ANDY SAWYER/Yakima Herald-Republic Spokane’s Dustin Brader (14) awaits the start of the Indians’ game against Yakima on Tuesday at Yakima County Stadium. Brader is a former Selah standout who also played for Arizona State University. Links   E-mail             Print              Comments Advertisement

YAKIMA -- As Dustin Brader munched on a pregame sandwich and confirmed an interview with a reporter Tuesday, a Spokane Indians teammate said, "You're a legend, dude."

And he is.

Among the thousands of youth baseball players who aspire to play professionally, the former Selah High School standout represents the miniscule percentage that actually realize their dream.

"Oh yeah," Brader said. "Me and all my friends, since way back in Little League, have talked and thought about getting paid to play baseball. So very few get this opportunity, and I'm not taking it for granted."

His numbers through 14 games of the Northwest League season said as much.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-handed pitcher, chosen in the 21st round of last month's first-year player draft out of Arizona State, has a 0.00 earned run average, a .000 opponents' batting average and has struck out four.

"I've only been pitched about three innings," he said, "so I'm not getting carried away. But every guy who's here wants to get to the big leagues, and I'm no different. So it's just a matter of taking baby steps, and ultimately seeing how high up the ladder I can go."

Said his manager, former major league infielder Tim Hulett, "From what we've seen of him so far, he's been solid. He throws strikes, has good command of his pitches and has a nice presence on the mound."

Already established is Brader's propensity for winning.

Playing for coach Mike Archer at Selah, the Vikings went 26-1 and finished third in the Class 3A state tournament during his senior season of 2004.

Next came two seasons at South Mountain College in Phoenix, the first of which saw Brader and the Cougars reach the 2005 Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colo.

Then it was on to ASU, where the Sun Devils last month advanced to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

"Those were awesome experiences," Brader said. "I'll never forget them. But now it's exciting to be here in the Northwest League, playing in Spokane, and coming here where I can have so many friends and family members come out and watch."

In addition to enjoying a veritable Dustin Brader Fan Club that was present at Monday night's series opener at Yakima County Stadium, he was able to greet an old friend after an Indians' foul pop drifted past the Spokane bullpen.

"Greg and I talk about once a week," Brader said of Bears infielder Greg Bordes, a former Arizona State teammate who paused to say hello after pursuing the ball. "He's a good guy."

And, like Dustin Brader, a real-life legend.