A season opens in Helena

The Helena Brewers begin their Pioneer League season tonight against Missoula.

The Helena Independent-Record has been there for the last few days with plenty of articles. but here are their stories for today.

Pitcher Arnett living the dream

Eric Arnett remembers going to school when he was younger and teachers would ask him the age-old question.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

"You say professional baseball player and they kind of laugh," said Arnett, the Milwaukee Brewers' top draft pick. "But in the back of your mind you think, well that's what I'm really going to do."

And here he is, dream fulfilled, sitting in the dugout at Kindrick Legion Field on a sunny Thursday afternoon, staring out at the mound he'll be standing on, at least for awhile, as a pitcher for the Helena Brewers.

"It's a dream come true for me," Arnett said. "Everyone wants to be a professional baseball player when they're little and to actually have that dream come true is pretty remarkable."

The 6-foot-6 righthander just finished his junior year at Indiana University and received a $1.2 million signing bonus after Milwaukee made him the 26th overall pick in this year's draft.

Kindrick gets a makeover

The Brewers are starting the season fresh in more ways than one.

Several improvements have been made to Kindrick Legion Field, thanks to a city parks bond that originally slated $1.2 million for the park. The park got new lights, a revamped clubhouse and press box, a new scoreboard display and a freshly painted outfield fence, which includes shiny new advertisements. More additions are planned, including a sun shade for the picnic area located atop the third base dugout.

One of the biggest changes occured in the Brewers’ clubhouse.

“It’s like night and day,” Brewers pitcher Chad Robinson said of the clubhouse. “It looks way better.”

Formerly cramped and oddly arranged, the changing room has been completely redone. The lockers are now located against the walls and the shower is no longer the focal point of the room.

Brewers kick off season at home against Missoula

The Brewers have a good mix of new players and returners from last year. Leading the Pioneer League veterans is Cutter Dykstra, who moved to second base during the offseason.

Dykstra and his teammates might have a better chance this year after the first Helena minicamp in years. Getting to the Queen City early has, by all accounts, helped the players and coaches figure out what they have to work with.

The Brewers have several top prospects vying for playing time this season. Milwaukee’s No. 1 draft pick, Eric Arnett, is one of the must-watch players on the Helena squad.

Offensively, look for the Brewers to play with increased speed and intensity this year.

Centerfielder Derrick McPhearson might be the fastest player in the league, according to Gonzales.

“(McPhearson) is a football player, which doesn’t always translate to baseball,” Gonzales said. “He’s made great strides. Hopefully he can keep moving forward.”