Indians to feature hot prospects, deals

<p>Despite winter’s best efforts to prolong itself yet again, spring is finally in the air … which means baseball season is upon us.</p><p>That patch of perfectly manicured green grass plunked right in the middle of downtown Indy. The sound of the bat smacking the horsehide. The smell of hot dogs in the air. Nothing fits the return to warmer weather like a trip to the ball park — and starting Thursday night, Victory Field will again be open for business.</p><p>Indiana still doesn’t have a major league team, but the Indianapolis Indians, the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, offer local fans of the national pastime a chance to watch top-quality ball for far less than top dollar.</p><p>Box seats at Victory Field are just $17 this season, while reserved tickets are $13 and seats on the outfield lawn are $11. Fans can save $2 off those prices by buying tickets in advance.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery<p>As always, the Indians are also rolling out a long list of promotions, beginning with a 60 Degree Weather Guarantee for Thursday’s home opener against Charlotte. If the temperature at the time of the first pitch is below 60 degrees, each fan in attendance will be able to get a free ticket to another April game of his or her choosing.</p><p>Ideally, Indians general manager Randy Lewandowski says, the temperature will drop to 58 or 59 degrees by game time so that more fans will return.</p><p>&quot;We’ve got a long opening homestand, 11 games,&quot; he said. &quot;If we can get them back out here after Opening Day, that’d be great for us.&quot;</p><p>The deals and promotions stretch well past the opener, though.</p><p>For kids, the season will feature an array of popular character appearances at the ballpark — Star Wars (May 4), Peppa Pig (May 19), PJ Masks (June 1-2), Spider-Man (July 6), the Very Hungry Caterpillar (July 17), the Incredible Hulk (Aug. 3), Daniel Tiger and Katerina Kittycat (Aug. 4), PAW Patrol (Aug. 17-18) and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Aug. 23-24). The team will also continue its traditional Kids Eat Free promotion on Sundays.</p><p>Also of note for young fans are STEM Day on April 20, the Easter Egg hunt on April 21 and Princess Day on May 5.</p><p>The adults will have their chances to have fun, too. The Indians’ new Father’s Day promotion allows dads the chance to play catch on the field after the Indians’ June 16 game, and there will be pregame Yoga in the Outfield on July 21.</p><p>Thirsty Thursdays mean discounted drinks galore — $2 fountain drinks, $3 domestic beers and $5 premium and craft beers.</p><p>Other returning weekly specials include the Monday Dollar Menu and Half Off Tuesdays. There will also be regular 1:35 p.m. day games on Wednesdays and fireworks after Friday night contests.</p><p>Not to be completely overshadowed by all of the extra promotions, the Indians should again offer up an entertaining product on the field, too. The team missed the International League playoffs by one game last season and should be in the hunt yet again this summer.</p><p>Fans looking to get a glimpse of the Pirates’ future will have a chance to check out the top two prospects in that organization — both right-handed pitcher Mitch Keller and third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes will start the season in Indianapolis.</p><p>Keller, who just turned 23 last week, was with the Indians at the end of last season, starting 10 games. The 22-year-old Hayes, whose father Charlie played with seven different teams over 14 big-league seasons, spent 2018 with Double-A Altoona (Pennsylvania).</p><p>Lewandowski is particularly excited about the team’s infield of Hayes, shortstop Cole Tucker, second baseman Kevin Kramer and first baseman Will Craig.</p><p>&quot;On the dirt, we’re as prospect-laden as you can be,&quot; Lewandowski said. &quot;We believe we have the most prospect-laden team to start the season that we’ve had since we’ve been affiliated with the Pirates.&quot;</p><p>Whether it’s the hot prospects or the hot dogs that bring you out, Victory Field should have something to offer almost everyone this season.</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="If you go" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>The dates and times for the Indians’ April homestand:</p><p><strong>Date;Opponent;Time</strong></p><p>April 11;Charlotte;7:05 p.m.</p><p>April 12;Charlotte;7:15 p.m.</p><p>April 13;Charlotte;7:05 p.m.</p><p>April 14;Charlotte;1:35 p.m.</p><p>April 15;Toledo;7:05 p.m.</p><p>April 16;Toledo;11:05 a.m.</p><p>April 17;Toledo;1:35 p.m.</p><p>April 18;Toledo;7:05 p.m.</p><p>April 19;Louisville;7:15 p.m.</p><p>April 20;Louisville;7:05 p.m.</p><p>April 21;Louisville;1:35 p.m.</p><p>For ticket info, visit indyindians.com</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]