The Butler BlueSox begin their ninth season in the Prospect League when they host the Champion City Kings in the 2017 season opener at 6:35 p.m. today at Kelly Automotive Park.

Butler graduate and former BlueSox player Cody Herald will be making his managerial debut.

“No, not really,” Herald said when asked about feeling any butterflies as his debut approached. “I've been around this for a long time now.”

Herald said Butler graduate Mark Gross, who compiled a 2.93 earned run average this season at Case Western Reserve, will likely start the season opener on the mound.

Gross said earlier he was looking forward to the challenge of facing hitters from bigger schools.

“Honestly, these days, there's not that much difference between the talent level at a Division III, II or I school,” Herald said. “If a Division III kid threw two miles per hour faster, he'd be Division II.

“If a Division II kid threw two miles per hour faster, he'd be Division I. It's a very fine line. How guys have performed in this (Prospect) league has shown that.”

While all of the rostered BlueSox players aren't through with postseason college ball yet, the team is expected to have 17 to 19 players in uniform tonight. That includes four catchers.

Rey Gonzalez (North Florida) and Erek Bolton (Ball State) are battling for the starting spot there now,” Herald said of the catching situation. “Brady Gulakowski (North Carolina State) can play an infield position and Kristian Webb (California, Pa.) is athletic enough to help us at another position.”

Webb hit .326 with three homers and 25 RBI for the Vulcans this spring. Infielder Tom McCarthy hit .379 with seven homers and 40 RBI for Seton Hill and outfielder Calvin Scott is hitting .331 with three homers and 41 RBI for Delaware.

Delaware is still in NCAA tournament play.

“We've got the makings of a pretty good team here,” Herald said.

The BlueSox roster follows:

Pitchers

Ryann Gray (LSU-Shreveport), Bryce Spak (Seton Hill), Nick Bucci (Thiel), Mike Klingensmith (IUP), Josh LaPiana (Utah), Nolan Krivijanski (Point Park), Jake Stout (Toledo), Patrick Dayton (Kent State), Jack Herzing (PSU Behrend), Don McWreath (Seton Hill), Mark Gross (Case Western Reserve), Aaron Phillips (St. Bonaventure)

Catchers

Rey Gonzalez (North Florida), Erek Bolton (Ball State), Brady Gulakowski (North Carolina State), Kristian Webb (California, Pa.)

Infielders

Cory Wheeler (IUP), Tyler Benson (Bloomsburg), Cole Peterson (St. Bonaventure), James Meeker (Delaware), Tom McCarthy (Seton Hill), Patrick Ferguson (Kent State)

Outfielders

Stefan Mrkonja (Point Park), Calvin Scott (Delaware), Tanner Murphy (North Florida), Ben Carew (Kent State), Joe Gunn (Ball State)