Indians, Clippers extend contract through 2020

It was apparent the first week of September that the Clippers would not win a fourth straight International League West championship or even make the playoffs, but president and general manager Ken Schnacke knew the organization had done its job once again.

The Cleveland Indians repeated as American League Central Division champions and won a league-best 102 games on the strength of 19 players on the 25-man roster having played in Columbus. In the teams’ nine-season affiliation, 133 Clippers have played for the Indians.

That type of success went a long way in Cleveland and Columbus extending their player-development contract through the 2020 season. It is the fourth time the organizations have agreed to an extension.

“This partnership has been a grand slam for all of us,” Schnacke said. “We are so proud of all that we have accomplished together. We look forward to many more seasons of developing Cleveland Indians of the future.”

Cleveland president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said Columbus has been a great fit for the team. Every Indians minorleague team is based in Ohio except for Class A Lynchburg (Virginia).

“The Clippers organization has created a first-class, major-league environment for our players and staff,” he said.

Antonetti called Huntington Park a “state-of-the-art facility” and the fans “passionate.”

The Clippers won Governors’ Cups in 2010, ’11 and ’15 and the Triple-A national championship in 2010 and ’11, and they have made the playoffs five times since beginning the partnership with Cleveland in 2009.

Columbus totaled 616,059 in attendance this year despite losing three dates to weather.