Cleveland Indians Get Some Catching Help Sign Mike Rose And Invite Him To Spring Training

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MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - The Cleveland Indians today announced that they have signed catcher Mike Rose to a minor league contract with an invitation to Major League spring training camp.

Rose, 30, split last season with the Triple-A Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay) of the International League and the Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis) of the Pacific Coast League before earning a September promotion to the Cardinals. He hit .231 (78-338) with 20 doubles, 17 home runs and 41RBI in 102 total minor league games before collecting two hits in 10 at-bats in 10 games with for the eventual World Series Champions.

Rose is coming off a career year in the power department as he hit 17 home runs at the Triple-A level. He began the year in Durham but was released on May 25 after hitting .104 (7-67) with two home runs and five RBI in 20 games. Signed by St. Louis and assigned to Memphis, Rose hit .262 with 15 home runs and 36RBI in 82 games with the Redbirds. He homered twice against Round Rock on July 19 and went deep in three consecutive games, August 13-15. Rose, who also saw time at first base and left field defensively in 2006, threw out 24% (11-46) of would-be base stealers while with Memphis.

Rose was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in the fifth round of the 1995 June Draft. He has also seen Major League time with Oakland in 2004 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2005. In 27 games, he has averaged .204 (11-54) with a home run and two RBI. In 1,025 career minor league games, Rose has hit .263 with 170 doubles, 18 triples, 85 home runs and 418RBI.