Pitcher Shane McClanahan warms up during practice on Tuesday, April 2, 2019, at Bowling Green Ballpark. (Austin Anthony/photo@bgdailynews.com)

The Bowling Green Hot Rods will begin defense of the Midwest League title at Dayton (Ohio) at 6 p.m. Thursday, opening a two-game series against the Dragons.

It’s the start of a stretch of six out of the first eight games on the road for the Hot Rods, who open the season away from Bowling Green Ballpark for the first time since 2015.

It’s a tough way to start the season, with Bowling Green barely in town before heading back on the road, but BG manager Reinaldo Ruiz said his team is ready for the challenge.

“I think our boys are prepared for the travel,” Ruiz said. “They know that if we can handle the travel we are going to be fine. They have an idea that they have to be ready for the travel.”

While Bowling Green won’t get to experience the home fans until Saturday night, catcher Chris Betts said there is still something pretty special about opening day.

“We all sit at home during the offseason or we go play winter ball, all thinking about that first week of April – or whenever it is you open up,” Betts said. “It’s nice that spring training is over with. It’s really exciting when you get there and it’s really exciting when you leave. Opening day is really a big deal every year.”

Dayton’s roster will feature seven of the top 30 ranked prospects in the Cincinnati Reds system, led by center fielder Michael Siani. First baseman Bren Spillane, a third-round pick in the 2018 draft, and infielder Dylan Harris are among the other offensive standouts. The pitching staff includes 2018 second-round pick Lyon Richardson, Jacob Heatherly and Ryan Campbell.

Ruiz said he is excited about his roster, which includes Tampa Bay Rays top prospect Wander Franco.

“We have a little bit of everything,” Ruiz said. “We have pitching, young players, a lot of speed (on the) bags and a lot of good things that we are going to see this year.”

Left-hander Shane McClanahan, a 2018 first-round pick out of South Florida, will get the start for the Hot Rods in Thursday’s opener. McClanahan pitched seven innings total for the Gulf Coast Rays and Princeton after getting drafted by the Rays in June and did not allow a run, while recording 13 strikeouts.

“It’s exciting,” McClanahan said. “We did the time in spring training, so it’s good to get back under the lights and do what we all do. It’s going to be fun.”{&end}