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Dayton Dragons

Dragons Gameday for April 7

April 7, 2011 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Thursday, April 7, 2011 l Game # 1

Fifth Third Field l Dayton, Ohio l 7:00 p.m.

Radio: WONE-AM 980 l TV: WHIO Digital Channel 7.2

Bowling Green Hot Rods (0-0) at Dayton Dragons (0-0)

LH Enny Romero (4-1, 1.95 w/Princeton in ‘10) vs. RH Josh Smith (2-3, 2.14 w/Dayton/Billings in '10)

Today's Game: The Dragons (affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) host the Hot Rods (affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays) in the season opener for both teams. Season Series: In 2010, the Dragons were 8-12 vs. Bowling Green and 3-11 vs. the Hot Rods in Dayton.

Streaks: The Dragons won their opening day game in 2010 and started the season with five straight victories.

Last Season: Dayton finished with an overall record of 53-85 (30-39 in the first half; 23-46 in the second half). Bowling Green went 61-78 (31-38 in the first half; 30-40 in the second half).

Today's Dragons Starting Pitcher: Josh Smith is a 23-year-old native of Margate, Florida who was signed by the Reds as a #21 draft pick in 2010 out of Lipscomb University. Smith began his professional career with Billings in 2010 and appeared in 12 games out of the bullpen, going 1-2, 2.14. He was promoted to the Dragons on August 11 and pitched in seven games out of the Dayton bullpen, going 1-1, 2.13. Smith was an Atlantic Sun Conference 1st Team selection in 2010 at Lipscomb University, where he went 8-4, 4.66 in 14 starts with four complete games including three straight nine-inning complete games March 26-April 9. On two occasions, Smith struck out 15 batters in a game. He finished fourth among all NCAA Division I pitchers in strikeouts.

Manager/Coaches: Delino DeShields is in his first season with the Dragons and third year in the Reds organization. He served as the manager of the Billings Mustangs in the Pioneer League last season, leading the club to a record of 38-37. DeShields served as the hitting coach in Billings in 2009. As a player, DeShields spent 13 years in the Major Leagues from 1990-2002 with the Expos, Dodgers, Orioles, Cardinals, and Cubs. He finished in the top three in the league in stolen bases six times and is 46th on the all-time career list with 463. DeShields hit .290 or higher five times. He was the 12th selection of the first round of the June draft in 1987 by Montreal. DeShields finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 1990...Pitching coach Tony Fossas is in his third season with the Dragons and third year in the Reds organization. Fossas pitched in the Major Leagues from 1988-1999 as a relief pitcher, appearing in 567 big league games with Boston, St. Louis, and five other clubs...Hitting coach Alex Pelaez is in his first season with the Dragons. He served as the hitting coach with Billings last season. Pelaez played professionally for eight seasons from 1998-2005. He played in the big leagues in 2002 with the San Diego Padres.

Individual Notes

· Shortstop Billy Hamilton led the Reds organization in stolen bases (48) last season despite playing in a "short-season" league and appearing in just 69 games. Hamilton batted .318 with Billings. He was rated as the #1 prospect in the Pioneer League following the 2010 season and the #2 prospect in the Reds organization in 2011 by Baseball America.

· Outfielder Yorman Rodriguez is rated as the #5 prospect in the Reds organization entering this season. He was the youngest everyday player in the Pioneer League last season at age 17, batting .339 in 43 games. Rodriguez signed with the Reds on the first day he was eligible (his 16th birthday) in 2008, receiving the largest signing bonus ever awarded at the time to a Venezuelan player. Rodriguez batted .458 with men in scoring position last season.

· Catcher Tucker Barnhart was the 2009 Indiana "Mr. Baseball" award winner. Barnhart batted .306 with Billings last season and threw out 51 percent of attempted base stealers.

· Outfielder Kurtis Muller was named to the full-season all-star team in the Arizona League last season, batting .317 (10th in the AZL).

Team Notes

· Four members of the Dragons Opening Night roster are rated among the Reds top 30 prospects according to Baseball America. They include shortstop Billy Hamilton (#2), outfielder Yorman Rodriguez (#5), starting pitcher Daniel Corcino (#15) and outfielder Juan Duran (#28). Additionally, starting pitcher Daniel Tuttle was named as the #31 prospect in the magazine's special supplement.

· Nine members of the Dragons roster played in Dayton in 2010, including third baseman Frank Pfister, who also spent half of the 2009 season with the Dragons. Others include first baseman Dominic D'Anna, third baseman David Vidal, starting pitchers Daniel Corcino, Josh Smith, and Daniel Renken, and relievers Tim Crabbe, Jason Braun, and Blaine Howell.

· The Dragons current roster features seven players under the age of 21. They include Yorman Rodriguez (18), Juan Duran (19), Tucker Barnhart (20), Billy Hamilton (20), Jefry Sierra (20), Daniel Corcino (20), and Daniel Tuttle (20). Last season's opening night roster featured four players under age 21 (Didi Gregorius, Henry Rodriguez, J.C. Sulbaran, Jacob Johnson).

· The Dragons used 55 players last season to break the club record of 54 set in 2003. The Dragons made 83 roster changes in 2010.

Upcoming Probable Pitchers (stats from 2010) (All game times are Dayton time) (All games on WONE 980 AM and www.daytondragons.com)

Friday vs. Bowling Green (7:00 p.m.): RH Daniel Corcino (2-4, 3.80 w/Billings/Dayton) vs. RH Victor Mateo (2-5, 4.89 w/Princeton)

Saturday vs. Bowling Green (7:00 p.m.): LH Tanner Robles (3-3, 2.98 w/Billings) vs. LH Braulio Lara (6-4, 2.18 w/Princeton)

Sunday vs. Bowling Green (2:00 p.m.): RH Daniel Tuttle (5-3, 4.32 w/Billings) vs. RH George Jensen (1-2, 2.97 w/Princeton)

Monday at Lake County (7:00 p.m.): RH Daniel Renken (0-0, 3.00 w/Dayton vs. TBA

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