Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

The Hot Stove League is getting ready to heat up the Tri-State area.

The annual Cincinnati Reds’ Caravan will be making its annual stops Jan 22-25 including a stop in Ashland, Ky., on Saturday, Jan. 24.

The East Tour will start in Athens at The Market on State Street from 6:30-9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22, then head for West Virginia and the Charleston Town Center from 6:30 to 9 on Friday and then to Parkersburg’s Grand Central Mall from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Later on Saturday, the caravan comes to Fannin Motors in Ashland from 4-7 p.m. before heading back to Cincinnati on Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. at Great American Ball Park in conjunction with the annual Select-A-Seat.

Headlining the tour in Ashland will be Reds’ general manager and president of baseball operations Walt Jocketty.

Also on the dais will be catcher Tucker Barnhart, pitcher Sam LeCure, minor league outfielder Kyle Waldrop, Reds’ Hall of Fame outfielder Eric Davis, broadcaster Thom Brennaman and mascot Mr. Redlegs.

Different players and team officials will be at each tour stop.

All caravan stops are free and open to the public. At each stop the Reds will raffle two tickets to Opening Day on Monday, April 6, when Cincinnati hosts the Pittsburgh Pirates at 4:10 p.m. as well as two tickets to T-Mobile All-Star Fanfest at Duke Energy Convention Center during the 2015 All-Star Week July 10-14.

Reds’ sale representative will also be available at each stop to answer ticket questions and discus ticket plans.

Memberships to the Reds’ Heads Kids Club, Reds Rookies Baby Club and Reds Hall of Fame Museum will be for sale at select stops.

Other stops include:

North Tour: Columbus, Jan. 22, 6:30-9 p.m. (Polaris Fashion Place), Lima, Jan. 23, 5-8:30 p.m. (Lima Mall); Dayton, Jan. 24, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (National Museum of the U.S. Air Force); Hamilton, Jan. 24, 3-6 p.m. (Parrish Auditorium Miami-Hamilton University); Cincinnati Great American Ball Park, Jan. 25, noon to 2 p.m. Includes manager Bryan Price, catcher Devin Mesoraco, third baseman Todd Frazier (Sat. & Sun.), minor league shortstop Alex Blandino.

South Tour: Louisville, Jan. 22, 5:30-8:30 p.m. (Slugger Field); Nashville, Jan. 23, 6-8:30 p.m. (RiverGate Mall); Bowling Green, Jan. 24, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Greenwood Mall); Lexington, Jan. 24, 4:30-7 p.m. (Fayette Mall). Includes catcher Brayan Pena, pitcher J.J. Hoover, minor league outfielder Phillip Ervin.

West Tour: Muncie, Ind., Jan. 22, 6-8 p.m. (Stoops Automotive); Evansville, Jan. 23, 6-8:30 p.m. (Eastland Mall); Bloomington, Jan. 24, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (College Mall); Indianapolis, Jan. 24, 3-6 p.m. (Castleton Square Mall). Includes outfielder Billy Hamilton, minor league outfielder Jesse Winkler, assistant general manager Dick Williams.