Tribe signs Andy Cannizaro
November 21, 2008 - International League (IL1)
Columbus Clippers News Release
CLEVELAND, OH --- The Cleveland Indians announced the minor league free agent signings of INF ANDY CANNIZARO & CA DAMASO ESPINO. Each player has also received a non-roster invitation to Major League camp when it opens in February in Goodyear, Arizona.
Cannizaro owns a career minor league average of .274 (700-2558) with 147 doubles, 15 home runs & 269 RBI over 8 professional seasons in the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays & Cleveland Indians organizations. He also appeared in 14 games in the big leagues for the Yankees in 2006 (2-8, HR, 5RS) and Rays in 2008 (0-1). He was drafted by the Yankees in the 7th round in June of 2001 out of Tulane University. He is a very familiar face in Columbus Clippers circles, spending time in Columbus in 2005 and 2006. He was named "Clipper of the Year" in 2006 after hitting .276 (115-416) with 32 2B, 3HR & 32RBI in 116 games.
Cannizaro, 29, split the 2008 season between AAA Durham, AAA Buffalo and appeared in 1 game for the AL champion Tampa Bay Rays in May. He hit .240 (41-171) in 51 games at Durham before being acquired for cash by the Indians on August 4 and assigned to Class AAA Buffalo where he hit .321 (27-84) with 4 2B, 3HR & 14RBI in 25 games (.850OPS). Combined on the year between Buffalo and Durham he hit .284 (27-95) off LHP and appeared in 50 games at second base, 12 games at third and 11 games at shortstop.
Espino, 25, owns a career minor league average of .269 (638-2376) over 9 professional seasons in the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians organizations. He was originally signed into the Reds system in 2000 as an infielder and was later converted to catcher in 2005. His career high 88RBI in 2003 at Class A Burlington were the 4th highest total in the Midwest League. He split 2008 between AAA Omaha (.167, 6-36) and AA Akron (.275, 28-102) after being acquired for cash on June 12.
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International League Stories from November 21, 2008
- Tribe signs Andy Cannizaro - Columbus Clippers
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