Bye, Bye Betancourt – Indians Move Reliever to Colorado
The Cleveland Indians today announced they have acquired RHP CONNOR GRAHAM from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for RHP RAFAEL BETANCOURT.
Graham, 23, a 6-7, 235-pound right-hander, has spent the entire 2009 season with the Modesto Nuts (A-Advanced) in the California League going 7-4 with a 3.14 ERA (80.1IP, 68H, 35R/28ER, 41BB, 87K, 2HR) in 16 starts. He currently owns the 6th best ERA (3.14) in the California League and has limited hitters to a .225 (68-302) average against with just 2 home runs allowed. In his last 3 starts with the Nuts, Graham is 3-0 with a 0.59 ERA (15.1IP, 12H, 3R/1ER) as he has walked just 4 batters while striking out 24. Since June 6, he is 5-2 with a 2.97 ERA (39.1IP, 35H, 15R/13ER) and on the year has limited left-handed batters to a .213 (32-150) average against while fanning 9.8 batters per 9.0IP.
A Bowling Green, OH native, Graham was selected in the 5th round of the 2007 June Draft out of the University of Miami (OH). Last year, in his first full professional season, he went 12-6 with a 2.26 ERA (147.1IP, 99H, 50R/37ER, 83BB, 138K, .189 avg) in 26 starts at Asheville in the South Atlantic League. His .189 average against led the South Atlantic League and was the 7th best in all of Minor League baseball. He also ranked 2nd in the South Atlantic League in ERA (2.26), T3rd in wins (12) and 4th in strikeouts (138). Following the 2008 season, Graham was named the 12th best prospect in the Colorado organization by Baseball America. After being drafted in 2007 he went 1-0 with a 2.37 ERA (19.0IP, 23H, 7R/5ER, 6BB, 18K) in 6 games/4 starts at Tri-City.
Betancourt made 29 appearances this year with the Indians going 1-2 with a 3.52 ERA (30.2IP, 25H, 15R/12ER, 15BB, 32K).
The Indians will make a roster move in the coming days to replace Betancourt on their active 25-man roster.








Matt has covered Major League Baseball and the "other two" Pro teams in Cleveland since 1994. He has been on the beat of the Indians in full-time mode since 1996, working for various raido and print networks around the country.