Indians play wait-and-see game

With less than two weeks until opening day the Spokane Indians’ roster is under construction.

It won’t be until after the Texas Rangers make their picks in the 2006 Major League Baseball draft that the Indians can form their roster.

In the first round of the first-year player draft on Tuesday, the Rangers selected left-handed pitcher Kasey Kiker out of Russell County High School in Alabama. In the third round, Texas chose catcher Chad Tracy from Pepperdine University. Marcus Lemon, a shortstop out of Eustis High School in Florida and son of former MLB star Chet Lemon, was drafted in the fourth round. In round 18, Washington State University pitcher Michael Wagner was selected by the Rangers.

Texas has sent all four of its first-round picks to Spokane since it became the Indians’ major league affiliate in 2003, including John Danks in 2003, Thomas Diamond and Eric Hurley in 2004 and John Mayberry Jr. in 2005.

Starting Friday, the selected Rangers will report to Arizona for the Indians mini-camp and will arrive in Spokane on June 14. The newly formed Indians will have their first team workout on June 15.

Following the workout, the Indians will host the Spokane RiverHawks in a seven-inning exhibition game at 6:30 p.m. The RiverHawks are an amateur team in the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League.

Tickets for the game are $3 and proceeds will benefit the YMCA/YWCA Capital Campaign. All seating will be general admission.

Spokane will continue with daily team workouts until opening day against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes at 6:30 p.m. at Avista Stadium on June 19. The season opener will include a fireworks display in the ballpark.