Indians Open Camp With 33 Players

Weather permitting, the 1997 version of the Spokane Indians will be unveiled today. Most of the 33 roster players are expected at Seafirst Stadium as Spokane opens a four-day minicamp at 1:45 this afternoon.

Whether Thursday’s rain would linger and play havoc with the first-day schedule was not a major concern for Indians front office personnel preparing for a new Northwest League baseball season.

Spokane begins its season at home for the first time in six years. The league’s newest team, the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, arrives Tuesday for a five-game set.

Few of Spokane’s players had arrived in town by noon Thursday, but a steady stream of pitchers, catchers, infielders and outfielders was expected through the night at Spokane International Airport. A smattering of players planned to travel by personal car.

Indians manager Jeff Garber, the team’s hitting coach in ‘96, was en route from his home in Valdosta, Ga. Garber was expected to arrive late Thursday in Seattle, then drive to Spokane early this morning.

Garber’s staff is pitching coach Steve Crawford and hitting coach Greg Smith. Spokane’s roster includes 16 pitchers, four catchers, seven infielders and six outfielders. Spokane had just one pure catcher on its roster when minicamp opened last year with sun and 80-degree temperatures.

The roster boasts six players selected in the top 10 rounds of last week’s amateur draft: No. 4 Goefrey Tomlinson, outfield; No. 5 Jason Gooding, pitcher; No. 7 Joe Dillon, third base; No. 8 Eric Yanz, pitcher; No. 9 Kris Wilson, pitcher; and No. 10 David Willis, first base/catcher.

Another feature is a top-flight outfield with Dermal Brown, the parent club Kansas City Royals’ top selection in the ‘96 draft, and Juan LeBron, the No. 1 choice in ‘95.

The minicamp, open to the public, also runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday.

Right-handed pitcher George Petticrew of Lakeside High in Nine Mile signed a draft-and-follow agreement with Kansas City.

The Royals will retain the rights to Petticrew, whom they drafted in the 31st round, while he plays for Community Colleges of Spokane. Petticrew is playing in the all-state series this weekend and will pitch for the AAA American Legion Blue Devils.

, DataTimes