Barfield traded to Indians

San Diego Padres second baseman Josh Barfield was traded Wednesday to the Cleveland Indians for coveted minor-league prospect Kevin Kouzmanoff.

Barfield, the son of retired Toronto Blue Jays slugger Jesse Barfield, impressed during his rookie campaign with the National West champion Padres.

The 23-year-old hit .280 with 13 home runs, 58 RBIs, 72 runs scored and 21 stolen bases in 150 games.

"I grew up in the American League," Barfield said. "My dad was so excited.

"[But] we're two totally different players. I'm not a 40-homer guy like him."

Barfield also excelled in the field with the Padres, ranking third among NL second basemen with just nine errors in 684 total chances.

"Our strength at the corner positions has allowed us to acquire a young second baseman that will help our team this year and beyond," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said in a statement.

"In Josh Barfield, we are acquiring a young player with upside who plays the game hard, with professionalism, and is coming off a successful first major-league season."

Kouzmanoff, 25, was named Cleveland's minor-league player of the year as he batted a combined .379 for the Akron Aeros of the double-A Eastern League and the Buffalo Bisons of the triple-A International League.

Kouzmanoff made history in his major-league debut, becoming the first player to hit a grand slam on the first pitch he saw in Cleveland's 6-5 victory over the Texas Rangers on Sept. 2.

"I don't really remember running around the bases," he said afterward. "I couldn't believe I did it."

Only two other players have hit grand slams in their first major-league at-bat: Bill Duggleby of the Philadelphia Phillies on April 21, 1898, and Jeremy Hermida of the Florida Marlins on Aug. 31, 2005.

Kouzmanoff wound up playing 16 games for the Indians, hitting .214 with three HRs, five RBIs and four runs.