CLEVELAND – Bowling Green native Connor Graham was traded Thursday by the Colorado Rockies to the
Cleveland Indians for Rafael Betancourt.
The 6-foot-7, 235 pound Graham attended Toledo St. John’s High School and Miami of Ohio. He was a
fifth-round draft choice by the Rockies in 2007 and has been rated as the 12th best prospect in the
Rockies’ organization by Baseball America.
Graham has played the entire season with Class A Modesto of the California League. The 24-year-old is 7-4
with a 3.14 earned-run average in 16 starts and has limited opposing hitters to a .225 batting average.
In 801/3 innings Graham has 87 strikeouts with 41 walks while allowing 68 hits,
Last year, he was 12-6 at Class A Asheville with a 2.26 ERA, limiting the opposition to a .189 batting
average. He made 26 starts in 2008, pitching 1471â„3 innings with 138 strikeouts and 83 walks while
allowing 99 hits.
After being drafted, Graham spent his first professional season with the Tri-City Dust Devils. He pitched
his first two games out of the bullpen, but then moved into the starting rotation, compiling a 1-0
record with a 0.56 ERA (16 innings pitched with one earned run) in four starts.
Mark Shapiro, Cleveland’s general manager, said the Indians will send Graham to Double-A Akron.
He’s a power pitcher," Shapiro told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "His fastball is in the mid-90s
and he throws a plus-slider."
Betancourt, who has spent his entire seven-year career with Cleveland, learned of the deal following the
Indians’ 5-4 victory over the Blue Jays Thursday.
Betancourt will serve as closer Huston Street’s set-up man.
"It’s time for me to leave and go there and keep pitching and keep playing, try to help the team win
games," Betancourt said. "It’s a sad moment for me right now, but I have to be a professional
and keep playing."