Advertisement

Cleveland Indians bring back Grady Sizemore

By Alex Butler
Cleveland Indians' Grady Sizemore runs the bases after hitting a grand slam against the New York Yankees in the seventh inning of the first regular season game at the new Yankee Stadium in New York City on April 16, 2009. (UPI Photo/John Angelillo)
1 of 3 | Cleveland Indians' Grady Sizemore runs the bases after hitting a grand slam against the New York Yankees in the seventh inning of the first regular season game at the new Yankee Stadium in New York City on April 16, 2009. (UPI Photo/John Angelillo) | License Photo

Feb. 14 (UPI) -- He never officially retired, but Grady Sizemore won't be playing in 2017 when he returns to the Cleveland Indians.

The former three-time All-Star was hired by his former ball club Tuesday as an advisor to player development.

Advertisement

The Montreal Expos originally drafted Sizemore in the third round of the 2000 amateur draft before flipping him to the Indians in 2002. The outfielder would go on to hit .269 with 139 home runs during his eight-year tenure with the Indians. The 34-year-old was granted free agency in 2012 and signed with the Boston Red Sox in 2014. The Philadelphia Phillies signed him later that season, before he was cut again in 2015. Sizemore hit .257 with six home runs in his final 58 games for the Tampa Bay Rays.

"I kind of just want to absorb as much as I can," Sizemore told MLB.com. "I don't know anything other than playing, so I'm going to learn a whole lot at once here, but it's fun."

Advertisement

The two-time Gold Glove award winner earned $2 million in his final season.

Sizemore will assist the major league team during the first couple weeks of spring training. He will also join bench coach Brad Mills for workout sessions with Indians outfielders. Sizemore will then work with Indians minor leaguers at camp.

Latest Headlines