Indians Sign Travis Buck

(Photo: MLB)

The Cleveland Indians on Tuesday announced they have signed outfielder Travis Buck to a minor league contract with a non-roster invitation to Major League spring training camp.

Buck, who turned 27 in November, has spent his entire professional career to date with the Oakland Athletics where he compiled a 4-year Major League career on-base percentage of .330 to go along with a .250 (147-587) batting average with 36 doubles, 18 homers and 71 RBI in 170 career games. Travis has never made an error in his entire Major League career to date, covering 312 chances in those 170 big league games. He has been a starting Opening Day outfielder for the A’s in each of the last three seasons (2008-10).

Travis’ best season came during his rookie campaign of 2007 when he hit .288 (82-285) with 22 2B, 5 3B, 7HR & 34 RBI in 82 games, finishing second among American League rookies in slugging % (.474) and triples (5), third in on-base percentage (.377) and fifth in batting average, doubles (22) and walks (39). He has been slowed by injuries over the last three seasons and has accumulated 5 trips to the DL during his big league career. He was Oakland’s “sandwich” 1st round pick (36th overall) in the 2005 draft out of Arizona State University and owns an average of .308 (326-1057) and a .386 on-base percentage over 276 career minor league games.