MLB moving back start of Triple-A season to May affects Pirates' affiliate in Indianapolis

MLB has informed Triple-A teams that their season is being delayed for health and safety reasons, pushing back the start date for the Pirates’ Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis until at least May.

The move cuts 24 games from the Triple-A schedule, narrowing it to a 120-game season with 10 home series and 10 road series, reducing commercial travel and increasing the likelihood that minor league players will be vaccinated for covid-19 by the start of the season.

The Indianapolis Indians are now scheduled to open May 4 at Iowa, then play their home opener against Toledo on May 11.

“What our organization has learned most during the pandemic is to remain flexible while keeping fan, player and staff safety our top priority,” Indians president and general manger Randy Lewandowski said in a statement. “Our passionate fans have eagerly awaited the return of Indians baseball to Victory Field for 18 months, and we truly appreciate their support and patience as we navigate this fluid situation.”

MLB teams, which open on April 1, could start the season with players at an alternate training site. Last summer, the Pirates had 30 players who practiced at Peoples Natural Gas Field at Altoona.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton on Wednesday said that he still has to meet with general manager Ben Cherington and farm director John Baker to figure out the logistics of how it affects the major league roster.

“My initial reaction is, I’m really excited we’re having Triple-A baseball because I think it’s extremely important to the game and extremely important to the Pirates,” Shelton said. “I’m very excited for that, excited for our group to get back to Indy. We’ve always had unbelievable support there.”