IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Indianapolis announces 2007 roster

April 2, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS -- Former Ball State star and No. 1 overall pick Bryan Bullington highlights a list of 25 players who are en route to Indianapolis for the 2007 Triple-A Baseball season. The Indians Opening Day roster will also feature 13 returning players and nine members of Pittsburgh's 40-man roster.

Bullington, who pitched for the Tribe two seasons ago, missed all of 2006 while recovering from right shoulder surgery. The former No. 1 selection earned the Indians' ERA Award in 2005 after turning in a 9-5 record and 3.38 ERA in 18 starts.

Sean Burnett (25 games, 8-11 record, 5.16 ERA), Jesse Chavez (12, 2-1, 4.24), Mark Corey (61, 5-5, 4.02 in 2005), Marty McLeary (35, 3-4, 2.68), Brian Rogers (7, 1-1, 1.08), Josh Sharpless (23, 1-1, 2.45), John Van Benschoten (3, 1-1, 5.40) and Shane Youman (8, 4-0, 4.04) all return to the Indians pitching staff in 2007.

Jim Brower, Kevin Gryboski, Franquelis Osoria and Michael Tejera are newcomers on the staff. Brower, who has pitched in 351 Major League showdowns, logged time with four clubs a season ago. Gryboski saw action in six games for Washington and 52 contests for Triple-A New Orleans. Osoria appeared in 12 tilts for the LA Dodgers and 44 affairs for Triple-A Las Vegas. Tejera spent the entire campaign with Triple-A Fresno (Calif.)

Burnett has been designated as the Tribe's Opening Day starter, while Bullington, McLeary, Van Benschoten and Youman will also begin the year in the starting rotation. Chavez, Corey, Rogers, Sharpless, Brower, Gryboski, Osoria and Tejera will see action out of the bullpen.

Carlos Maldonado (103 games, .283 average, 6 HR, 47 RBI), the Tribe's Most Valuable Player in 2006, returns behind the plate. Einar Diaz, who has played in 673 big league games, figures to be the back-up catcher.

Yurendell de Caster (119, .273, 11, 51), Mike Edwards (92, .258, 3, 29) and Chris Truby (60, .222, 5, 25) return to the Tribe's infield in 2007, while Brian Bixler, Russ Johnson and Luis Ordaz are the newcomers.

Bixler is an organizational prospect who split the 2006 campaign between Double-A Altoona (Pa.) and High-A Lynchburg (Va.). Johnson played in 106 games for Triple-A Columbus (Ohio) a season ago, while Ordaz split the year between Tampa Bay and Triple-A Durham (N.C.).

Ordaz and Bixler figure to start at the middle infield spots, while Edwards, Truby and Johnson will see time at the corners and de Caster will serve as a utility man.

Rajai Davis (100, .283, 2, 21, 45 SB) is the lone returning outfielder, while Chris Aguila, Nyjer Morgan and Michael Ryan all join the mix.

Aguila played in 47 games for Florida and 78 contests for Albuquerque last year, while Ryan got the nod 110 times for Triple-A Richmond (Va.). Morgan, who was drafted by the Pirates, split the campaign between Altoona and Lynchburg.

Indianapolis opens its 2007 campaign on Thursday when Columbus comes to Victory Field for a 2 p.m. contest. The season-opening homestand continues through April 11 as the Indians face the Clippers in a four-game series (April 5-8) and the Toldeo Mud Hens in a three-game set (April 9-11).

Warm weather is being guaranteed for Opening Day at Victory Field. If the game-time temperature is below 60 degrees, all fans in attendance will receive a complimentary ticket to another home game in April.

The Indians are also offering $25 in Tribe Tokens to fans who purchase a Mini-Plan ticket package by May 1. Remember to, "see the best games from the best seats at the best prices with an Indians Mini Plan."

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