MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Former LumberKing Maikel Cleto Called up to St. Louis

Published on June 2, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Fort Wayne, IN - Former Clinton right-hander Maikel Cleto is the newest LumberKing poised to make a Major League debut in 2011 as he was added to the 25-man roster of the St. Louis Cardinals today. Cleto was called up from double-A Springfield, where he went 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 24 innings.

Cleto, 22, started the season in high-A Palm Beach in the Cardinals' organization after being acquired by St. Louis this offseason in a trade that sent Brendan Ryan to the Seattle Mariners. Cleto was 1-1 with a 2.48 ERA in five starts in the Florida State League before his move to double-A Springfield.

Originally signed by the New York Mets, Cleto was acquired by Seattle as part of a nine-player trade that sent J.J. Putz, Jeremy Reed and Sean Green to the Mets for Aaron Heilman, Endy Chavez, Jason Vargas, Mike Carp and Ezequiel Carrera. Cleto went 0-3 with a 5.33 ERA in eight starts for the LumberKings in 2009 and was 4-9 with a 6.16 ERA in 23 games, 21 starts for high-A High Desert in 2010.

He joins fellow right-handers Josh Lueke, Tom Wilhelmsen (both debuted with the Mariners) and Cody Eppley (Texas Rangers) as former LumberKings to be called to the Major Leagues this season. When Cleto pitches, he'll be the 228th former Clinton player to appear in a Major League game dating back to the franchise's inception in 1937.

The LumberKings (16-38) conclude the three-game series with the TinCaps (23-29) at Parkview Field tonight, first pitch scheduled for 6:05 PM central time. Left-hander Edlando Seco (1-0, 5.59) gets the start for Clinton as he goes up against Fort Wayne right-hander Matt Branham (4-3, 3.83). Listen to the game on AM 1390 KCLN in Clinton or live on the web at 1390kcln.com.

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Midwest League Stories from June 2, 2011


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