Around this time last year, the High-A Spokane Indians were on top of the world—or at the very least on top of the Pacific Northwest. They had finished their regular season with a record of 79-51 and sat firmly atop their Northwest League in both the first and second half of the season.
Packed with top prospect talent, the surging Redband Rally would go on to conquer the Vancouver Canadians (Toronto Blue Jays) in the playoffs and take home their first Northwest League championship since 2008. Their title run broke a 16-year drought and allowed Spokane to reclaim their standing as the most decorated franchise in Northwest League history.
That star-studded roster brought home plenty of post-season accolades as well. The Indians had six All-Stars, led by Northwest League MVP Kyle Karros. Karros (no. 4 PuRP) was joined by center fielder Cole Carrigg (no. 6 PuRP), starting pitchers Chase Dollander and Sean Sullivan (no. 9 PuRP), and relievers Zach Agnos and Carson Skipper. Sean Sullivan also took home Northwest League Pitcher of the Year honors.
2025 was very different for the Indians. The defending Northwest League champions came out of the gate somewhat slow. They didn’t win their first series until the second week of May and never quite found their footing. They finished both the first and second half with a 29-37 record and finished the season 58-74 at the bottom of the Northwest League and a full 23 games back of the dominant Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants). Those same Emeralds trounced the Indians in a six-game sweep to close out the season, and the Indians ended 2025 with a nine-game losing streak.
A key component of the Indians’ season was talent drain, which is to be expected when a team is as prospect loaded as they were last season. None of their six All-Stars returned to High-A, with five of them assigned to the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats. Chase Dollander started the season with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. It’s also worth noting that three of those six All-Stars—Dollander, Agnos, and Karros—made their MLB debuts this season.
Spokane Indians Key Position Players: 2024Position Player NamePosition2024 Mid-Season PuRPs RankGPAABRH2B3BHRRBISBAVGOBPSLGOPSKyle Karros3BNo. 1412653947264147332157812.311.390.485.875Cole CarriggCFNo. 12114510440801231611166051.280.358.475.833Braiden WardOFNo. 343411510023347421718.340.426.550.976Spokane Indians Key Pitchers: 2024Pitcher NamePosition2024 Mid-Season PuRPs RankGGSSVERAIPHRERHRBBSOHBPWHIPSO/WChase DollanderRHPNo. 1141402.837060262262811191.2573.96Sean SullivanLHPNo. 7141402.1683.16225207810130.84012.63Zach AgnosRHPNo. 35210100.7324.21552123010.68915.00Carson SkipperRHPNo. 5634091.4038.23086285610.9837.00
That’s not to say the Indians did not have talented or highly touted prospects among their ranks in 2025, but unfortunately they would continue to bleed those prospects to higher levels of the Rockies’ farm system.
All three of the Indians’ best position players in Charlie Condon (no. 2 PuRP), Jared Thomas (no. 8 PuRP) and Braylen Wimmer (no. 38 PuRP) received mid-season promotions to Double-A Hartford. Many of Spokane’s best pitchers, such as Konnor Eaton (no. 30 PuRP), Michael Prosecky (no. 31 PuRP), McCade Brown (no. 26 PuRP), and Welinton Herrera (no. 21 PuRP) also received promotions.
Spokane Indians Position Players Promoted Mid-Season: 2025Position Player NamePosition2025 Mid-Season PuRPs RankGPAABRH2B3BHRRBISBAVGOBPSLGOPSCharlie Condon1BNo. 2351671383043603170.312.431.420.851Jared ThomasOFNo. 8733422916496131114522.330.427.495.922Braylen WimmerUTILNo. 388638633852102222145326.302.376.503.879Spokane Indians Pitchers Promoted Mid-Season: 2025Pitcher NamePosition2025 Mid-Season PuRPs RankGGSSVERAIPHRERHRBBSOHBPWHIPSO/WWelinton HerreraLHPNo. 21150100.4918.1811062900.7644.83McCade BrownRHPNo. 269901.6033.221962154831.0693.20Konnor EatonLHPNo. 30232303.56121.110952481342125111.2452.98Michael ProseckyLHPNo. 31181803.8688.2714338104193101.2632.27
The Indians got little in terms of reinforcements throughout the season from Low-A Fresno. While they did receive some notable promotions such as left-handed starting pitcher Everett Catlett (no. 53 PuRP), right-handed starting pitcher Lebarron Johnson Jr. (no. 63 PuRP), and catcher Jimmy Obertop, many of Fresno’s top prospects stayed put for the season. Outfielder Robert Calaz (no. 3 PuRP) and pitchers Brody Brecht (no. 5 PuRP) and Jackson Cox (no. 25 PuRP) spent the full season with the Grizzlies.
Spokane did receive a few notable mid-and-late-season additions from outside the organization. Starting pitchers Griffin Herring (no. 14 PuRP) and Josh Grosz (no. 28 PuRP) arrived from the New York Yankees in the Ryan McMahon trade and made seven starts each. 2025 top draft picks in Texas outfielder Max Belyeu (no. 15 PuRP) and University of Southern California third baseman Ethan Hedges (no. 35 PuRP) were both assigned to Spokane for the last few weeks of the season, but both struggled with the difficult assignment. Belyeu hit just .150/.244/.300 in 90 plate appearances, though he did hit four home runs. Hedges slashed .195-.303/.234 with three doubles in 89 plate appearances.
Ultimately, the 2025 Spokane Indians struggled to find success on both sides of the ball.
Offensively, the Indians struggled to score, even in the pitcher-friendly Northwest League.
The Indians had the fewest total RBIs, lowest team OPS, fewest total walks, second fewest home runs, and second fewest total runs of any team in the Northwest League. They also had just one hitter at the end of the season with a wRC+ above 100 and two with an OPS of .800 or better.
However, they did well at limiting strikeouts (third fewest) and excelled with an aggressive baserunning game when they did have runners on. The Indians stole the second-most bases in their league.
Pitching-wise, the Indians excelled at striking out opposing batters with the third- most total strikeouts in the Northwest League. However, they also gave up the third-most walks, second-most home runs, and ended the season with the league’s third-highest ERA as a team.
While the season may have ended in disappointment, the Indians definitely have a chance to rebound. A talent rich and playoff-bound Low-A Fresno Grizzlies will feed into Spokane next spring. If the Indians can take advantage of a much improved roster, they may find themselves atop the Pacific Northwest once more.
Weekly Pebble Report: September 2nd-September 8th
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes (3-3, 57-80 Overall)
The Isotopes managed a series split against the Round Rock Express (Texas Rangers) in their penultimate home series of the 2025 season. It’s been another difficult season for fans at The Lab, but with 12 games left it appears thankfully unlikely that the Isotopes will set a new loss record like they did last year.
⬆️ Stock Up: Sterlin still shines
Sterlin Thompson (no. 18 PuRP) continues to put together a strong offensive campaign in the waning days of the 2025 season. Against Round Rock he went 5-for-12 with three walks to just four strikeouts and hit his 15th home run of the season.
⬆️ Stock Up: Hughes refuses to lose
Gabriel Hughes (no. 11 PuRP) continues to look good when pitching in the difficult environment that is the PCL. Hughes kept the Express scoreless through his first five innings, though he did give up three runs (two earned) in the sixth. The game would be called due to rain shortly after, but Hughes was credited with the win.
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats (3-3, 67-64 Overall)
A 3-3 series split against the Reading Fightin’ Phils has kept the Yard Goats’ playoff hopes alive for now with a 31-31 second half record. With six games left in the season, they need a lot to go right. Specifically, they need to win and they need the Somerset Patriots (35-28 in the second half) to lose.
⬆️ Stock Up: Roc’s Feather
Roc Riggio (no. 16 PuRP) turned in one of his best weeks since joining the Rockies via trade at the deadline. The 5’9” second baseman went 6-for-17 at the plate with two doubles and a home run, drove in five, and drew four walks to four strikeouts. He also nabbed a stolen base.
⬇️ Stock Down: Sullen Sullivan
Sean Sullivan (no. 9 PuRP) struggled against the Fightin’ Phils, lasting just 3 2/3 innings and striking out only two batters. His fastball velocity was noticeably lower than usual and he gave up seven earned runs on ten hits—including a home run—and four walks. It might be time to shut Sullivan down for the season.
High-A: Spokane Indians (0-6, 58-74 Overall). Season Complete.
As mentioned above, the Spokane Indians ended their 2025 campaign in difficult fashion. They were swept by the Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants) in six games and ended the year on a nine-game losing streak. Both the pitching and offense struggled in the final days of the season.
⬆️ Stock Up: This fish showed up
Griffin Herring (no. 14 PuRP) was one of the bright spots of the series and turned in the week’s best pitching performance. Herring spun five innings of two-run baseball, giving up just three hits. He didn’t issue any walks and struck out another 8 batters, finishing the season with 149 total punchouts over 119 1/3 innings.
⬇️ Stock Down: Singing the Belyeus
It was a tough final week for 2025 draft pick Max Belyeu (no. 15 PuRP). The Texan slugger managed just one hit and one walk in 19 at-bats and struck out nine times. Although he showcased his power potential, Belyeu finished the season hitting just .150/.244/.300 in 21 games with the Indians.
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies (5-1, 70-62 Overall). Season Complete.
The playoff-bound Grizzlies finished their regular season incredibly strong by taking five of six against the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Los Angeles Dodgers) in decisive fashion. In each of their five wins they scored at least seven runs, including a 20-8 beatdown on Friday. The Grizzlies will host the San Jose Giants (San Francisco Giants) in their Division Series starting tonight with Brody Brecht on the mound.
⬆️ Stock Up: Thach hits a batch
2025 draft pick Tanner Thach went wild on the Quakes, going 9-for-20 at the plate with a double, two home runs, and seven RBIs. The stone-shoed slugger may not be quick, but he can certainly hit the ball with authority. Thach took home Minor League Baseball Player of the Week honors for his outstanding series.
I think it’s safe to say that Jackson Cox (no. 25 PuRP) is fully recovered from his Tommy John surgery. Cox pitched six innings—his longest outing of both the season and his career—and gave up just one earned run via a solo home run. He struck out six batters and allowed just five baserunners via two hits, two walks, and a hit batter.
⬆️ Stock Up: I had to do it…
I know I generally keep the stocks to two players each for every level… but I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t once again talk about Arizona Complex League MVP Roldy Brito (no. 29 PuRP). Brito went 8-for-18 with five RBIs against the Quakes, including a five hit game in Friday’s blowout victory. Brito—who is emphatically not a power hitter at this stage in his development—also tagged his first career home run.
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