The Clippers and Cleveland Indians will announce a two-year extension of their player
development agreement today that will keep the Tribe at Huntington Park through the 2018
season.
The Indians moved their triple-A operation to Columbus in 2009 to coincide with the opening of
Huntington Park.
The baseball marriage has been a piece of baseball heaven for both organizations. The Clippers
have drawn 4,388,734 fans over the past seven seasons and won three International League Governors’
Cup championships and two triple-A national titles.
“Everything about this relationship has been a grand slam: for the fans, for both franchises and
for both cities,” said Ken Schnacke, the president and general manager of the Clippers. “We look
forward to maintaining this relationship and to seeing the Indians win a World Series championship
sometime in the near future.”
Over the seven seasons, the Clippers have sent 112 players to the Indians. The group includes
2014 Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, American League All Stars Michael Brantley and Jason
Kipnis, and ’15 rookie shortstop sensation Francisco Lindor.
“The Indians are extremely excited to extend our relationship with the Columbus Clippers,” said
Chris Antonetti, the Indians president of baseball operations. “The resources their front office
staff provides are always first class, in addition to the state-of-the-art facility and passionate
fan base.”
The Clippers won the Governors’ Cup in ’15 under manager Chris Tremie and advanced to the
Triple-A National championship game.
“Our players and staff love playing in Columbus and we can’t think of a better setting to
develop our players as they make their transition to Cleveland,” said Carter Hawkins, the Indians
director of player development. “We could not be happier to extend our partnership and look forward
to many more outstanding seasons in Huntington Park. The Clippers create a major league environment
in triple-A.”
This is the third extension of the player develop contract between the two teams.
jmassie@dispatch.com
@MassDispatch
