Indians open minicamp
Avista Stadium became a kind of Arizona North on Thursday morning.
Not to say that the cool, drizzly weather at the Spokane Indians’ baseball park resembled the triple-digit temperatures of the Grand Canyon State.
But the majority of players wearing Indians uniforms during the team’s opening workout were fresh from extended spring training in Surprise, Ariz. They are not first-year professionals, and most played for the rookie league Arizona Rangers last summer.
A rare exception in camp was outfielder Kevin Mahar of Indiana University, who signed a free-agent contract with the parent-club Texas Rangers on Monday. Mahar wasn’t selected in this week’s amateur draft because of his fifth-year senior status.
The Indians were limited to 13 players during Day One of the eight-day minicamp that lays the groundwork for the Northwest League season. Five pitchers, four infielders, three outfielders and one catcher made up the group.
Second-year manager Darryl Kennedy cut practice in half because the Arizona transplants already know what he and the Rangers expect. The next couple of days should hold the same, Kennedy said.
“Usually, minicamp is to teach guys how the organization does fundamentals, and these guys have already done that,” said Kennedy, who guided the Indians to the NWL title last year. “Over the next few days, we’ll just come out and take batting practice, take a few ground balls and keep in shape. As we get new guys, then we’ll start going over (the Rangers’ fundamentals).”
No player drafted by the Rangers this week was in attendance, but that will change quickly. Left-handed pitcher Justin Lensch, selected in the 37th round out of the University of Louisiana-Monroe, is expected in Spokane today. Right-hander Clayton Jerome, a 41st-rounder from Texas Christian University, should arrive on Saturday.
The first day resembled last year’s minicamp opener, when 14 players went through a short practice before a big rainstorm hit.
Kennedy, returning pitching coach Dave Chavarria, strength coach Gregg Holifield and Rangers minor-league defensive coordinator Greg Riddoch ran the workout. Returning hitting coach Derek Lee hasn’t arrived because he’s helping to sign the Rangers’ draftees.
As of Thursday, Lensch, Jerome and infielder Travis Metcalf were the only drafted players to have signed and been assigned to Spokane. Metcalf, an 11th-round selection from the University of Kansas, is driving to Spokane and will miss most of minicamp.
Indians principal owner Bobby Brett showed off stadium improvements. The most obvious change is the Grotto, a fan-friendly seating area that juts out from where the right-field fence used to be. The Grotto cuts the distance to right from 335 feet to a posted 296 feet, but 280 appears closer to reality.
Kennedy said he’s concerned about his left-handed hitters trying to yank home runs to the new short porch in right.
“But I like it for the fans,” Kennedy said. “I hope they can fill it every night. Heck, that’s where I’d sit if I were watching a game.”
Returning infielder Casey Benjamin, a left-handed hitter, admitted the target played with his mind.
“I probably aimed for it a little too much,” said Benjamin, who hit .272 in 32 games for the Indians last year. “It’s just something you have to get used to, but I think it will add a lot of character to games.”
Most weekend workouts will run from 10 a.m. to noon. The practices will grow longer as the June 18 season opener in Boise approaches.
Spokane’s home-opening series is June 21-25 against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. The Indians swept the Volcanoes in last year’s league playoffs.
Notes
The Rangers boosted Spokane’s roster later in the day with six players, including outfielder Billy Susdorf of UCLA. Susdorf hit .319 for the Bruins this season and was drafted in the sixth round. Other additions from this week’s draft: right-hander Jarrad Burcie, 16th round, Tarleton (Texas) State University; right-hander Shawn Phillips, 20th round, Delaware State; and outfielder Michael Mask, 32nd round, Texas Tech. Also sent to Spokane were right-hander Kevin Altman and left-hander Seth Hill, both of whom were drafted last year and played for the Arizona Rangers.