Chavez, Greinke, Pettis Advance to World Series

SPOKANE, Wash. - A trio of former Spokane Indians players will be competing in this year's Fall Classic with the Atlanta Braves taking on the Houston Astros starting on Tuesday, October 26. The American League champion Astros feature a pair of Indians alums—third base coach Gary Pettis ('82) and pitcher Zack Greinke ('02)—as they look for their second title in five seasons, while reliever Jesse Chavez ('03) and the Braves seek their first championship since 1995.

The 38-year-old Chavez is making his first Fall Classic appearance in his 14th big league season. Chavez posted a 4.55 ERA in 17 games for Spokane in 2003 after being drafted in the 42nd round out of Riverside Community College (CA) by the Texas Rangers. He reached the majors for the first time with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008 and is in his second stint with the Braves after previously having pitched for the team in 2010. The right-hander was one of Atlanta's best relievers during the regular season (2.14 ERA, 0.980 WHIP in 33.2 innings) and is yet to allow a run in five playoff appearances in 2021.

Greinke appeared in two games for the Spokane Indians in 2002 after being drafted 6th overall by the Kansas City Royals that summer. A six-time All-Star and winner of the 2009 AL Cy Young Award, Greinke finished the regular season 11-6 with a 4.16 ERA but has made just two appearances this postseason, allowing two earned runs in 2.1 innings. The right-hander has a career 4.29 ERA in 21 playoff appearances including a 2.45 mark in two World Series starts.

Pettis will be looking for his second World Series title with the Astros after helping Houston to a championship in 2017. A five-time Gold Glove winner as a player across 11 MLB seasons, Pettis hit .288 and stole 53 bases with the Indians in 1982, who were a the Triple-A affiliate for the Angels at the time. Pettis' son, Dante, is a wide receiver for the New York Giants after being drafted out of the University of Washington, while his daughter, Kyler, is an actress best known for her role on Days of Our Lives.

Last year's World Series was the first since 2013 to not feature a former Indians player on the winning roster as the Dodgers triumphed over Peter Fairbanks ('15), Kyle Snyder ('99) and the Tampa Bay Rays. Former Spokane skipper Kevin Long ('99) earned a ring with the Washington Nationals in 2019 while the 2018 World Series saw three former Indians (Ian Kinsler, Mitch Moreland and Craig Bjornson) win baseball's ultimate prize with the Boston Red Sox. A pair of Indians alums took home the title in both 2017 with the Astros (Carlos Beltran and Bjornson) and 2016 with the Cubs (Kyle Hendricks and Carl Edwards Jr.). The now-retired Ned Yost ('78) led the Kansas City Royals to a World Series title in 2015, following fellow Indians alum Bruce Bochy ('89) with the San Francisco Giants in 2014.

About the Spokane Indians

The Spokane Indians are the High-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies located in Spokane, Washington. Avista Stadium is home to the $5 Kids Bench Seat courtesy of MultiCare. Parking at all Spokane Indians games is FREE. The Spokane Indians Team Store fall hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, and Friday, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.