Friday’s forecast calls for temperatures in the 40s with a chance of showers, but don’t tell that to the ever-optimistic folks at Victory Field.
The Indianapolis Indians open their 2018 season at home on Friday evening, and the team is offering up their usual 60-Degree Weather Guarantee — if the first-pitch temperature is below 60, fans will receive a ticket to another April game of their choice.
There also will be fireworks after the’s game.
Several other big promotions highlight this season’s schedule:
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– A handful of Marvel and DC Comics superhero nights, leading off with a Black Panther bobblehead giveaway April 21;
– The Lego Let’s Play Tour, which stops at the park from July 13-15;
– Appearances by the Angry Birds (June 3), Clark the Cub (June 24), Daniel Tiger (July 29) and PJ Masks (Aug. 12);
– Nick Jr. Day with the Paw Patrol on Aug. 26
Other regular weekly promotions return, including Kids Eat Free Sundays, Dollar Menu Night on Mondays, Thursday Craft Beer Nights and Friday Fireworks.
The on-field product should be top-notch as well. The Indians went 79-63 a year ago and won the International League West title before falling in a playoff series against Durham.
This year’s club should again feature some top-tier talent. Outfielder Austin Meadows, who begins the year in Indy, is the No. 2 prospect in the Pirates organization and ranked No. 45 on MLB.com’s top 100. The Pirates’ top overall prospect, pitcher Mitch Keller, will start the year at Double-A Altoona but should make his way through Indianapolis at some point in 2018.
Among the other potential future stars who could show up in Indianapolis this season are heralded Braves standout Ronald Acuna (Gwinnett), Yankees prospect Gleyber Torres (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre) and Reds farmhand Nick Senzel. All three are ranked among MLB.com’s top seven prospects and will start the year in Triple-A.
So while it may not hit 60 degrees for Friday’s opener (or even come particularly close), the action downtown figures to heat up before too long.
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The Indianapolis Indians will open their 2018 season with a six-game homestand:
Date;Opponent;Time
Friday;Columbus;7:35 p.m.
Saturday;Columbus;7:05 p.m.
Sunday;Columbus;1:35 p.m.
Monday;Toledo;7:05 p.m.
Tuesday;Toledo;7:05 p.m.
Wednesday;Toledo;1:35 p.m.
Tickets for all games are available at indyindians.com.
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