Former Infielder J.J. Hardy Headlines Indy Ties on 2023 Hall of Fame Ballot

January 17, 2023 – International League (IL) – Indianapolis Indians News Release

On Jan. 24, exactly six months to the day since Minnie Miñoso was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as the 13th former member of the Indianapolis Indians to receive the honor, Hall of Fame President Josh Rawitch will deliver the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) ballot results for the Class of 2023.

Former infielder J.J. Hardy is the lone representative on this year’s ballot to once sport an Indians jersey and the first since Larry Walker, who was elected to the Hall of Fame in early 2020 in his 10th and final year on the ballot. Alongside Hardy is Jasper, Ind. product Scott Rolen – who is currently on pace to be elected this year based on percentage of released ballot results – and eight additional ballplayers who visited Indianapolis during their illustrious careers.

J.J. Hardy – 2004 Indianapolis Indians

Before he was a three-time Gold Glove shortstop with the Orioles, J.J. Hardy wore an Indianapolis uniform. After being drafted by Milwaukee in 2001, Hardy rose through the minor leagues to land in Triple-A three years later in Indy’s final year of affiliation with the Brewers. He appeared in just 26 games with the Indians that season, hitting .277 (28-for-101) with 10 doubles, four home runs, 20 RBI and an .825 OPS before an injury ended his season.

One year later, Hardy rebounded in the major leagues. He played in 124 games with the Brewers in his rookie season and hit .247 with 50 RBI. He earned his first All-Star bid in 2007 after hitting 26 home runs and 30 doubles with 80 RBI, officially cementing himself as Milwaukee’s everyday shortstop. His success continued when he was traded from the Brewers to the Twins in November 2009, and then from the Twins to the Orioles the following offseason. In Baltimore, Hardy posted impressive defensive numbers and won three straight Gold Gloves from 2012-14, as well as a Silver Slugger in 2013 to go along with his second All-Star appearance. Hardy appeared in 1,561 career games and recorded 1,488 hits and 28.1 bWAR.

Scott Rolen – 2009 Louisville Bats, 1993 Graduate of Jasper (Ind.) High School

Late into his impressive but injury-riddled major league career, Indiana native Scott Rolen returned to his home state for two games at Victory Field in 2009. They were his only two games as part of a rehab assignment with Louisville, and he went 2-for-6 with an RBI.

Rolen made his MLB debut with Philadelphia in…