best prospect in the Indians' organization and the best at hitting for average. Garko attended spring training with the Indians in 2006. He was sent to Triple-A before the start of the season and began his season with the Buffalo Bisons. He injured his left wrist on April 21, but was not placed on the disabled list after x-rays turned up negative. Garko hit .247 with 15 home runs, and 59 RBIs in 127 games at the Triple-A level. Garko was tied for second in bases on balls (45), and was tied for third in home runs and RBIs on the Bisons' roster at the end of the season. He was called up by the Indians on June 30, after Cleveland traded first baseman Eduardo Pérez to the Seattle Mariners. His first major league hit, a double, came on July 1, against the Cincinnati Reds. He hit his first home run a little over a month later, on August 10, against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Although Garko favored his traditional position of catcher, the Indians moved him to first base so he would have a better chance of competing for a major league roster spot. By September, he was the starting everyday first baseman for the Indians after Ben Broussard was traded to Seattle. Garko finished the season with a .292 batting average, 12 doubles, seven home runs, and 45 RBIs in 50 games at the major league level. 2007 season Going into 2007, Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com reported that Garko would have to improve on the defensive end to make the 25-man roster because the Indians already had a first baseman in Casey Blake. Towards the end of spring training, Indians' manager Eric Wedge noted that Garko had made improvements on defense. He made the 2007 roster out of spring training for the first time in his career. On April 22, Garko hit a game-winning three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays. He became the everyday starting first baseman early in the season after Casey Blake moved to third base because of an injury to Andy Marte. He began to dislike interleague play because during it, designated hitter Travis Hafner was moved to first base, which forced Garko to the bench. On July 18, Garko hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning against Chicago White Sox' pitcher