Return of the Native: Former Norwell Star Helps Louisville Take Two of Three From Indianapolis

Fort Wayne native Josh VanMeter returned to Victory Field when the Louisville Bats visited Indianapolis for a three-game International League series with Indians Friday through Sunday (April 19-21).

 

Alternating between the infield corner posts, the 24-year-old VanMeter had two hits in ten trips to the plate as the Bats took two out of three from the Tribe. 

 

In Friday’s opener, VanMeter started at third base and batted in the three-hole.  He went 0-for-3 in a 3-2 Bats victory.

 

When Louisville won 3-1 in ten innings on Saturday, VanMeter played first base and went 1-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases.  He scored the go-ahead run in the top of the tenth when a runner was thrown out. 

 

VanMeter was 1-for-3 in Sunday’s 2-1 loss in 11 innings.  After the series, VanMeter’s season average was .308 in 18 appearances.

 

This is the 24-year-old VanMeter’s seventh pro season and his third in the Cincinnati chain.  He came to the Reds in a trade with San Diego after the 2016 campaign. 

 

The Padres took VanMeter in the fifth round of the 2013 MLB Draft the week before he pitched Norwell High School (Ossian, Ind.) to a 2-1 victory over Jasper in the IHSAA State 3A Championship game at Victory Field.  Leading off in that contest, VanMeter drew a pair of walks and scored both Norwell’s runs.