March 29, 2003

ByTodd Lorenz/MLB.com

CINCINNATI -- Manager Eric Wedge returned to Ohio for the Tribe's two-game exhibition series against the Reds with just one decision left to make.

Was he going to fill his final bullpen spot with right-hander Aaron Myette or southpaw Billy Traber?

In the end, though, a bite from the injury bug made the decisive verdict. Myette strained his right quad muscle during fielding practice on Wednesday and will start the season on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, leaving Traber as the Indians newest reliever.

"Billy's gonna be in the bullpen and on our club, Wedge said prior to Friday's victory over the Reds. "We want him to keep progressing as a reliever and he's 100-percent on board."

Traber led LMU to three consecutive West Coast Conference Championships en route to being named second-team All-America by Collegiate Baseball following his junior year. He was the 16th overall pick in the 2000 draft by the New York Mets before being traded to Cleveland.

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