Tribe’s Hafner to play game at Sprenger

Former Indians player Travis Hafner will join the Lake Erie Crushers to play one game on June 16, the team announced in a May 1 news release.

Hafner will be the designated hitter for the Crushers on Travis Hafner Night at Sprenger Health Care Stadium, according to the release.

“We are so excited to have Travis join us for our June 16 game,” Crushers co-owner Tom Kramig said in the release. “We believe the fans will really enjoy watching Travis return to the field and take a few swings. He played so many great seasons in Cleveland and it will be great to see him take the field one more time.”

Hafner played 12 years in the major leagues, 10 of them with the Indians. He posted a .273 lifetime batting average and clubbed 213

home runs during his career.

The North Dakota native and Cleveland resident is the co-owner of the major-league record for most grand slams in a single season with six, which he accomplished in 2006.

Hafner previously played at Sprenger Stadium in June 2017 for the inaugural Cleveland Sports Legends softball game.

Hafner also will take batting practice with the team, which will be open to the public, and he will sign autographs after the game.

Tickets for Travis Hafner Night are now on sale at www.lakeeriecrushers.com, as well as at the Crushers Box Office.

The Crushers open their season May 11 at the Southern Illinois Miners. The first home game is May 15 vs. the Normal CornBelters.

Sprenger Stadium is at 2009 Baseball Blvd. in Avon.

The Lake Erie Crushers play in the Frontier League of independent professional baseball.