Indians 2011 Winter Development Program Starts Monday

The Cleveland Indians annual Winter Development Program kicks off Monday Janaury 17th at Progressive Field.

Now in its 16th year, the Winter Development Program will consist of a two week long program for fourteen players in the Indians minor league system, three of which were recently ranked as the top three players in their system by Baseball America (Chisenhall, Kipnis, White). Those fourteen players are:

Ezequiel Carrera (Outfielder)
Chen-Chang Lee (Right-handed pitcher)
Lonnie Chisenhall (Third baseman)
Jared Goedert (Third baseman)
Nick Hagadone (Left-handed pitcher)
Chad Huffman (Outfielder)
Jason Kipnis (Second Baseman)
Corey Kluber (Right-handed pitcher)
Zach McAllister (Right-handed pitcher)
Matt Packer (Left-handed pitcher)
Vinnie Pestano (Right-handed pitcher)
Cord Phelps (Second baseman)
Bryce Stowell (Right-handed pitcher)
Alex White (Right-handed pitcher)

The Winter Development Program is the brainchild of current President Mark Shapiro back in Janaury of 1996. The idea behind the program is to hone in on each players’ physical, mental and fundamental skills. Their daily routine involves classroom sessions with various members of the Indians coaching staff, physical conditioning, baseball fundamental work and listening to guest speakers such as former Indians Sean Casey and Eduardo Perez.

The program mostly involves players who are expected to make their Major League debut in the upcoming season, who have recently been acquired in a trade, or are a high level prospect nearing a big league opportunity. It serves as an introduction for many of the minor league players to the Progressive Field facility, big league coaching staff, and the city itself.

The Indians will conduct the program out of Progressive Field from January 17th to January 22nd. Over the course of the first week they will live with host families in the Cleveland area and attend various extracurricular activities as well as other community and charitable appearances and tours of local attractions. At the end of the first week they will culminate at the Indians Player Development Complex in Goodyear, Arizona from January 23rd to January 29th where they will hone their skills on the diamond while continuing to take part in strength and conditioning activities.

Posted in: Winter Development Program