A Fabio gives Indians some glamour

Fabio Castillo, a top pitching prospect in the Texas Rangers organization, was one of 26 players assigned by the major league club to the Spokane Indians on Wednesday.

Castillo, from the Dominican Republic, was the Rangers’ 14th-best prospect as rated by Scout Magazine.

The 18-year-old played for the Arizona League Rangers last season and is one of 14 pitchers on the Indians roster, which boasts an international flavor with three Dominicans, three Venezuelans and Japanese pitcher Keisuke Ueno.

Returning to the Indians are outfielder Steve Marquardt of Kennewick, catcher Billy Killian and pitcher Jose Jaimes.

Marquardt hit .257 with three home runs and 25 RBIs for the Indians in 218 at-bats. Killian hit .244 with 12 RBIs in 127 at-bats.

Jaimes was 2-1 in four starts, striking out 18 in 16 innings and posting a 2.25 ERA.

Five of the new Indians were taken in the first 10 rounds in past major league drafts, including pitchers Jacob Brigham, Michael Kirkman and Andrew Laughter, infielder Ralph Stoneburner and outfielder Ronnie Anderson.

The roster includes 13 players whose previous experience came at the college level.

Former major leaguer Keith Comstock is now the team’s pitching coach. It had earlier been announced that Juan Carlos would be the pitching coach.

Comstock pitched in 144 games over six major league seasons, including his last three (1989-91) with the Seattle Mariners.

The Indians will be led by new manager Tim Hulett Sr., and hitting coach Hector Ortiz, also both former major leaguers.