Turner ‘Excited’ To Start Opener
Left-handed pitcher Kyle Turner is tonight’s starter for the Spokane Indians in their season-opening baseball game against the Eugene Emeralds at 7:05 at Avista Stadium.
Turner is one of two returning players on the team.
“I’m pretty excited,” Turner said Monday after the team concluded its final day of minicamp. “There will be a lot of people here and I will try hard to do well for them. Hopefully, I’ll put the ball in play and get some outs.”
Turner said he will be nervous before the game, but once he’s on the mound he’ll be fine.
He could pitch four or five innings, said manager Tom Poquette. There’ll be four designated relievers ready.
“The first couple weeks we’re going to use everybody,” Poquette said.
The tentative rotation for the rest of the five-game series is Joey Baker on Wednesday; Brad Stiles, Thursday; Zach McClellan, Friday; and Ian Ferguson, Saturday.
The defending Northwest League champion Indians signed two pitchers Monday. They are right-handers Trey Bullinger from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and Wes Wilkerson out of Lipscomb University.
The tentative starting lineup tonight is: Chad Santos, first base; Juan Guzman, second; Darren Fenster, shortstop; Ray Hattenburg, third; Ben Cordova, right field; Marco Cunningham, center field; Billy Keppinger, left field; and Henrry Alvarez, catcher.
Abel Martinez from Los Mochis, Mexico, could arrive in Spokane today after flying home to retrieve his visa. Poquette said he might use Martinez at designated hitter.
Projected starting catcher Justin Cowan will be back Wednesday. He’s one of three finalists for the Johnny Bench Award, given to the top catcher in college baseball.
Outfielder Rich Devine and shortstop Ken Sarna practiced with the team for the first time Monday. Infielder Justin Gemoll is expected to join the team Thursday.
At the end of the work day Monday, fewer than 200 seats were available for tonight’s game. The Indians expect the game to sell out by 11 a.m. Tickets do remain for the other four games of the homestand. Call 535-2922 for information.