Indians Sign Zach Putnam and three more players

Wow, Indians have signed Bryce Stowell, T.J. House and now Zach Putnam. I guess they really did use some of that Byrd savings to sign these guys. I am not sure I understand why they would need to do that, but alas they have signed three top end prospects.

Also, C Wyatt Toregas went on the disbaled list with elbow inflammation and C Armando Camacaro was activated.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2008

INDIANS SIGN RHP ZACH PUTNAM;
5TH ROUND PICK FROM 2008 FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT

Went 9-0 w/a 2.58 ERA in 12 starts for the Michigan Wolverines in 2008;
Named the 50th Overall Prospect by Baseball America Entering the Draft

CLEVELAND, OH --- The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed RHP ZACH PUTNAM, their 5th round selection from the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.

Putnam, 21, went 9-0 w/a 2.58 ERA in 12 starts during his junior season this year for the University of Michigan (76.2IP, 62H, 22ER, 23BB, 78SO). He was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the year and was named to multiple All-America teams in addition to being named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association District V Player of the Year for the second straight season. District V covers Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. He enjoyed a stretch of three consecutive starts in which he had 10+ strikeouts, including back-to-back contests with 12 punch outs.

In his three seasons at UM the 6-2 right-hander was 23-7 w/a 3.12 ERA in 40 games/36 starts (236.1IP, 215H, 82ER, 84BB, 194SO). The Ann Arbor, MI native finished his collegiate career sixth in Michigan history in wins and 10th in strikeouts as his 9-0 campaign in 2008 ranked as the third best single-season performance in the 142-year history of the Big Blue baseball program. He was the 171st player overall selection and was rated by Baseball America as the 50th best overall prospect entering the 2008 draft. He will report to A Mahoning Valley in the coming days.

Pitching ERA W L App GS CG IP H R ER BB SO
2006 2.51 6 2 12 9 1 57.1 59 20 16 23 29
2007 3.87 8 5 16 15 1 102.1 94 48 44 38 87
2008 2.58 9 0 12 12 1 76.2 62 29 22 23 78
Career 3.12 23 7 40 36 3 236.1 215 97 82 84 194

INDIANS SIGN THREE MORE PLAYERS

The Indians today signed the following three (3) draft picks in addition to 5th round selection RHP ZACH PUTNAM.

The following players were also signed today by the Indians: CA ROBERTO PEREZ (33rd round, Lake City CC, Mayaguez, PR); RHP EDWIN BURNS (39th round, Georgia Tech, Douglasville, GA); OF TIM PALINCSAR (40th round, U Texas San Antonio, College Station, TX)

With today’s four (4) signings the Indians have now signed 26 of their 50 selections from the 2008 First-Year Player Draft. The MLB deadline to sign 2008 draft picks is tomorrow.

Posted in: Zach Putnam