New additions expected to join familiar infield faces for Indianapolis
By Brooks Riley
Anticipation continues to build for the upcoming season at Victory Field, as Indianapolis awaits the arrival of this season’s Indians squad. Indianapolis’ lineup is likely to be filled with veterans and prospects on the infield clawing for an opportunity in Major League Baseball.
C Carter Bins: Bins, 25, had his 2023 season shortened after beginning the year on the injured list with a lingering knee injury. He appeared in 31 games between the FCL Pirates, Single-A Bradenton and Double-A Altoona last season, hitting .212 (22-for-104) with four doubles, three homers and 17 RBI. He served as Indianapolis’ catcher for 58 games in 2022, logging a .994 fielding percentage (three errors in 520 total chances). He joined Pittsburgh’s young catching corps after being traded to Pittsburgh from Seattle on July 28, 2021, with right-hander Joaquin Tejada in exchange for southpaw Tyler Anderson.
C Grant Koch: Koch, 27, could also share catching duties this season. He was selected by the Pirates in the fifth round (144th overall) of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville). In 2023, Koch hit .255 (49-for-192) with nine doubles and five home runs in 60 games. Behind the dish, he boasted a .998 fielding percentage (one error in 505 total chances).
SS Sergio Alcántara: The Pirates signed the 27-year-old to a minor league contract on Dec. 9, 2023. Last year, he split Triple-A time between Iowa and Reno, hitting .268 (90-for-336) with 27 extra-base hits and a .374 on-base percentage in 98 games. Alcántara has appeared in 192 games at the major league level with four different teams (Detroit, Chicago [NL], San Diego and Arizona), and could be relied on as a leader with the Indians. Primarily a shortstop, he is a versatile defender capable of slotting in at second and third base, too.
SS Andrés Alvarez: Alvarez, 26, was selected by Pittsburgh in the 22nd round (664th overall) of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Washington State University (Pullman). He spent the entire 2023 season with Altoona, hitting .215 (73-for-339) with 18 doubles, eight home runs and 35 RBI across 96 games. He split time between shortstop (34 games), second base (31), third base (28) and left field (four).
1B/DH Seth Beer: Beer, 27, was once considered one of the best young prep players in the United States. He was selected by Houston in the first round (28th overall) of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Clemson (S.C.) University and went on to make his MLB debut with Arizona on Sept. 10, 2021. He split the 2023 season with Double-A Amarillo and Reno, hitting .273 (103-for-377) with 22 doubles, 15 homers and 66 RBI in 102 games. Beer was selected by Pittsburgh from Arizona in the MiLB phase of the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 6, 2023, and is expected to serve as another veteran presence in the Indians clubhouse for the 2024 campaign.
3B Jake Lamb: The 33-year-old was selected by Arizona in the sixth round (213th overall) of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Washington (Seattle). After playing nine seasons in the Diamondbacks organization, the veteran third baseman bounced around the league after dealing with a series of injuries. After splitting the 2023 season between Triple-A Salt Lake, Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Los Angeles (AL), Lamb was signed by Pittsburgh as a minor league free agent on Jan. 11, 2024. The 2017 National League All-Star has performed well in Grapefruit League action, posting a .286 batting average (10-for-35) with three doubles, a home run and five RBI across 15 games. With 96 home runs in 724 career MLB games, few players can match the level of experience Lamb would bring to Indianapolis.
1B Malcom Nuñez: Nuñez, 23, has experience playing first and third base in the minor leagues. He was traded to Pittsburgh from St. Louis on Aug. 1, 2023, with right-hander Johan Oviedo in exchange for former All-Star left-hander José Quintana and righty Chris Stratton. The Cuban native appeared in 67 games for Indianapolis last year and hit .237 (57-for-241) with eight doubles, seven home runs and 34 RBI.
1B Aaron Shackelford: Shackelford, 27, is expected to spend most of the year at first base for Indianapolis. Last season with the Indians, the smooth swinging left-handed hitter batted .223 (79-for-355) with 17 doubles, 14 home runs and 52 RBI across 113 games. He had an excellent start to the year and was named Indianapolis’ May Player of the Month after hitting .278 (20-for-72) with seven home runs in 22 games. He was also a clutch hitter for Indy, having posted a .306 batting average (15-for-49) with 18 RBI with runners in scoring position and two outs.
The Indians infield could also see familiar faces in Nick Gonzales and Alika Williams, who are fighting for spots on the big-league roster. The duo combined to play a total of 135 games last season for the Indians.
Originally posted on milb.com