Scrappers open tonight against Black Bears

June 17, 2016 at 12:10a.m.

Mahoning Valley’s

opener is tonight

NILES

Their hometowns are as far away as Taipei, Taiwan and as nearby as Mayfield.

Some have spent several years in professional baseball while others are fresh out of high school.

On Thursday, they converged for the first time as a unit, and tonight they will play their first game as a team — the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

The 2016 Scrappers were introduced to the Valley on Thursday afternoon during Media Day festivities at Eastwood Field. For many, it was their first visit to the Niles ballpark which has hosted the Cleveland Indians’ Class A short-season affiliate since 1999.

Most of the Scrappers’ players and coaches arrived in the Valley on Wednesday. The first official team practice was curtailed Thursday due to inclement weather.

Tonight, the Scrappers host West Virginia in the season opener for both clubs.

“I couldn’t be more excited about beginning my professional career in the Mahoning Valley. This is not only a dream come true but it’s happening under the best of circumstances,” said Scrappers outfielder Mitch Longo. “I get goosebumps just thinking about what has transpired over the past few months.”

Longo is a graduate of Mayfield High School. He completed his junior season at Ohio University earlier this spring, then earlier this month he was selected by the Indians in the 14th round of the June draft.

“I grew up a huge Cleveland sports fan, so when I heard that I was picked by the Tribe it was a crazy moment,” Longo said. “It’s also really neat that I’ll be able to have family and friends drive down to see me begin my professional career.”

Longo actually visited Eastwood Field in 2015 when his Bobcats played a road game against Youngstown State.

“I remember then thinking that this was a great ball park. I never imagined a year later I’d be playing here again for the entire summer,” Longo said.

Micah Miniard was drafted by the Indians in 2014 out of Boyle County High School (Danville, Ky.). He spent two years in the Rookie League, then was called up to the Scrappers last September, where he started two games.

Miniard will be the Scrappers’ starting pitcher tonight against the Black Bears.

“I really haven’t pitched in front of any sizable crowd ever, so this is going to be pretty exciting,” Miniard said. “When I was here at the end of the season last year, we had maybe 1,000 fans here. Prior to that the biggest crowd I played in front of would have been in high school.

“This is a great opportunity. I’m not nervous at all, I’m just excited to get the season started.”

Just 13 short months ago, Triston McKenzie had every intention of becoming a heart surgeon. He was a senior in high school and was verbally committed to Vanderbilt. Then last June the Indians selected the Florida native in the first round of the draft.

Because of extended play during his senior year in high school, McKenzie pitched just 12 innings last summer in the Arizona League. He also spent this past spring in Arizona before being told last week that he would be joining the Scrappers.

“The entire past 12 months has been a blur, a surreal experience,” McKenzie said. “Everything happened so fast. I’m pitching in high school one day, and the next day all my plans change.

“The past year has definitely been an eye-opening learning experience. I think it made me a better person and player, and I’m ready to take that next step in my career.”

Ping-Hsueh Chen was signed as a free agent out of Taiwan in 2012. A series of injuries has curtailed Chen’s progress to this point, but the pitcher is healthy and anxious to play a full season with the Scrappers.

“It’s the dream of every player back home to play professionally in America,” Chen said. “I’m anxious to perform in front of a big crowd. That’s something I haven’t really experienced yet.”

Chen played briefly for the Scrappers in 2015. He said his experience in the Mahoning Valley was “very rewarding and enjoyable,” with one exception.

“You just can’t get really good Asian food around here,” Chen said. “But it’s worth the sacrifice.”

The Scrappers and Black Bears play a brief two-game series before the Scrappers hit the road for six straight games.