What's new with the Indianapolis Indians in 2025
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
2024 Team MVP Liover Peguero and the Indians are back for another season. Photo: Jeffrey Brown/Getty Images
The Indianapolis Indians are stepping to the plate for another season in the Circle City.
Why it matters: Indy baseball lovers missing out on this week's MLB Opening Day excitement can get their fill of hometown home runs at Victory Field.
Driving the news: The Indians begin their 123rd season on the road with a three-game series that starts Friday against the St. Paul Saints, Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
- The first home game is Tuesday night to open a six-game set against the Iowa Cubs, the Chicago Cubs affiliate.
Flashback: Superstar pitcher Paul Skenes, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, opened the season for the Indians in 2024 before being called up to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- This year, he will take the mound as the Opening Day pitcher for the Pirates on Thursday night and is already being ranked among the MLB's best Opening Day starters.
What we're watching: How this season's crop of big league prospects improves on a solid 2024 performance that saw the Indians go 77-70 for a fourth-place finish in the International League West.
- Pitcher Bubba Chandler comes into this season as the Pirates' No. 1 prospect, the No. 7 prospect in Minor League Baseball and season opener duties.
- 2024 team MVP Liover Peguero is back at shortstop. He has played 63 games with Pittsburgh since 2022, including three games to finish last season.
- Indians 2024 Silver Slugger award winner Matt Gorski looks to follow up big after setting career-best in hits, doubles, triples, RBI and walks one year ago.
State of play: Fans have more ways to watch thanks to a new partnership with Fox59 and CBS4 to air 15 home games on digital channel The Dot (ETTV), including the first home game of the season.
Zoom in: One of the best parts of going to the ballpark is the themes that accompany most home games.
- Here are nine promotional events to mark on your calendar.
Indy 500 Night: April 19
Weekend with Bluey: May 10-11
Star Wars Night: May 31
Margaritaville Night: June 26
Native American Heritage Night: June 27
Negro Leagues Night: July 11
Harry Potter Weekend: July 12-13
Pride Night: Aug. 28
Marvel Super Hero Night: Aug. 29