Indians extend Triple-A Columbus partnership

CLEVELAND -- It can take several years for a ballplayer to successfully navigate the road to the Major Leagues. For those striving to reach the big leagues in Cleveland, the journey from Triple-A to The Show is roughly a two-hour drive.

That commute up Interstate 71 from Columbus, Ohio, will continue to be the path to the Majors for Cleveland's Triple-A players for at least the next three seasons. The Indians and Triple-A Columbus announced Wednesday that they have extended their partnership with a two-year player development contract that runs through the 2018 campaign.

"The Clippers create a Major League environment in Triple-A," Indians director of player development Carter Hawkins said in…