Encarnacion earns $150K bonus after Indians draw 2 million fans

Cleveland Indians fans have put a little extra money in Edwin Encarnacion's pocket this season.

The slugging designated hitter joined the Indians as a free agent this offseason, and his three-year, $60-million contract included bonuses based on the team's attendance in 2017 and beyond. It now appears that the first of those attendance clauses has been triggered, as Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reported Wednesday that Encarnacion will receive a $150,000 bonus as a result of the Indians surpassing 2,000,000 in attendance for the season.

According to Bastian, Encarnacion's 2018 attendance clause is set to trigger at a number that's higher than this year's mark.

After finishing last season with the third-lowest attendance in the majors, Cleveland has jumped up to 22nd in 2017 while averaging over 25,000 fans a game thanks largely to reaching the World Series a year ago - but also in part due to Encarnacion. The team sold over $1 million of new season-ticket packages in the days after after his signing - a surprising move for the small-market club - was made official in January.

This season marks the first time since 2008 that the Indians have drawn over 2,000,000 fans.

Encarnacion has done his part to make sure Indians fans have come out to Progressive Field this summer. The 34-year-old has slashed .254/.377/.499 with a team-best 36 homers, 96 RBIs, and 100 walks during his first season in "The Land."