From the moment the Arizona Diamondbacks selected him in the MLB Draft, the road to his first professional start was a long one.

That same road will bring former Lake City High right-handed pitcher Alex Capaul as close to his Coeur d'Alene roots as possible tonight when he takes the mound for the Yakima Bears against the Spokane Indians at Avista Stadium starting at 6:30 p.m.

Capaul was selected in the MLB Draft's 43rd round and was just wrapping up his senior season at the University of Hawaii when he received a call from Diamondbacks scout Jeff Mousser.

"It was crazy," said Capaul, who was wrapping up classes at the University of Hawaii when he was notified of his selection by the Arizona Diamondbacks. "It was a non-stop. I got drafted then I was gone from Hawaii to Arizona for meetings and mini-camps."

Once at the rookie mini-camps held at the Diamondbacks' spring training facility in Scottsdale, Capaul left with the Missoula Osprey team for an opening series at the Helena Brewers.

“Everything just happened really quick,” Capaul said. “It was overwhelming at first.”

Capaul (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) pitched in the first game of the Ospreys’ opening series in Helena and upon returning to Missoula, was then transfered to Yakima, a Class A Short Season team in the Northwest League.

“I threw that night and once we got back to Missoula, I was told I was going to Yakima,” Capaul said. “I got here (Yakima) and threw once out of the bullpen and became a starter soon after that.”

Capaul added that Yakima runs a “piggy-back” rotation, with a designated starter pitching five innings, with a reliever coming in to finish. After a designated number of games, the starter and reliever flip roles.

He has since made five starts for the Bears and has a 2-1 record with 39 1/3 innings pitched for Yakima.

“I’m approaching it as just another game,” Capaul said. “I’m trying not to think about where I’m at and who is in the crowd watching. It’s pretty cool to be near home again. I played (at Avista) growing up and watched a lot of Indians games. ”

Capaul threw three innings of scoreless relief in his other appearance for Yakima at Avista on June 30.

“It will be just like pitching down at McEuen (Field),” said Capaul of playing at Avista. “I approach every game like it is the same. It’s always fun to take the mound. I’m just trying not to get caught up in who else is there.”

Capaul has a 2.75 earned run average this season in 10 games and has walked five batters and struck out 22.

After 49 games, Capaul has also settled into the daily routine, which includes only three days off during the season.

“On the road, we wake up and go get some food,” Capaul said. “A lot of the time, we’ve got to be at the field at 2:30 for a 7 p.m. game. At home, my roommate and I go to the driving range or go golfing and get to the field by 1:30 for early work with our coaches. Then the pitchers run and the other position players take batting practice before we go back to the clubhouse and play cards and get ready for the game.”

Before his season officially began, Capaul spent time at the Diamondbacks’ spring training facility, which they share with the Colorado Rockies in Scottsdale.

“I’ve never been to a facility that nice before,” Capaul said. “I flew into there from Hawaii. Everything was really nice. They have everything there you need, the medical staff, strength and conditioning. There were even a few major leaguers there rehabbing from injuries.”

Capaul has also toured Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“The atmosphere is electric,” Capaul said. “Being there gives you a little more inspiration to work harder.”

Later this summer, Capaul will find out where his next stop will be.

He could either move on to a winter league, work out on his own or become part of their instructional league team.

“We’ve all got the same chances to make it there,” Capaul said. “But we’ve got to work just as hard to get there.”