| QUOTE |
| ARLINGTON -- The Indians didn't plan on making any September callups until after Triple-A Buffalo's season ends on Tuesday. A minor injury to Travis Hafner, however, has forced the need for an extra bat this weekend, and infielder Kevin Kouzmanoff's bat was too good for the Tribe to pass up. Kouzmanoff's contract was purchased from Buffalo before Saturday's game. The hot-hitting third base prospect has a combined average of .379 at Double-A Akron and Buffalo this season. That mark is second in all of professional baseball. The 25-year-old Kouzmanoff was placed on the back-burner, of sorts, when the Indians traded for Andy Marte over the winter. But the back problems that plagued him early in his professional career haven't been an issue this year, and he's made tremendous strides at the plate. At Akron, Kouzmanoff hit .389 with 15 homers and 55 RBIs in 67 games, despite missing three weeks with a strained left hamstring. He moved up to Buffalo on July 28 and has batted .353 with seven homers and 20 RBIs with the Bisons. In recent weeks, Kouzmanoff has spent some time at first base, a position he'll play in the Arizona Fall League if former No. 1 draft pick Mike Aubrey is physically unable to participate. Kouzmanoff was a sixth-round pick in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft. The Indians' 40-man roster now stands at 37 players. |