Spokane Indians add Chris Seise for NWL second half

The Spokane Indians resume play on Thursday after the three-day break for the Northwest League/Pioneer League All-Star Game, won by the NWL All-Stars 5-4 on Tuesday, though they are already well underway in the league’s second half.

The Indians pick up with a five-game home series against the Eugene Emeralds at 6:30 p.m. at Avista Stadium.

Spokane leads the NWL North Division in the second half with a 6-1 record, winning five in a row and eight of its last nine games overall. For the season, the Indians stand at 22-23.

Reinforcements are on their way as well. On Wednesday, the team announced that the Texas Rangers 2017 first round selection, shortstop Chris Seise, will join the squad for the second half of the season.

After being selected by the Rangers in June, Seise hit .336 in 27 games in the Arizona League. The 18-year-old smacked 11 extra base hits – including three home runs – with 27 RBIs while scoring 23 runs.

Seise was selected 29th overall by the Rangers in the June amateur draft. Seise played high school ball at West Orange (Florida) High and was a prep teammate of current Indians’ infielder Kole Enright.

Of active players, Andretty Cordero led the team before the break with eight home runs and 24 RBIs while hitting .277. Clayton Middleton led the team in average at .370 with four homers and 12 RBIs and Chad Smith led the team in stolen bases with eight.

All-Star pitcher Cole Ragans went 2-1 in the first half with a 3.22 ERA in eight starts with 53 strikeouts over 36 1/3 innings.