CLEVELAND — Bradley Zimmer was taking an ice bath after a minor league game when he got word his manager wanted to see him.
With no time to dry off Monday night, the top prospect in the Cleveland Indians’ organization threw on some workout clothes and went to see Chris Tremie, the manager at Triple-A Columbus.
The news was unexpected. The 24-year-old would be joining the defending AL champions.
“Honestly it’s hard to put into words what that moment was,” he said. “It’s something I’ll never forget.”
Zimmer called his parents, who traveled in from California to watch his major league debut against Tampa Bay on Tuesday night. The Indians’ first-round draft pick in 2014 batted ninth and played center field. He was 0 for 3, striking out three times.
Zimmer also called his brother, Kyle, who is pitching at Triple-A Omaha. Kyle Zimmer was the Kansas City Royals’ No. 1 pick in 2012.
Zimmer was hitting .294 with five home runs and 14 RBI in 33 games with Columbus.
ROCKIES: Right-hander Chad Bettis says he has finished his last round of chemotherapy two months after doctors discovered his testicular cancer had spread.
Mets: New York put shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera on the 10-day disabled list and added reliever Neil Ramirez to its battered bullpen.
Cabrera is out with a sprained left thumb. His move was retroactive to Sunday.
Ramirez joins his third major league team this month. He was previously with San Francisco and Toronto.
MARINERS: Second baseman Robinson Cano was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to a quadriceps strain. He missed the previous five games due to the strain.
• The Mariners are moving young reliever Edwin Diaz out of the closer role because of struggles with his mechanics. Diaz walked four batters and recorded just one out in Monday’s victory.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
