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Spokane Indians

Dallas to Spokane flight helps Rangers shuttle players around

Spokane Indians pitchers, Josh Advocate, left, of Long Beach State and Noah Bremer, of U. of Washington, are greeted by Spokane Indians mascots Doris and Otto as they enter Spokane International Airport from the inaugural nonstop American Airlines Flight 599 from Dallas Fort Worth. Dan Pelle/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)
Spokane Indians pitchers, Josh Advocate, left, of Long Beach State and Noah Bremer, of U. of Washington, are greeted by Spokane Indians mascots Doris and Otto as they enter Spokane International Airport from the inaugural nonstop American Airlines Flight 599 from Dallas Fort Worth. Dan Pelle/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)Buy a print of this photo
By Whitney Ogden whitneyo@spokesman.com(509) 481-1067

Noah Bremer took a quick look around Spokane International Airport on Wednesday morning.

He was a bit shocked at the welcoming.

The former Washington Huskies pitcher had just landed in the Lilac City and was greeted by much more than a few Spokane Indians representatives, who would be taking him to Avista Stadium to suit up for Wednesday night’s game against the Vancouver Canadians.

Bremer immediately found himself in the middle of news cameras, reporters, state legislators and airport officials applauding his arrival.

“It was definitely a shock,” the 6-foot-5 righty said. “But it plays a part to how the fans are here … it just seems like the fans really love this team.”

It was a greeting most minor leaguers don’t get, but Wednesday was a bit more special for the Spokane community – and for the Indians.

Wednesday’s flight was American Airlines’ inaugural, one-way flight from Dallas to Spokane. The flight will provide easier connecting flights to other major cities in the country and around the world, but it will also provide an easier route between the Rangers and their minor league affiliate in the northwest.

“This is important to us,” Indians senior vice president Otto Klein said. “It’s important for us to have the Rangers be able to see their players more often. It’s important for the Rangers to see their talent on the field.”

Especially with such new talent making a first appearance on the minor league field.

Bremer was selected by the Texas Rangers in sixth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft in June. With the Huskies this year, Bremer recorded a 3.15 ERA in 103 innings. He averaged a strikeout per inning and allowed 89 hits and 36 walks.

Joining him on the flight were three other fresh arms – Lucas Jacobsen, Josh Advocate and Alex Eubanks.

Jacobsen isn’t new to the Rangers organization. The 6-5 left-handed pitcher from Campbell, California, was selected by Texas in the 27th round of the 2016 draft. Jacobsen spent his first professional season in Surprise, Arizona, playing for the Rangers’ affiliate in the Arizona Rookie League.

Both Advocate and Eubanks were selected in this year’s MLB draft.

Advocate, a 6-1 righty from Mohave Valley, Arizona, was selected by the Rangers in 20th round. He played two years at Long Beach State after being redshirted his freshman year.

In his final season with the Dirtbags, Advocate helped lead the team to Super Regionals before falling 2-1 to Cal-State Fullerton. In 38 1/3 innings, Advocate posted a 1.86 ERA, fanned 38 batters and walked seven.

“It’s been a long journey and I just want to get out here and help in any way I can. I’m excited to meet some of the new guys,” Advocate said. “You hear about Avista Stadium and the atmosphere here, it’s definitely exciting.”

Eubanks was taken by the Rangers in the 14th round of the 2017 draft. The 6-2 righty from Moore, South Carolina, played two seasons for the Clemson Tigers after sitting out his first year as a redshirt freshman.

In his final season with the Tigers, Eubanks notched a 7-6 record and posted a 4.09 ERA in 105 1/3 innings. He recorded 104 strikeouts and walked 15.

The four new arms are part of a long list of 28 pitchers the Rangers drafted this season. They will fill a few vacant spots in the Spokane bullpen after the team lost a few key players this past week.

Pitchers Johan Juan and Steven Bruce were both promoted to the Down East Wood Ducks, the Rangers’ high-A affiliate in Kinston, North Carolina. Relief pitcher Joe Kuzia was transferred to the Rangers’ low-A affiliate, the Hickory Crawdads.

The Indians said goodbye to two more players on Wednesday morning. Utility player Charles LeBlanc and catcher Yohel Pozo were told shortly after Tuesday’s 3-0 loss to Vancouver that they would be taking a Wednesday morning flight to Hickory, North Carolina, to join Kuzia on the Crawdad roster.