Former Dragons Stephenson, Romano Added to Reds Roster
November 20, 2015 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release
Sal Romano with the Dayton Dragons
(Dayton Dragons)
DAYTON, OH -Former Dayton Dragons Robert Stephenson and Sal Romano have been added to the Cincinnati Reds 40-man roster for the first time in their professional careers.
Players on the 40-man roster are protected by the organization from being selected in the Rule V Draft on December 10. Players with at least four years of professional experience (or at least five years of experience for players who signed their first contract before their 19th birthday) are eligible for the Rule V Draft and must be placed on the 40-man roster to be protected. Players must also be on the 40-man roster to be promoted to the Major Leagues during the season.
Stephenson spent parts of the 2012 and '13 seasons with the Dragons after being selected by the Reds in the first round of the 2011 draft out of Alhambra High School in Martinez, California. He regularly flirted with 100 mph on his fastball in his days with the Dragons and was selected as the starting pitcher in the 2013 Midwest League All-Star Game in Dayton, but missed the game due to a strained hamstring. Still only 22 years old, Stephenson split the 2015 season between Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Louisville. He has been selected by Baseball America as the Reds #1 prospect in each of the past three years.
Romano spent the entire 2013 and '14 seasons with the Dragons, breaking the club record for career innings and starts. He was selected to play in the Midwest League All-Star Game during both of his seasons with the Dragons. Romano, 22, was selected by the Reds in the 23rd round of the 2011 draft out of Southington (Conn.) High School. He had started summer classes at the University of Tennessee but signed with the Reds before pitching at the collegiate level. Romano split the 2015 season between Advanced-A Daytona and Double-A Pensacola. He is Baseball America's #9 prospect in the Reds organization.
With the additions of Stephenson and Romano, both right-handed pitchers, there are currently 18 former Dragons on the Reds 40-man roster. The most recent members of the Dragons who are currently on the Reds roster are Romano and left-handed pitcher Amir Garrett, who both spent the entire 2014 season with the Dragons. First baseman Joey Votto, a member of the 2003 and '04 Dragons, represents the earliest appearance with the Dragons among current Reds players.
In addition to Stephenson, Romano, Garrett, and Votto, other former Dragons on the Reds 40-man roster include infielders Zack Cozart and Todd Frazier, outfielders Jay Bruce, Juan Duran, Billy Hamilton, Ryan LaMarre, Yorman Rodriguez, and Kyle Waldrop; catchers Tucker Barnhart and Devin Mesoraco; and pitchers Homer Bailey, Carlos Contreras, Michael Lorenzen, and Pedro Villarreal. Two other current Reds, second baseman Brandon Phillips and pitcher Aroldis Chapman, have played briefly for the Dragons on injury rehabilitation assignments. The Reds have 37 players on the roster at this time, with three openings.
Link to Reds 40-man roster: http://m.reds.mlb.com/roster/40-man/
Opening Day for the Dragons in 2016 is April 9 when they host the Bowling Green Hot Rods at Fifth Third Field at 4:00 p.m. The Dragons open the Midwest League season two days earlier, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on April 7. For information on Dragons season tickets, group outings, or luxury suites, call (937) 228-2287 or go to daytondragons.com.
Images from this story
 Robert Stephenson with the Dayton Dragons |
 Sal Romano with the Dayton Dragons |
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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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