Position Preview: Multiple Pirates’ Top Prospects Projected to Fill Indy’s Rotation
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Indians return to the Circle City to kick off the 2025 season at Victory Field on April 1. Indy’s projected starting rotation looks to feature multiple prospects who rank highly in the Pirates’ system and have a serious chance to crack Pittsburgh’s rotation later this season
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Indians return to the Circle City to kick off the 2025 season at Victory Field on April 1. Indy’s projected starting rotation looks to feature multiple prospects who rank highly in the Pirates’ system and have a serious chance to crack Pittsburgh’s rotation later this season and beyond. Below, we cover what to look forward to on the mound at Victory Field in 2025.
Bubba Chandler: Chandler enters the season ranked as the Pirates’ No. 1 prospect and the No. 7 prospect in Minor League Baseball according to Baseball America. The 22-year-old righty was drafted by the Pirates in the third round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of Clemson (South Carolina) University as a two-way player but has appeared solely as a pitcher since the beginning of the 2023 season. Chandler split the 2024 season between Double-A Altoona and Indianapolis, setting career highs in appearances (26), innings pitched (119.2) and strikeouts (148) while logging a 3.08 ERA (41er) and a .189 batting average against across both levels. He also led all Pirates farmhands in strikeouts and wins (10). The Georgia native made seven starts with Indianapolis to conclude the season, going 4-0 while leading all qualifying Triple-A pitchers from his debut on Aug. 9 through the end of the season with a 1.83 ERA (8er/39.1ip) and 54 strikeouts.
Mike Burrows: Burrows, 25, missed most of the 2023 season and the first half of 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Upon returning in 2024, he made six rehab appearances between the FCL Pirates and Low-A Bradenton before being activated by Indianapolis on July 25. The Pirates’ No. 14 prospect made 10 appearances (nine starts) with the Indians, going 1-1 with a 4.06 ERA (17er/37.2ip) and 45 strikeouts. Burrows made his major league debut on Sept. 28 at New York (AL) and picked up his first big league win in 3.1 innings of work out of the bullpen with two hits, two runs (one earned), three walks and two strikeouts.
Braxton Ashcraft: Ashcraft, 25, split the 2024 season between Double-A Altoona and Indianapolis, going 3-2 with a 2.84 ERA (23er/73.0ip), a career-high 77 strikeouts and a 1.07 WHIP in 16 appearances (14 starts) between both levels. The Pirates’ second-round pick in the 2018 First-Year Player Draft was promoted to Indianapolis for the remainder of the season on June 11. Ashcraft battled through three separate stints on the injured list while making five appearances (four starts) with the Indians, going 1-0 with a 0.47 ERA (1er/19.1ip), 14 strikeouts and a 0.98 WHIP. He did not allow more than one run in 10 of 11 appearances (10 starts) from May 8 through the end of the season, recording a 1.37 ERA (8er/52.2ip) which ranked second among Double-A and Triple-A pitchers (min. 50.0ip) in that span. According to Baseball America, Ashcraft is Pittsburgh’s No. 4 prospect entering 2025 and has the best curveball and slider in the Pirates system.
Anthony Solometo: Solometo, the sole southpaw in the Indians’ projected rotation, spent most of the 2024 season with Double-A Altoona, pitching to a 1-7 record and a 5.98 ERA (39er/58.2ip) with 46 strikeouts in 20 appearances (17 starts) with the Curve. The 22-year-old, who was selected by the Pirates in the second round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft, is ranked as the organization’s No. 15 prospect entering 2025. Solometo was ranked as the organization’s No. 4 prospect entering the 2024 season after he pitched to a 3.26 ERA (40er/110.1ip) and 118 strikeouts in 24 starts between High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona in 2023 to earn a spot on the All-MiLB Prospect Second Team and be named an MiLB.com Organization All-Star for the second season in a row.
Indians Rally Late in Series Finale for Extra-Innings Win Over Bats
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Indianapolis Indians defeated the Louisville Bats, 6-5, in 10 innings to split this week’s six-game series. A four-run rally in the eighth inning helped force extras and two runs in the 10th frame sealed the win.
Indians Swept in Doubleheader at Louisville
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Indianapolis Indians were swept by the Louisville Bats in Saturday’s seven-inning doubleheader, losing game one by a score of 5-1 and dropping game two, 7-2.
Indians Swept in Doubleheader at Louisville
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Indianapolis Indians were swept by the Louisville Bats in Saturday’s seven-inning doubleheader, losing game one by a score of 5-1 and dropping game two, 7-2.
Yorke Goes Yard as Indians Defeat Bats on Friday Night, 6-3
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Nick Yorke launched his first home run of the season and Henry Davis notched two doubles to lead the Indianapolis Indians to a 6-3 victory over the Louisville Bats on Friday night at Louisville Slugger Field. With the game tied at two apiece in the top of
Indians at Bats Postponed Due to Inclement Weather
INDIANAPOLIS- The Indianapolis Indians have announced that Thursday night’s game at Louisville has been postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday, April 10 beginning at 2:05 PM.
Indiana vs. Ball State Returns to Victory Field on Wednesday, April 23
INDIANAPOLIS – Victory Field will once again play host to a college baseball game between Indiana University (away) and Ball State University (home). Tickets are on sale today for the third Hoosiers-Cardinals matchup at the Vic in the past nine years, set for Wednesday, April 23, at 6 PM. Gates
Ji Hwan Bae and Malcom Nuñez Power the Indians to a 7-3 Victory
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ji Hwan Bae and Malcom Nuñez each slugged solo home runs as the Indianapolis Indians defeated the Louisville Bats 7-3 in the second game of a six-game set at Louisville Slugger Field on Wednesday afternoon.
Chandler Fans Eight as Indians Drop Series Opener
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bubba Chandler fanned a staggering eight batters across 4.0 one-hit frames, but the Louisville Bats rallied with a four-run eighth inning to defeat the Indianapolis Indians, 4-2, in the series opener at Louisville Slugger Field on Tuesday night.
Infielder Tsung-Che Cheng Recalled by Pittsburgh
INDIANAPOLIS – The Pittsburgh Pirates today recalled infielder Tsung-Che Cheng, their No. 17 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. He is the second former Indianapolis Indian and first member of the 2025 squad to make his major league debut this season, following right-handed pitcher Thomas Harrington.
Indians Walk Off Friday’s Suspended Contest; Drop Series Finale to I-Cubs
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Indians earned their second victory of the 2025 season via 5-4 walk-off in Friday night’s suspended game on Sunday afternoon at Victory Field but dropped the regularly-scheduled contest against the Iowa Cubs, 4-1.
Saturday Night’s Game Between Indians and I-Cubs Canceled Due to Inclement Weather
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Indians have announced that Saturday night’s contest against the Iowa Cubs has been canceled due to inclement weather. Friday night’s suspended contest will resume in the top of the 10th inning at 12:15 PM on Sunday with gates opening at 12 PM. Sunday’s regularly scheduled contest
Indians and I-Cubs Suspended After Nine Innings of Play
INDIANAPOLIS – Friday night’s contest between the Indianapolis Indians and Iowa Cubs was suspended in a 3-3 tie due to heavy rain in the top of the 10th inning. The game will be resumed on Saturday at 5 PM, with the regularly scheduled game beginning no earlier than 6:35 PM.
Indians Drop Nightcap in Split Doubleheader
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Indians stranded the game-tying runner on second base in the fifth inning en route to a 6-1 loss in Game 2 of a split doubleheader on Thursday at Victory Field. Indy won the opener via walk-off in eight innings, 7-6.
Indians Earn First Win of 2025 Behind Malcom Nuñez Walk-Off
INDIANAPOLIS – Malcom Nuñez smoked a ground ball fielders’ choice in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat the Iowa Cubs, 7-6, in Thursday’s split doubleheader opener and give the Indianapolis Indians their first win of the 2025 season.
Indians and I-Cubs Postponed Due to Forecasted Severe Weather
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Indians have announced that Wednesday night’s game vs. the Iowa Cubs at Victory Field has been postponed due to forecasted severe weather and heavy rain this evening. The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on Thursday, April 3, with one 7.0-inning
Two-Run Ninth Hands Indians Loss in Home Opener
INDIANAPOLIS – The Iowa Cubs utilized a two-run top of the ninth inning to break up a shutout bid and defeat the Indianapolis Indians on Opening Night at Victory Field on Tuesday, 2-1.
Right-Handed Pitcher Thomas Harrington Selected by Pittsburgh
INDIANAPOLIS – The Pittsburgh Pirates today selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Thomas Harrington, their No. 3 prospect and Minor League Baseball’s No. 78 farmhand according to MLB Pipeline. He is set to make his major league debut tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays at 7:05 PM ET at George
Series Preview: Iowa Cubs vs. Indianapolis Indians, April 1-6
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Indians begin their first homestand of the 2025 season on Tuesday, April 1, against the Iowa Cubs, Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. The six-game set continues through Sunday, April 6, and is the first of two visits to Victory Field by the Iowa Cubs this
Saturday and Sunday Contests at St. Paul Postponed Due to Inclement Weather
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Indians have announced that Saturday and Sunday afternoon’s postponed games at St. Paul will be made up as part of two doubleheaders at CHS Field on Wednesday, April 23 and Friday, April 25 at 6 PM ET. All doubleheader games will be seven-inning contests, with Game
Indians Blanked in 2025 Season Opener
PAUL, Minn. – The Indianapolis Indians were held to just six baserunners as they dropped the 2025 season opener to the St. Paul Saints on Friday night at CHS Field, 11-0.
Top Prospect Bubba Chandler Headlines Indians Preliminary Opening Day Roster
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Indians, in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Pirates, today announced their preliminary Opening Day roster for the 2025 season. Indianapolis’ daily roster will consist of 28 active players, led by right-hander Bubba Chandler – the Pirates top prospect and No. 15 in Minor League Baseball according to
Position Preview: Newly-Acquired Reliever Chase Shugart Headlines Indians 2025 Projected Bullpen
INDIANAPOLIS – As temperatures and relievers warm up in anticipation for Indianapolis Indians Opening Day at Victory Field on April 1, many familiar faces and a new arrival to the organization round out this season’s projected bullpen. Two Young Bucs seek to make their major league debuts while being surrounded
Indians Announce Broadcast Partnership with FOX59, CBS4 and The Dot for 2025
INDIANAPOLIS – Today, the Indianapolis Indians announced that 15 games from Victory Field will be broadcast live to fans across Central Indiana during the 2025 season in partnership with FOX59, CBS4 and The Dot.
Position Preview: Potential Indians Outfielders Vying for Spots on MLB Roster
INDIANAPOLIS – Opening Day is on the horizon and the Indians outfield is taking shape. With the big-league roster still coming into focus, two Young Bucs look to make their major league debuts in 2025 while two veterans with a chance at making the club round out the position group.