Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (April 4 at Frederick)
April 4, 2019 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
Led by Justin Jirschele, the youngest manager in full-season Minor League Baseball, the Dash begin their 2019 season on the road against the Frederick Keys. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
WINSTON-SALEM DASH (0-0) at Frederick Keys (0-0)
RHP Lincoln Henzman (first 2019 start) vs. RHP Brenan Hanifee (first 2019 start)
7 p.m. - Nymeo Field (Frederick, Md.)
Game #1 (Away Game #1)
2019 DASH SEASON BEGINS THURSDAY
The Dash's 140-game season begins Thursday night against the Frederick Keys, a team Winston-Salem will see 10 times in 2019. Last season, Frederick finished with a 65-72 overall record, ultimately missing the playoffs for a seventh consecutive year. Winston-Salem will play a four-game series against the Keys before traveling to Delaware to face the Wilmington Blue Rocks for a three-game set. The Dash will kick off their home slate on Thursday, April 11, against the Potomac Nationals in what will be their 10th anniversary season at BB&T Ballpark.
RECAPPING THE SEASON
2018 proved to be a banner year for the Dash franchise. Finishing with a league-best 84-54 overall record, the Dash won the first- and second-half Southern Division titles for the fourth time in the Dash era (2009-present). Leading the club was 2018 Carolina League Manager of the Year Omar Vizquel, who is now the skipper of the Double-A Birmingham Barons. On the field, a staggering 16 of the White Sox top 30 prospects per MLB Pipeline last year suited up in the Dash purple, including CL Year-End All-Stars Blake Rutherford and Micker Adolfo, and 2018 MLB Pipeline Pitcher of the Year Dylan Cease. Despite their regular season success, the Dash were swept by the eventual CL champion Buies Creek Astros in the Southern Division Championship Series.
JUSTIN JIRSCHELE TO MANAGE DASH
Only 28 years old, Justin Jirschele is the 48th manager in Winston-Salem's franchise history, and he is the first former Dash player to become the team's skipper. Jirschele will be the youngest manager in full-season Minor League Baseball this year. He previously served as the manager of the Low-A Kannapolis Intimidators, helping the team reach the playoffs in 2017 and 2018. Before joining the coaching ranks, Jirschele, the son of Kansas City Royals third base coach Mike Jirschele, played in the White Sox system from 2012-2015. Jirschele hit .315 in 40 games for Winston in 2014, and appeared in two games for the Dash in 2015
TOP-FLIGHT TALENT
Infielder Nick Madrigal and outfielder Luis Robert, who are both ranked as top-50 prospects per MLB Pipeline, highlight the Dash's 2019 Opening Day roster. The fourth overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, Madrigal hit .306 and posted a .355 on-base percentage with the Dash last season. A College World Series champion with Oregon State, Madrigal struck out just five times in 155 Minor League at-bats in 2018. Robert, who was signed to the second-largest signing bonus for an amateur player, will suit up in the Dash purple after playing 32 games in Winston last year.
OPENING DAY HISTORY
This season marks the 11th time in the last 12 years that Winston-Salem kicks off the campaign away from home, with the lone exception in 2014 when the Dash lost to Wilmington at home. Since becoming the Dash in 2009, Winston-Salem is 3-7 in season openers. Last year, the Dash fell 6-5 at Carolina.
HENZMAN GETS THE OPENING DAY NOD
Right-hander Lincoln Henzman, who is ranked the 26th-best prospect in the White Sox system per MLB Pipeline, will get the ball in Thursday's opener. Before joining the White Sox organization, Henzman was a star closer for the University of Louisville, earning First-Team All-ACC honors and the NCBWA Stopper of the Year award as a junior in 2017. Despite making a transition to a new role, Henzman was stellar in the rotation for the Dash and the Intimidators last year. Henzman posted a 2.23 ERA in 13 starts for Kannapolis before earning a midseason promotion. With Winston-Salem, Henzman yielded a 2.03 ERA in a starting role.
DASH DOTS
Right-hander Alec Hansen, who is ranked the 15th-best prospect in the White Sox system by MLB Pipeline, returns to the Dash for a third straight season...Lance Rymel is the lone manager in all of MiLB that is younger than Jirschele...Rymel, who is only 18 days younger, will manage the Eugene Emeralds (Cubs short-season A affiliate).
Carolina League Stories from April 4, 2019
- Segovia's Three Hits and Francis' 8 Ks Not Enough in 6-4 Opening Night Loss - Carolina Mudcats
- Woodpeckers Run Away with 15-0 Win - Potomac Nationals
- Robert's Two-Homer Night Propels Dash to Season-Opening Win - Winston-Salem Dash
- Taveras' Clutch Hitting Leads Wood Ducks Over Mudcats - Down East Wood Ducks
- Keys Drop Opener to Dash - Frederick Keys
- Crooked Numbers Doom Rocks in Opening Night Setback - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (April 4 at Frederick) - Winston-Salem Dash
- April 4 - Opening Night - Carolina Mudcats Game Information - Carolina Mudcats
- Opening Night Roster Announced - Carolina Mudcats
- Myrtle Beach Pelicans Game Notes: April 4 vs. Lynchburg - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Opening Day Roster Features 11 Returners from 2018 - Winston-Salem Dash
- April 4 Game Information - Down East Wood Ducks
- Potomac Nationals Game Notes vs. Fayetteville - Potomac Nationals
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