Midwest League
Dayton, Ohio-The Dayton Dragons 2008 opening day roster will include a 2007 first round draft choice, the second most prolific home run hitter in all of college baseball from last spring, and 10 returning players from previous Dragons clubs. The Dragons announced their 25-man roster on Monday.
Shortstop Todd Frazier and third baseman Brandon Waring headline the roster. Frazier, selected in the first round of the 2007 draft by the Cincinnati Reds, was chosen as the top prospect in the Pioneer League with Billings last summer after signing with the Reds. He hit 22 home runs last spring at Rutgers University to rank fourth in the country.
Waring hit 27 home runs at Wofford College to rank second among all NCAA Division I players. After signing with the Reds, he hit another 20 homers at Billings to lead the Pioneer League and all short-season professional leagues.
Both Frazier and Waring played briefly for the Dragons in 2007. Other returning members of the Dragons (and their seasons in Dayton) include pitchers Philippe Valiquette (2005-‘07), Terrell Young (2006-‘07), Luis Montano (2006), and Jamie Arneson (2007); catchers Anthony Esquer (2007) and Jake Long (2007); and outfielders Keltavious Jones (2007) and Denis Phipps (2007).
The Dragons roster includes 12 pitchers, three catchers, six infielders, and four outfielders.
The starting pitching rotation will consist of Arneson along with Scott Carroll, Matt Klinker, Andrew Bowman, and Curtis Partch. Carroll, the Reds third round pick last June out of Missouri State University, will start the season opener Thursday night at Great Lakes. Klinker is a native of West Chester, Ohio.
The bullpen will be made up of Valiquette, Young, and Montano as well as Joseph Krebs, Jeff Jeffords, Jeremy Horst, and Enerio Del Rosario. Jeffords served as the closer last spring at the University of South Carolina, a club that was ranked #1 in the nation at one point.
Esquer and Long will be joined at the catcher position by Jason Bour, a 2007 1st Team All-Colonial Athletic Conference selection at George Mason University.
Frazier and Waring will make up the left side of the infield. Mike McKennon, a Pioneer League full-season all-star last season, will play first base. Kevyn Feiner, Brett Bartles, and Angel Cabrera will see action at second base.
The outfield will feature Phipps in right. Brandon Menchaca, a former All-American at the University of Delaware, is slated for left field. Former Reds fourth round draft pick Justin Reed will play center field. Jones, who spent most of last season at Billings and hit .318, is also in the outfield picture.
The entire coaching staff, including manager Donnie Scott, pitching coach Doug Bair, and hitting coach Darren Bragg, returns from 2007. Alfonso Flores is the Dragons trainer while Nigel Price is the strength and conditioning coach.
After opening the season with a four game set at Great Lakes Thursday through Sunday, the Dragons will open the home season Monday, April 7th vs. Fort Wayne at Fifth Third Field.
More Information: The Dayton Dragons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 70-game home schedule at beautiful Fifth Third Field in downtown Dayton, easily accessible from Interstate 75. Individuals and groups seeking information about Dayton Dragons group tickets, lawn tickets, the season ticket wait list, sponsorship opportunities or booking a Dragons speaker are encouraged to contact the Dragons by calling at (937) 228-2287, emailing at
dragons@daytondragons.com, or on the web at daytondragons.com.