Hafner, Martinez, Barfield Join Bisons This Week.

By Blake Arlington

August 17, 2008

As the Bisons close out the few remaining home on their schedule, they are about to get a big boost to their line-up.

Cleveland stars Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner and Josh Barfield are all with the Bisons for their four-game series against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

All three will be rehabbing injuries suffered this year while with Cleveland. Martinez has been out of the lineup since having surgery in June on an injured elbow while "Pronk" has been on the shelf since May with a sore shoulder. Barfield began the 2008 season with the Bisons and hit .255 with five home runs, 21RBI and nine stolen bases in 62 games. He suffered a finger injury in early June in his second game after a promotion to the Tribe.

It will be the first time since 2003 that Martinez and Hafner will be in a Bisons uniform. Martinez began that season with the team and hit .328 with seven home runs and 45RBI in 73 games before receiving his fulltime big league promotion. Hafner played in 29 games with the Herd in the middle of the season, hitting .270 with two home runs and 10RBI.

The two have combined for 232 major league home runs and 939RBI since 2002. Martinez was an American League All-Star in 2004 and 2007. Hafner lead the AL with a .639 slugging percentage while finishing third in league with 42 home runs.

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