Detroit Tigers fans hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite players during the team's annual winter caravan will have to hit the road to do so.
The only mid-Michigan stop on the Tigers 2009 caravan is pitcher Zach Miner's visit to the Millet Learning Center in Bridgeport on Friday, Jan. 23. Miner will present a check on behalf of the Detroit Tigers Foundation to the newly formed Tri-Valley Miracle League, scheduled to begin play this summer at the Frank N. Andersen Recreational Complex. The Miracle League is for children with special needs and is open to children in the area. Miner's visit is closed to the public.
The monetary contribution is the result of a pledge Miner made last year to donate $100 to the Detroit Tigers Foundation for every strikeout he recorded to benefit children of all abilities who want to play Baseball. Miner finished the 2008 season with 62 strikeouts.
?Its a donation toward the complex and the league,? said Eric Rutherford, the director of parks and recreation for Bridgeport Township. ?We havent earmarked it yet. Were still raising funds for the complex.? Rutherford hopes to break ground for construction of the complex in the spring, depending on the fundraising. The township is aiming to begin play in a shortened fall season.
For more information on the Miracle League of the complex, contact Rutherford 989-777-0940. Most of the Tigers caravan stops are in the metro Detroit area and take place Thursday, Jan. 22 and Friday, Jan. 23.
Public rallies scheduled for Jan. 22 include a visit from 5-7 p.m. at the Brighton Performing Arts Center and from 4:45-7 p.m. at Western Michigan University.
On Jan. 23, public rallies are scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Albion College, 1:30-2:30 p.m. at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, 2:15-3 p.m. at Spring Arbor University, and 3-4:30 p.m. at Detroit's Cobo Hall.
Tigers sign Ni
The Detroit Tigers agreed to terms on a minor-league deal with lefthanded pitcher Fu-Te Ni from Taiwan. Ni will be in major-league camp with the Tigers this spring as a non-roster invitee.
Ni spent the past two seasons pitching for the China Trust Whales in the Chinese Professional Baseball League. In 2008, he finished 5-12 with a 3.34 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 145.1 innings pitched. Ni will pitch for Taiwan at the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Spring training invites
The invited 13 additional non-roster players to their major league camp this spring in Lakeland, Fla. Pitchers and catchers will report on Friday, Feb. 13, with the first workout the next day. The balance of the squad will report Monday, Feb. 16, and the first full-squad workout is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 17.
The 13 additional non-roster players invited are: Pitchers Rudy Darrow, Casey Fien, Jon Kibler and Ryan Perry; catchers Alex Avila, Jeff Kunkel, Dane Sardinha and Max St. Pierre; infielders Cale Iorg, Don Kelly, Will Rhymes and Scott Sizemore; and outfielder Alexis Gomez.
