The Dayton Dragons and the Cincinnati Reds will make history at Fifth Third Field in Dayton on April 4, 2009 when the Reds battle their top minor league prospects in a "futures game" in the ballpark where several of the current Reds’ stars once played.The Dayton Dragons (Low Class A; Midwest League) and the Cincinnati Reds will make history at Fifth Third Field in Dayton on April 4, 2009 when the Reds battle their top minor league prospects in a "futures game" in the ballpark where several of the current Reds’ stars once played.
The Reds will take the field against a team consisting of their best minor league prospects currently playing at the Triple-A, Double-A, and Single-A levels. The game will provide Dragons fans with a glimpse of the future and a look back at the past on the same day at Fifth Third Field.
Many of the players on the “Futures” team will be former Dragons of previous seasons who are now viewed as upcoming major league stars awaiting their opportunity to join former Dragons Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, and Johnny Cueto.
This historic event is believed to be the first of its kind in baseball in which a major league club matches up against its top prospects in a stadium that was once the home park for players of both clubs.
“We are very excited with the opportunity to host this historic ‘Futures Game” at Fifth Third Field,” said Bob Murphy, President of the Dragons. “Many of the top Dragons players from past years will play in this game, either as members of the Reds or with the Futures team. It is a great chance to see the Reds’ major league stars and their top prospects from all levels of the minor leagues, all on the same field in Dayton.”
The Reds 2009 roster is expected to be highlighted by several former Dragons. Votto, who finished second in the 2008 National League Rookie of the Year voting, will return to Dayton where he played for the Dragons in 2003 and ’04. Bruce was also one of the N.L.’s top rookies in 2008 after spending the 2006 season with the Dragons. Cueto (Dragons ’06), third baseman Edwin Encarnacion (Dragons ’02), and catcher Ryan Hanigan (Dragons ’02-‘03) are other former Dragons expected to play key roles with the Reds in 2009.
Former Dragons who will be competing for positions on the 2009 Reds roster include outfielder Chris Dickerson (Dragons ’04); pitchers Homer Bailey (Dragons ’05), Daryl Thompson (Dragons ’07), and Ramon Ramirez (Dragons ’05); and infielders Paul Janish (Dragons ’05-’06) and Adam Rosales (Dragons ’05-’06).
The Reds roster also includes 2008 gold glove second baseman Brandon Phillips, former N.L. victories leader Aaron Harang, former N.L. all-star pitchers Bronson Arroyo and Francisco Cordero, and former American League all-star shortstop Alex Gonzalez.
The complete roster of minor league players who will participate in this game will not be known until spring and could change up until the date of the game.
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