Eric Haase Named International League Batter of the Week

The International League announced today that Columbus catcher Eric Haase and Indianapolis lefthanded starter Brandon Waddell have been named the League's Batter and Pitcher of the Week for the period from July 9-15. Haase is the second member of the Clippers to claim back-to-back weekly awards this season (pitcher Shane Bieber, May 14-20 & 21-27). Columbus leads the IL with six total weekly awards in 2018. Indianapolis is tied for 2nd with Lehigh Valley, as Waddell is the fourth member of the Tribe to be so honored.

An appearance in the Triple-A All-Star Game helped the reigning IL Batter of the Week keep his bat red hot. Playing in front of his hometown fans in Columbus, Haase smashed a two-run home run in the midsummer classic on Wednesday.
Video: Eric Haase blasts a two-run homer for IL in the All-Star Game
In the abbreviated four-day period that followed, the Clippers travelled to Louisville where Haase hit .471 with three more homers and led the entire League with eleven RBI, five extra-base hits, and 19 total bases. That was a big reason why Columbus swept the Bats in four straight to climb to within just 2.0 games of the IL West Division lead. 25-year-old Eric Haase is in his eighth season as a professional player. He was selected by Cleveland in the 7th round of the 2011 draft. This is his first full season playing above the Double-A level; he has yet to make his Major League debut. Haase is a native of Westland, Michigan.