Larkin, Concepción, Goepper At GABP Opening Week

Baseball season is almost here, and the Cincinnati Reds have announced who will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for the first two games.

“The Captains,” David Concepción and Barry Larkin, will throw out simultaneous first pitches prior to the Reds vs St. Louis Cardinals Opening Day game on Monday, March 31 (4:10 p.m.) at Great American Ball Park.

Considered two of the best shortstops in the history of the Reds and the National League, Concepción was named team captain in 1983 and Larkin was named captain prior to the 1997 season.

Concepción spent his entire 19-season major league career with Cincinnati and was inducted in the Reds Hall of Fame in 2000. His jersey number 13 was retired by the Reds in 2007.

Larkin played his entire 19-year career with the Reds and was a member of the Reds Hall of Fame Class of 2008. In 2012, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and his jersey number 11 was retired by the Reds.

Concepción also will serve as the grand marshal of the 95th Findlay Market Opening Day Parade, which kicks off at noon on Monday, March 31.

Larkin, along with Karl Ravich and John Kruk, will host ESPN’s “Baseball Tonight” pregame show on Opening Day live from noon to 1 p.m. on Crosley Terrace outside the front gates to Great American Ball Park.

On Wednesday, April 2, Lawrenceburg native and Olympic medal winner Nick Goepper will throw out the first pitch before the 7:10 p.m. game against the Cardinals.