CLEVELAND (AP) -The Indians selected an infielder Thursday in the baseball draft who was kicked off his college team for stealing electronics from a dorm room.

Lonnie Chisenhall pleaded guilty to burglary and grand larceny and was sentenced in February to six months' probation. Chisenhall and a former South Carolina teammate were arrested in March 2007 for stealing a flat-screen TV and a PlayStation 3 system from a resident advisor's dorm room.

Indians scouting director Brad Grant said the club did extensive background checks on Chisenhall, who was selected with the 29th overall pick.

``Everybody we have talked with is convinced that Lonnie's incident was a case of him being at the wrong place at the wrong time and it will not happen again,'' Grant said.

This year, the 19-year-old attended Pitt Junior College in Greenville, N.C., where he hit .410 with eight homers and 66 RBIs.

The Indians intend to start Chisenhall at shortstop to begin his pro career, but project him as a third baseman.

``We're very excited about the offensive upside he brings. He's a line-drive hitter who goes gap to gap and we believe the power will come,'' Grant said.

Chisenhall chose to attend college instead of turn pro in 2006, when he was an 11th-round selection of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was an all-state pick in 2005 and 2006 at West Carteret High School in Morehead City, N.C.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.