KALAMAZOO, MI – This Saturday, March 7 from 6pm-8pm, the Kalamazoo Growlers will hold the team’s inaugural Hot Stove event at the Radisson Plaza Hotel and Suites of Kalamazoo in the Kalamazoo room, located on the lower level.

Headlining this free to the public event is former Detroit Tiger and World Series champion Darrell Evans.  New Growlers Manager Travis Wade will be in attendance along with KVCC head coach Cody Piechocki.  The team is also set to unveil the new name of the team’s mascot, some of the team’s newest player signings and promotional plans for the 2015 summer.  The event is free to the public and will include games for kids and snacks and drinks for guests in attendance.

Evans played for three teams, the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers throughout his 21 year career. A prolific homerun hitter, Evans was the first player to hit 40 home runs in both the American League and National League, the oldest to lead the American League in Homeruns (40 in 1985), and hit at least 20 home runs in 10 different seasons. He would use his massive home run power to help the Tigers go on to win the 1984 World Series.

The Growlers were forced to change the team’s mascot name this past December due to a dispute with Minor League Baseball and the Hillsboro Hopps, the class A short season affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks located in Hillsboro, Oregon.  Fans were able to vote on the new mascot name with the choices being Beary, Blooper and Porter.

Kalamazoo begins its second season on May 26 in Madison, WI. The Growlers’ home opener comes on May 29 against the Battle Creek Bombers. The full Growlers schedule can be found here. For information on 2015 Growlers season tickets, click here.

The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 21-year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (BOS) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com.