Even though it still feels like Winter and snow covers the ground, Spring is upon us and Minor League Baseball returns to Dayton! TODAY, April 9, 2016 at 4 PM, the Cincinnati Reds Class-A affiliate Dayton Dragons will play the home opener of their 17th season taking on the Bowling Green Hot Rods on Opening Day at Fifth Third Field in Downtown Dayton. Today’s game will mark the 1,122nd consecutive sellout for the Dragons franchise which continues to hold the all time record for consecutive sellouts in professional sports. Call (937) 228-2287 for lawn seat availability, click here to order lawn seats on Ticketmaster or visit the Fifth Third Field Box Office starting at noon today.
As of this writing, the Dragons dropped their 2016 Midwest League opener Thursday night 7-1 and second game Friday night 9-4, both losses to the Bowling Green Hot Rods on the road.
There’s plenty of talent to check out on this season’s roster including the Reds’ 2015 #1 draft pick, catcher Tyler Stephenson, who was the fourth highest-drafted high school player in the nation last June, first baseman James Vasquez, pitchers Ty Boyles and Tanner Rainey, center fielder Narciso Crook, second baseman Shed Long, third baseman Brantley Bell (son of former MLB player & coach Jay Bell) and shortstop Cory Thompson, who played baseball back in his home state of South Carolina with Shoeless Joe Jackson’s great great grandson.
Dayton Dragons 2016 Roster
Catchers: Tyler Stephenson, Mitch Trees, Jose Duarte.
Infielders: James Vasquez (1B), Shed Long (2B), Shane Mardirosian (2B/LF), Cory Thompson (SS), Brantley Bell (3B), Hector Vargas (utility), Mitch Piatnik (INF/OF).
Outfielders: Argenis Aldazoro, Narciso Crook, Jose Siri.
Starting Pitchers: Ty Boyles, Jacob Constante, Jose Lopez, Tanner Rainey, Franderlyn Romero.
Relief Pitchers: Manuel Aybar, Ariel Hernandez, Jake Johnson, Jeremy Kivel, Juan Martinez, Sarkis Ohanian, Austin Orewiler, Jesus Reyes.
The 2016 Dragons will be led by first year manager and former MLB shortstop Dick Schofield (preceded by José Nieves), new pitching coach Derrin Ebert (preceded by Tom Browning), third year hitting coach Luis Bolivar and second year catching coach Corky Miller.
Opening Day Festivities
The Dragons Opening Day game will feature great entertainment for fans of all ages. The National Anthem will be performed by WiiildFlower, a singing trio featuring local teenagers Jordyn Mitchell, Kennedy Cook, and Drea Wallace, winners of the Dayton Daily News national anthem contest. Check out the list of additional Opening Day activities below.
- Face painters
- Petting Zoo
- Skydivers flying in the Red, White, and Blue
- Dove Release after the National Anthem
- WPAFB Honor Guard presenting our nation’s colors
- Flag bearers from WPAFB.
- Dayton Dragons Drumline
- Rhythm X Drumline on the plaza
Dayton Dragons on Social Media
All photography by Tom Gilliam of Tom Gilliam Photography & DaytonGram