West Michigan Whitecaps Home Opener Tonight at Fifth Third Ballpark

Beer and baseball are two of my favorite things (especially when enjoyed together!) and tonight is the home opener for the West Michigan Whitecaps.

First pitch is at 6:35 p.m. against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

This is the first game since the fire that destroyed part of Fifth Third Ballpark in January.

New additions to Fifth Third Ballpark to keep an eye out for include a brand new souvenir shop, an expanded first base concession stand, and five new beers on tap (Founders All Day IPA and Founders Centennial, Blue Moon, Killian's and Angry Orchard). Once again a beer station containing Michigan craft brews will be located on the third base concourse.

The Whitecaps will take the home field with a 2-2 record following a split with the Dayton Dragons in their season-opening series.

West Michigan's 2014 roster includes Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander's brother, Ben Verlander, a 2013 New York-Penn League All-Star; 2012 NCAA batting champion Raph Rhymes; and centerfield prospect Austin Schotts. Roaming the infield will be Javier Betancourt, the Gulf Coast League Tigers' Player of the Year last season and the nephew of former Major Leaguer Edgardo Alfonzo. Infielders include Dominic Ficociello and Curt Powell are among 10 players on the roster that saw time in West Michigan last season.

Promotions for tonight's game include a retrospective Fifth Third Ballpark lithograph giveaway presented by Fifth Third Bank for the first 1,000 fans, post-game Family Fare fireworks, jugglers and face painters.