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Cleveland Indians Sign Santa Ana's Chavez
COSTA MESA, CA - Just days after the Santa Ana College baseball team was eliminated from the 2005 California Community College Southern California Baseball Playoffs, the Cleveland Indians signed Dons' shortstop Jose Chavez ( Anaheim High School ) to a major league baseball contract. Chavez, who was one of five Santa Ana players drafted a year ago, was a
49 th-round selection (1448th) of the Indians.
 Chavez, who was a first team all-Orange Empire Conference selection, ended the 2005 season with a team-best, 14-game hitting streak and helped lead the Dons (34-11) to a share of their second consecutive OEC baseball title and 17th overall by batting .374 in 44 games. The former Anaheim High School-product's .374 batting average was second only to OEC Co-Player of the Year Jacob Vasquez ( Diamond Bar High School ) who hit at a .402 clip. Chavez, who was 58 for 155 at the plate, was second on the team in stolen bases (17 of 20), fourth in slugging percentage (.484), fifth in RBI (28) and sixth in runs scored (36). Of his 58 hits 10 went for extra bases including six doubles and three home runs.
During the 2005 California Community College Southern California Baseball Playoffs, Chavez batted .448 (13 of 29) with 4 RBI and 5 runs scored and committed just two errors.
As a freshman, the Indians-signee appeared in 15 games and batted .222
(4-for-18) with a double, home run and five runs scored.
Chavez will be assigned to the Cleveland minor league system sometime in June.
NOTE: Chavez is the 97th Santa Ana player to sign a professional baseball contract during head coach Dons Sneddon's 24-year career at Santa Ana College.
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