May 18, 2006

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Former Furman All-America right-handed pitcher Tom Mastny has been promoted from the Double A-Akron Aeros to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons of the International League, the Cleveland Indians have announced.

Mastny, 25, began the season season at Akron, where he registered outstanding play in 12 relief appearances, striking out 30 in only 24 2/3 innings of work while posting an 0-1 record with a 1.09 earned run average and one save (15H, 5 R, 3ER, 8BB, 30K). Opponents hit just .169 against him (15x89).

In his Buffalo debut Wednesday night, he was credited with a hold after yielding two hits over two innings and allowing one run while recording five strikeouts in the Bisons' 3-2 win over Pawtucket.

A native of Zionsville, Ind., the 6-foot-6 Mastny posted an 11-2 record and NCAA leading 1.09 ERA for Furman in 2003 en route to earning All-America honors. He was drafted in the 11th round by the Toronto Blue Jays and spent two seasons in the Jays' organization before being traded to the Cleveland Indians in December of 2004.

He split the 2005 season with Akron and Single-A Kinston and posted a 2.32 ERA, the second lowest ERA in the Indians' Player Development System.

In 2004 with the Blue Jays' Class A Charleston (W.Va.) affiliate, he went 10-3 and paced the South Atlantic League with a 2.17 ERA, and was also a S.A.L. All-Star selection.