Indians Promote Russ Canzler and Scott Barnes

The Cleveland Indians today, per press release, announced the club has recalled Russ Canzler and Scott Barnes from AAA Columbus and purchased the contract Thomas Neal from AA Akron.

Canzler, 26, spent the entire 2012 Minor League season in Columbus where he hit .265 (129-487) with 36 doubles, 3 triples, 22 home runs and 79RBI in 130 games (.328OB/.487SLG/.815OPS). He led the Clippers in doubles, HR and RBI and is currently leading the International League in doubles, is 3rd in total bases (237) and RBI, 6^th in HR, 8^th in hits and 6^thin slugging pct. (.487).  He appeared in 47 games at first base, 36 games in left, 11 in right and 8 at third base. He also hit .277 (38-137, .814OPS) off left-handed pitching and will be making his Indians debut wearing #4 after being acquired from Tampa Bay in January. In his Triple-A send-off last night vs. Louisville he went 4-for-5 with 2 doubles, a homer and 6RBI.

Barnes, who turns 25 on September 5, has spent most of the season at Triple-A Columbus where he has gone 2-3 with 2 saves and a 3.98 ERA in 31 games/3 starts (52.0IP, 37H, 23ER, 23BB, 67K, .196AVG).  As a reliever for the Clippers he has posted an ERA of 3.50 (36.0IP, 25H, 14ER, 16BB, 50K, .188AVG) and limited right-handed hitters to a .156 (19-122) average against for the campaign.  This begins his fourth stint with Cleveland in 2012, having gone 0-0 with an 8.10ERA in 7 relief outings (10.0IP, 12H, 9R/ER) over previous stints in May, June and July. Scott wears #51.

Neal, 25, has spent the entire season at AA Akron where he hit .314 (127-405) with 24 doubles, 1 triple, 12 homers and 51RBI in 117 games.  He also scored 77 runs and stole 11 bases (.400OB/.467SLG/.867OPS).  He currently ranks tied for 4th in the Eastern League in runs, 2nd in OPS, 3rd in on-base pct. and batting average and 8th in slugging pct. He has hit above .300 in every month of the season with the exception of April (.278) and since July 23^rd is hitting .344 (42-122) with 5 2B, 4HR & 10 RBI in 36 games. He has hit .317 (92-290) off RHP, .304 (35-115) off LHP and appeared in games at all three outfield positions (32LF, 62RF, 13CF).  Thomas was acquired on July 30, 2011 from San Francisco in exchange for INF Orlando Cabrera and will be making his Major League debut wearing #36.

The Indians Major League expanded roster now consists of 28 players and the 40-man roster is now full.