Some Updates 6/23

Aeros and Indians Extend PDC
Akron to Remain as Cleveland Affiliate through 2012

AKRON, OH – The Aeros and Cleveland Indians have reached an agreement to extend the Player Development Contract for the maximum length of four years, ensuring that Akron will continue as the Double-A affiliate of the Indians through the 2012 season.

“This is obviously an exciting announcement, and it’s one that we are happy to release publicly today,” Aeros General Manager Jeff Auman said. “The Indians player development staff is filled with quality personnel, and they are a pleasure to work with on every issue we are faced with on a daily basis. We are extremely proud to have been an Indians affiliate for 20 years and we look forward to continuing our relationship for many more seasons to come.”

The Aeros franchise first joined forces with Cleveland in 1989 when the club was still located in Canton. Since that inaugural season, more than 75 players have donned the purple and black before eventually making the Major Leagues, including All-Stars like Victor Martinez, Grady Sizemore, C.C. Sabathia and Manny Ramirez. Opening Day first baseman Michael Aubrey just made his Major League debut this season, and infielder Asdrubal Cabrera and pitchers Aaron Laffey and Jensen Lewis all debuted with Cleveland last year after beginning the season with the Aeros.

“We could not be more excited about continuing our relationship with the Akron Aeros,” said Cleveland Director of Player Development Ross Atkins, who himself spent parts of two seasons with the Aeros in 1998 and 1999. “The chance for us to have first-class resources in Double-A just 40 miles south of Cleveland is a separator for us. With the upgrade of the playing surface and the professionalism of Jeff Auman’s staff, we know our Double-A staff and players are in very good hands.”

Crowe Named Player of the Week

AKRON, OH – Aeros outfielder Trevor Crowe was named Bank of America Eastern League Player of the Week today for the week ending June 22nd. It is the second straight week an Aero has earned the honor after third baseman Wes Hodges won the award last week. Pitchers David Huff and Randy Newsom have also earned weekly awards this season.

Crowe hit .464 (13-28) last week with two home runs, eight RBI, four doubles, and nine runs scored in six games for an Aeros team that went 6-1 on their road trip to Bowie and Reading. Crowe has notched four consecutive multi-hit games and has also scored a run in each of his last 10 games. During his six-game hitting streak, Crowe has raised his batting average 47 points from .234 to .281 (his high-water mark for the year).

Friday at Reading, Crowe clocked his first home run of the season and drove in four runs to highlight a four-hit night for the switch-hitter in Akron’s 7-3 win over the Phillies. Crowe followed that performance with a 4-8 day in a doubleheader sweep in Reading Saturday. Crowe’s RBI double in the top of the fourth in game one tied the game at 4-4 in the middle of a six-run outburst for Akron, and he also pounded out his second home run of the season in game two.

On the year, Crowe is hitting .281 with two home runs, 16 RBI, 30 runs scored, 22 walks, and a .381 on-base percentage. The outfielder also has seven stolen bases and has committed just one error this season. The Indians drafted Crowe in the first round (14th overall) of the 2005 June Draft out of the University of Arizona. He hit .259 for the Aeros last season but was limited in the early going of this campaign, sitting out 35 games in April and May with a back strain.

Indians Trade Bisons’ Herr to Cincinnati

The Cleveland Indians today announced that they have traded INF Aaron Herr to the Cincinnati Reds for cash considerations.

Herr spent the entire 2008 season with the Bisons and hit .245 (59-241) with seven doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 32RBI in 65 games. He led the team in games played and home runs and was tied with OF Jason Cooper for the team lead in RBI.

Herr made 62 starts at third base for the Bisons and two as the team’s designated hitter.

Infielder Chris De La Cruz was promoted from Kinston to take Herr's spot on the roster.

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