Baseball is back in Indianapolis, and Victory Field is prepared for the 2024 Indianapolis Indians season. As the curtain rises on another year of Triple-A ball, here is what Indy fans can expect.
The Indians boast one of the most exciting prospects in all of Minor League Baseball: flame-throwing pitcher Paul Skenes. The recently acquired pitcher impressed with a dominant debut against the Louisville Bats March 30. Skenes racked up five strikeouts in just three innings.
When asked about adjusting to the media frenzy surrounding him this season, Skenes said it did not feel like a whirlwind to him.
“I think a whirlwind is a tough thing to call it because in the moment, it doesn’t feel like a whirlwind,” Skenes said during the Indians media day March 27. “I don’t know what I would call it, but just one day at a time.”
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This season also holds a special place in franchise history. Longtime fan favorite Razor Shines’s jersey will be formally retried in a September ceremony. Shines, who spent many seasons with the Indians, holds numerous franchise records and remains a beloved figure in Indianapolis. His jersey is the first retired in the franchise’s 121-year history.
“It is shocking, really,” Shines told the Indianapolis Recorder. “When the Indianapolis Indians needed something, I wanted to be ‘the guy’; I wanted to be ‘the face.'”
The 2024 Indianapolis Indians schedule features 75 home games, with firework extravaganzas planned for 17 games at Victory Field. Remember to mark your calendars for the Memorial Day matchup with the Omaha Storm Chasers and the Independence Day fireworks show during the Louisville Bats contest.
Additionally, the Indianapolis Indians are hosting the Iowa Cubs from June 18-23. The organization will host the Negro Leagues Night, presented by the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, June 22. As a tribute to the rich history of the Negro Leagues in Indianapolis, fans will have the opportunity to bid on specialty Indianapolis Clowns jerseys worn by the Indians. Last year, Victory Field had its most-attended Indianapolis Indians game during Negro Leagues Week.
The Indians return with a strong core of players after an honorable 2023 season, including pitcher Quinn Priester and heavy hitters Joshua Palacios and Malcolm Nunez.
While the ultimate goal is to see these young players develop into future Major League Baseball stars, with a potent offense, pitching staff brimming with potential and season filled with special events, 2024 is shaping up to be another unforgettable year for the Indianapolis Indians.
Contact senior sports writer Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on Twitter @3Noral.
