SPOKANE, Wash. - The Northwest League announced on Wednesday that five Spokane Indians have been selected to represent the Northwest League in the NWL-PBL All-Star Game in Boise, Idaho on Tuesday, August 6th. Designated hitter Blaine Crim, catcher David Garcia, relief pitcher Daniel Robert, outfielder Kellen Strahm, and starting pitcher
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Northwest League announced on Wednesday that five Spokane Indians have been selected to represent the Northwest League in the NWL-PBL All-Star Game in Boise, Idaho on Tuesday, August 6th. Designated hitter Blaine Crim, catcher David Garcia, relief pitcher Daniel Robert, outfielder Kellen Strahm, and starting pitcher Ricky Vanasco were all chosen to represent Spokane in the mid-summer classic. Crim will start as the Northwest League's designated hitter in Tuesday's game.
This is the second-consecutive season that the Indians have had five All-Star representatives. The past two seasons have been the most selections since 2014 when eight Indians were named NWL All-Stars. The five selections this season are tied with the Hillsboro Hops for the most All-Star representatives from a single team.
DH Blaine Crim - Crim has been raking ever since joining the Indians roster on June 21st. The product of Mississippi College was named the NWL player of the Week for the week of July 15th to July 21st. He currently ranks second in the league with a .347 batting average and third with both a .562 slugging percentage as well as a .400 on-base percentage. In his last 18 games, the Alabama-native is hitting .406 with a .681 slugging percentage. He's had three home runs, ten doubles, and 11 RBI over that stretch.
C David Garcia - Garcia is the Indians home run leader this season with five, a mark that ranks in the top eight of the Northwest League. The Venezuelan also ranks in the top two for Spokane in slugging percentage (.467) and top three for OPS (.803). The catcher has continued to develop behind the plate as well, gunning down three baserunners on Saturday, July 27th. This season he's caught 15 baserunner stealing on 40 total attempts.
RHP Daniel Robert - Robert has unquestionably been Spokane's best arm out of the bullpen this season. He is 2-0 with two saves this season and a ridiculous 0.42 ERA in 21.2 innings pitched. The former Auburn Tiger is on a streak of 19.2 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. He has 31 strikeouts this season to just four walks.
OF Kellen Strahm - Ever since arriving to Spokane Strahm has provided a spark to the Indians offense. He leads the team with eight stolen bases, 24 runs, and 17 walks. The Rangers' 2019 5th round pick has been in the top four batters of Spokane's lineup in every game he's played this season, including 20 games leading off. The outfielder was on a ten-game hitting streak this season in July, the longest streak by an Indians' player this season.
RHP Ricky Vanasco - Based on his starts this season, it's no surprise that Vanasco is currently ranked the #23 prospect for the Texas Rangers according to MLB.com. The right-hander is 3-1 in seven starts and sports a 2.27 ERA. He ranks second in the NWL with 48 strikeouts in a modest 31.2 innings pitched. His best start of the year came in Hillsboro on July 5th when the 2018 15th round pick struck out a career-high 10 batters and allowed just one hit in six scoreless innings.
The All-Star Game marks the fifth-straight season that the Northwest League and Pioneer Baseball League have squared off. The first match up occurred in Spokane in 2015, and the NWL leads the all-time series 3-1. The PBL earned their first win last season, with a 13-10 victory in Grand Junction, Colorado.
The NWL vs. PBL All-Star Game is scheduled for Tuesday, August 6th at Memorial Stadium in Boise, Idaho. First pitch is set for 6:30 PM PST.
