny made his Triple-A debut on Wednesday at Fifth Third Field in Toledo.

Capps, a 6-foot-3, 236-pound right-hander, also joined the Tribe just before the IL Finals. The 22-year-old split the regular season between Altoona and Low-A Hickory (N.C.), going 0-2 with a 2.70 ERA in 17 relief appearances for the Curve and 3-4 with 14 saves and a 2.52 ERA in 35 outings for the Crawdads. Capps saw action in two playoff games for Indianapolis.

Paulino, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound right-handed hitter, split the regular season between Altoona and Indianapolis. The 24-year-old hit .292 with six HR and 20 RBI in 43 games for the Curve and .315 with 13 HR and 42 RBI in 77 contests for the Indians. Paulino hit safely in 16 consecutive Triple-A games from June 7-24. His three-run homer in game five of the Buffalo series gave Indianapolis an IL Championship Series berth for the first time since 2000.

Bautista, a 6-foot, 190-pound right-handed hitter, also split the regular season between Altoona and Indy. The 24-year-old hit .283 with 23 HR and 90 RBI in 117 games for the Curve and .255 with one HR and four RBI in 13 contests for the Tribe. Bautista hit safely in six straight games to finish off the postseason.

Pittsburgh also made a series of roster moves to open up spots for Bullington, Capps and Gorzelanny on the 40-man roster.

Former Indianapolis OF Chris Duffy (.349 BA, 1 HR, 9 RBI in 39 big league games), who has been sidelined since Aug. 28 with a strained left hamstring, was transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL. OF Ray Sadler (.259 BA, 10 HR, 30 RBI in 69 Triple-A games), who finished the season with the Indians, was designated for assignment. LHP Cory Stewart (7-10 record, 5.52 ERA in 24 Triple-A outings), who was placed on the Tribe's disabled list Aug. 16, was released unconditionally.

The moves come after Snell and Furmaniak were both recalled prior to the IL Governors' Cup Finals. Snell (0-2 record, 6.83 ERA in 13 big league appearances) is scheduled to face Future Hall of Famer Roger Clemens (12-7 record, 1.77 ERA in 30 big league starts) and the Houston Astros on Monday at PNC Park.

Pittsburgh also added Hensley "Bam Bam" Meulens to the Major League roster as a coach. Meulens, who played professionally for 17 years, served as the Tribe's hitting instructor in 2005.

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