NEW YORK (Reuters) - Power-hitting catcher Carlos Santana, one of the most highly touted players in the minor leagues, was called up Friday by the Cleveland Indians.
The switch-hitting Santana will join the Indians in time for this weekend's series against the Washington Nationals, whose rookie pitcher Stephen Strasburg made a dazzling major league debut this week against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Santana, 24, earned the promotion by batting .316 with 13 homers, 14 doubles and 51 runs batted in for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers.
Cleveland acquired Santana in the 2008 trade that sent Casey Blake to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Catcher Lou Marson, who was hitting just .191 for Cleveland, was assigned to Columbus to make room for Santana.
(Writing by Larry Fine, editing by Miles Evans)
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