Drew Pomeranz, No.1 pick from this year's draft, and Alex White, 2009 No.1 pick, headed for Arizona Instructional League with Indians.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians will send 50 players, including their top six picks from this year's draft, to the Arizona Instructional League on Wednesday at their training complex in Goodyear, Ariz.
They will play a 14-game schedule starting Sept. 22. Play ends Oct. 14.
Fourteen players from this year's draft will report. That includes left-hander Drew Pomeranz, outfielder LeVon Washington, infielder Tony Wolters, right-hander Kyle Blair, right-hander Cole Cook and infielder Nick Bartolone. They were the Indians first six pitches this year.
St. Edward catcher Alex Lavisky, an eighth round pick this June, will go to instructional league as well.
Right-hander Alex White, infielder Jason Kipnis, right-hander Joe Gardner, infielder Kyle Bellows and right-hander Austin Adams, from the 2009 draft, will report as well. White and Kipnis could challenge for big-league spots sometime next year after strong minor league seasons this year. Kipnis will play in the Arizona Fall League after instructional league starting Oct. 12.
Mike Sarbaugh, the Indians Class AAA manager, will manager Kipnis' AFL team.
Left-hander Giovanni Soto, infielder Juan Diaz, left-hander Nick Hagadone and right-hander Jason Knapp will report as well. Those four players were acquired in trades over the last two years.
The instructional league roster breaks down this way: 20 pitchers, six catchers, 13 infielders and 11 outfielders.
New gig: Cord Phelps, Columbus' second baseman, has been picked for Team USA's Pan-Am roster. They begin play in Puerto Rico on Oct. 1