A year ago at this time, the Billings Mustangs were forced to start the Pioneer League baseball season with a 14-game road trip as the finishing touches were put on newly constructed Dehler Park.

The team flew into Billings on a Sunday, hit the road on Monday, and didn't return until 15 days later.

This year things are back to normal, and fans will get their first look at the 2009 Mustangs when the season opens tonight at Dehler. The Great Falls Voyagers, the defending Pioneer League champions, are in town for three games before the Mustangs make their first road trip of the season.

Most players have been in Billings since last Tuesday and the team has been working out since Wednesday. Besides allowing manager Julio Garcia and his coaching staff - pitching coach Bob Forsch and hitting coach Delino DeShields - an opportunity to assess their team, Garcia said the ability to stay in Billings for preseason workouts has given the players a chance to get used to such things as the altitude and time zone changes.

"To get acclimated before the season starts, all those things seem kind of minor, but they really aren't," said Garcia, who is in his second season at the helm of the Mustangs. "It's important obviously to get off to a good start."

In particular, Garcia is hoping tonight's starter, Leonardo Astorga, gets off to a good start.

Astorga was last year's opening day starter as well, and the 6-foot-2, 175-pound right-hander went on to have a good season. He finished with a 4-1 record and a 2.98 ERA, and following spring training this season he was assigned to the Cincinnati Reds' Single-A affiliate in Dayton, Ohio.

But Astorga struggled in six Dayton appearances (1-3, 15.43 ERA) and the Reds reassigned him to Billings. Garcia said Astorga has not complained of any injury, nor has any mechanical flaw been found in his delivery.

"I don't know how to explain it," Garcia said. "Leaving here last year he was arguably our best pitcher. Once you get into valleys like that, it's kind of hard. You start reaching, you start seeing things that aren't there, you start doing things you're not supposed to. Next thing you know the walls are caving in on you and you can't knock them off of you."

Garcia also hopes returning players Tony Brown, Tyler Stovall and Chris McMurray will anchor the lineup, especially in tonight's opener.

Brown hit .283 and led the Mustangs last year with 12 home runs and 47 RBIs, while Stovall batted .333. McMurray hit .234 in limited playing time.

"Those guys are slotted - (McMurray) not as much because he's catching and needs to concentrate a little more on the defense part than the hitting - but Tony and Tyler are up in the lineup," Garcia said. "With the numbers they had last year, obviously they're counted on to try to help out this year as well."

NOTES: The Mustangs added infielder John Dao to their roster on Monday. The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder was signed by the Reds as a free agent out of the University of Louisville, where he hit .245 in 54 games. … Joining Astorga in the starting rotation are LHP Shea Snowden, LHP Luca Panerati, RHP Adian Kummett, and LHP Justin Walker. … Mustangs general manager Gary Roller said limited reserved tickets are still available for tonight's game. Reserved tickets are $9, $7 and $5. Roller also said the new 329 Club, the deck built down the left field line, will be open for public seating tonight. Occupancy is limited, and $5 gets fans a wristband to enter the deck.

Tonight's projected starting lineup

1. Alex Oliveras, RF

.279 with '08 Gulf Coast Reds

2. Yen-Wen Kuo, 3B

.281-0 HR-15 RBI with '08 GCL Reds

3. Tyler Stovall, DH

.333-1 HR-16 RBIs with '08 Mustangs

4. Humberto Sosa, 1B

.304-3 HRs-22 RBIs with '08 GCL Reds

5. Tony Brown, LF

.283-12 HRs-47 RBIs with '08 Mustangs

6. Efrain Contreras, CF

.271-1 HR-30 RBIs with '08 GCL Reds

7. Shane Carlson, SS

.256-7 HRs-34 RBIs with UC-Santa Barbara

8. Chris McMurray, C

.234-0 HR-13 RBIs with '08 Mustangs

9. Mauricio Pimentel, 2B

.268 with '08 GCL Reds

Leonardo Astorga, RHP

4-1, 2.98 with ERA '08 Mustangs