Indians Add Five to the 40-Man Roster; Sell Contract of C.C. Lee

CLEVELAND – The Indians today announced the following moves that will have an impact on the teams’ 40-man roster.

The team selected the contracts of righty pitcher Mike Clevinger, outfielder Tyler Naquin, and outfielder James Ramsey from AAA Columbus.

They also selected the contract of righty pitcher Shawn Morimando from AA Akron, and righty pitcher Dylan Baker from single A Lynchburg.

The Tribe sold the contract of pitcher C.C. Lee to the Saitama Seibu Lions of the Nippon Professional Baseball League (NPB).

Baker, 23, opened the 2015 season with 5.0 hitless innings in an April 9 start for A Lynchburg before being shutdown with right elbow soreness, which eventually led to reconstructive surgery on May 20. The Juneau, Alaska native was the club’s fifth round selection in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Western Nevada College. He owns a career Minor League ERA of 3.64 (225.0IP, 195H, 91ER) and has been limited to just 13 starts over the last two seasons due to a broken leg and elbow surgery.

Clevinger, 24, enjoyed a breakout 2015 season, going 9-8 with a 2.73 ERA in 27 games/26 starts with AA Akron, tallying the 3rd-most strikeouts, the second-lowest WHIP and the 4th-lowest average against in all of Double-A (158.0IP, 127H, 48ER, 8HR, 40BB, 145SO, .219avg, 1.06whip), leading the organization in strikeouts and was 2nd in ERA while finishing in the top 5 in the Eastern League in ERA (5th), strikeouts (2nd) and WHIP (2nd).

The Jacksonville, Florida native was promoted to Columbus for the postseason, winning both starts while tossing 15.1 scoreless innings (5 hits, 17SO) for the Governors’ Cup champs. The 6-4 right-hander was acquired from the LA Angels in August 2014 in exchange for RHP Vinnie Pestano. He owns a professional ERA of 3.53 (308.2IP, 269H, 121ER) since being selected by Los Angeles-AL in the 4th round of the 2011 draft out of Seminole Community College (Sanford, FL).

Morimando, celebrating his 23rd birthday today, spent the 2015 season at AA Akron, posting a record of 10-12 with a 3.18 ERA in 28 starts (158.2IP, 139H, 56ER, 128SO, .240avg). Among Eastern League pitchers he finished tied for 1st in starts (28), tied for 5th in strikeouts (128), 7th in innings (158.2) and 9th in ERA (3.18) while posting the 4th-lowest ERA in the Indians Player Development System. Shawn was tough on left-handed hitters, limiting lefties to a .163 (23-141, 1HR, .441 OPS) average against. He was the club’s 19th round selection in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach, VA and owns a five-year professional ERA of 3.42 (214ER/562.2IP).

Naquin, 24, split 2015 between AA Akron and AAA Columbus, hitting a combined .300 (98-327) with 25 doubles, 1 triple, 7 homers & 27 RBI in 84 games between Akron and Columbus (.828OPS). His season did not start until April 24 (quad strain) and he was limited in the second half due to hip soreness and a concussion. The Spring, TX native was the club’s first round selection (15th overall) in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Texas A&M, where he was a two-time All-Big 12 performer and Golden Spikes Award semifinalist.

Ramsey, 25, spent the 2015 season at AAA Columbus, hitting .243 (107-440) with 21 doubles, 2 triples, 12 home runs and 42 RBI in 126 games (.709 OPS). He finished 11th in the International League in walks (53) and posted nearly identical numbers against LHP (.245/.698) and RHP (.243/.712). Ramsey was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in July 2014 in exchange for RHP Justin Masterson, participating in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game and earning Texas League postseason all-star honors in 2014. The Alpharetta, GA native was the first round pick of St. Louis in 2012 out of Florida State, where he earned a degree in finance and was a two-time All-American (2011-12) and ACC Player of the Year (2012).

The Indians 40-man roster is now full.