Tribe's 2014 Spring Training Preview
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Indians will prepare to defend their back-to-back International League West Division titles with a 16-game Minor-League Spring Training schedule in Florida.
The Tribe will officially will kick off its 2014 Grapefruit League schedule with a home game at Pirate City Complex on Wednesday, March 12 against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia Phillies). Indianapolis will then continue spring camp with a full slate of contests from March 13-29, which will also include matchups against the Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays) and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (New York Yankees).
All nine of the Indians' spring home games will be hosted at Pirate City Complex in Bradenton, Fla. In addition, the team will is also scheduled to travel to Clearwater (IronPigs), Dunedin (Bisons) and Tampa (RailRiders) to face each of its Grapefruit League opponents.
| Date | Opponent | City | Time (EDT) |
| March 12 | vs. LHV | Bradenton | 1:00 p.m. |
| March 13 | @ BUF | Dunedin | 1:00 p.m. |
| March 14 | vs. SWB | Bradenton | 1:00 p.m. |
| March 15 | @ SWB | Tampa | 1:00 p.m. |
| March 16 | vs. LHV | Bradenton | 1:00 p.m. |
| March 17 | @ LHV | Clearwater | 1:00 p.m. |
| March 18 | vs. LHV | Bradenton | 1:00 p.m. |
| March 20 | @ BUF | Dunedin | 1:00 p.m. |
| March 21 | vs. SWB | Bradenton | 1:00 p.m. |
| March 22 | @ SWB | Tampa | 1:00 p.m. |
| March 23 | vs. BUF | Bradenton | 1:00 p.m. |
| March 24 | @ BUF | Dunedin | 1:00 p.m. |
| March 26 | vs. SWB | Bradenton | 1:00 p.m. |
| March 27 | vs. LHV | Bradenton | 1:00 p.m. |
| March 28 | vs. SWB | Bradenton | 1:00 p.m. |
| March 29 | @ BUF | Dunedin | 1:00 p.m. |
For more information on Spring Training, as well as the Pittsburgh Pirates' camp schedule, visit www.pirates.com/springtraining.
FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH IN SPRING TRAINING:
Gregory Polanco (OF)
Ranked as Pirates No. 1 prospect entering 2014 season by Baseball America ... Appeared in 44 games with Escogido in Dominican Winter League, finishing two points shy of league batting title with his .331 average (55-for-166) ... Also led league in runs scored (28) and ranked second in both RBI (28) and on-base percentage (.428), third in both walks (28) and slugging (.494) and tied for fourth in doubles (10) ... Hit a combined .285 (134-for-470) in 127 Minor League games between Hi-A Bradenton, Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis last season ... Named Florida State League Midseason All-Star.
Jameson Taillon (RHP)
Ranked as Pirates No. 2 prospect and No. 1 pitching prospect entering 2014 season by Baseball America ... Made one start with Scottsdale in Arizona Fall League, allowing just one unearned run on one hit and one walk with three strikeouts in 2.0 IP ... Promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis from Double-A Altoona on 8/5 ... Ranked second in IL with 37 strikeouts and fifth with 37.0 IP since Triple-A debut on 8/5 ... Went a combined 5-10 with 3.73 ERA (61 ER in 147.1 IP) in 26 Minor League games (25 starts) between Altoona and Indianapolis last season ... Named Eastern League Midseason All-Star.
Tony Sanchez (C)
Ranked as Pirates No. 16 prospect entering 2014 season by Baseball America ... Tabbed starting backstop for IL's Midseason All-Star team and named IL's Top Star of Midsummer Classic after lifting eventual game-winning three-run homer ... Selected to first career Postseason All-Star squad after leading all IL catchers in doubles (26), SLG (.504) and OPS (.872) ... Made MLB debut on 6/23 at LAA and knocked ground-rule double off Joe Blanton for first MLB hit ... Lifted first ML homer (solo) off Tim Lincecum on 8/24 at SF ... Batted combined .282 (78-for-277) with 27 doubles, 10 homers and 42 RBI in 80 Minor League games between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis ... Also hit .233 (14-for-60) with four doubles, two homers and five RBI in 22 games with Pittsburgh.
Brandon Cumpton (RHP)
Ranked as Pirates No. 11 prospect entering 2014 season by Baseball America ... Limited opponents to two earned runs or fewer in 15 of 21 outings with Indians ... Struck out first four batters faced in MLB debut on 6/15 vs. LAD (3 ER in 5.0 IP), becoming first NL pitcher to begin career with four straight K's since 1962 ... Tossed complete game in IND's first playoff contest of 2013 on 9/4 at DUR ... Allowed just two earned runs through 8.0 IP in Tribe's 2-0 loss ...Went a combined 6-8 with a 3.62 ERA (53 ER in 131.2 IP) and 97 strikeouts in 23 Minor League games (21 starts) between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis, and 2-1 with 2.05 ERA (7 ER in 30.2 IP) and 22 strikeouts in six games (five start) with Pittsburgh.
Zack Thornton (RHP)
Appeared in 11 games with Scottsdale in Arizona Fall League, recording one save with a 3.07 ERA (5 ER in 14.2 IP),14 strikeouts and second-best WHIP (0.75) in the AFL ... Issued just three walks for 4.7 strikeout-to-walk ratio ... Charged with an earned run in only three of 11 fall outings ... Appeared in 13 games with Tribe during 2013 regular season, where his 11.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranked as the highest among all staff hurlers who tossed at least 25.0 innings ... Went combined 7-3 with five saves, 2.63 ERA (22 ER in 75.1 IP) and 90 strikeouts in 42 Minor League games (one start) between Hi-A Bradenton, Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis last season.
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The back-to-back International League West Division champion Indians will host their 2014 home opener on Thursday, April 10 when they take on the Toledo Mud Hens at 7:05 p.m. at Victory Field. For complete 2014 ticket information and pricing visit IndyIndians.com.