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MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Tucker Barnhart Added to List of 20 Greatest Dragons

March 1, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Catcher Tucker Barnhart with the Dayton Dragons in 2011
Catcher Tucker Barnhart with the Dayton Dragons in 2011
(Dayton Dragons)

Dayton, Ohio - The Dayton Dragons today announced the next name on their list of "20 Greatest Dragons." The player recognition is part of the organization's 20th Season Celebration. Players selected on the list of 20 are being announced in random order leading up to the Dragons 20th Opening Night game on Thursday, April 4 against the Bowling Green Hot Rods.

Next on the list of the 20 Greatest Dragons is:

Tucker Barnhart

Barnhart was the starting catcher on the 2011 Dragons, a team that set a club record for most wins in a half when they went 48-22 in the second half under manager Delino DeShields. The team also featured star shortstop Billy Hamilton, power-hitting first baseman Donald Lutz, ace starting pitcher Josh Smith, and all-star closer Drew Hayes. Barnhart's year in Dayton earned him recognition as an outstanding defensive catcher. Following the season, he was given Minor League Baseball's Rawlings Gold Glove Award, a big honor presented to only one player at each position throughout all the minor leagues. He caught 92 games for the 2011 Dragons; no Dragons player has caught more games since.

Barnhart reached the Major Leagues with the Reds in 2014 and has served as the starting catcher in Cincinnati over each of the last four seasons, emerging as one of the best defensive players at his position in all of baseball. In 2017, he became just the third catcher in Reds history to win a Gold Glove award at the big league level, joining Johnny Bench and Johnny Edwards. Barnhart set the Reds franchise record for highest fielding percentage by a catcher that year at .999, which led the Major Leagues.

As a hitter, Barnhart has continued to improve since he first joined the Reds. In 2017, he hit a career-high .270, and in 2018, he hit 10 home runs with Cincinnati to reach double-digits for the first time as a professional, major league or minor league. Also in 2018, Barnhart was the Reds nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award for representing baseball with extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions on and off the field,

Barnhart is the eighth former Dragons announced among the 20 Greatest Dragons. Austin Kearns, Zack Cozart, Justin Turner, Homer Bailey, Samone Peters, Devin Mesoraco, and Didi Gregorius were previously announced.

The 20 Greatest Dragons were selected based on a media vote of Dragons television, newspaper, radio, and internet reporters. Additionally, during the 2019 season, the Dragons will be conducting a fan vote featuring one player per position to announce their all-time greatest lineup.

The Dragons will host their "20th Season Celebration Game" on Saturday, March 30 at 2:00 p.m. at Fifth Third Field. The game will match the 2019 Dragons ("Team 20") against a team of Dragons alumni who are still playing in the Cincinnati Reds minor league system.

Individual game tickets for the Dragons 20th Season Celebration Game are available now. Go to daytondragons.com/celebrationgame or Ticketmaster.com.

Additional information on the Dragons 20th Season celebration including videos on the 20 Greatest Dragons, special 20th Season merchandise, and Dragons alumni listings is available here: https://www.milb.com/dayton/team/20.

Check out the Dayton Dragons Statistics




Images from this story

Catcher Tucker Barnhart with the Dayton Dragons in 2011
Catcher Tucker Barnhart with the Dayton Dragons in 2011
   



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