DAYTON - To commemorate 10 years of their existence and 10 years affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds , the Dayton Dragons came up with a novel idea.
The idea, which germinated last April, was so good that Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said, "A tremendous idea and I wish I had thought of it." Jocketty gave credit to the Dragons for dreaming it up and presenting it to the Reds: an annual pre-season exhibition game between the Reds and their best minor-leaguers at Fifth Third Field.
The Reds bought the idea quickly, and the first game will be played Saturday, April 4 - two days before the Reds open their 2009 season in Great American Ball Park.
"The only danger is they might beat us," Jocketty said at a news conference Monday, Dec. 15, at Fifth Third Field.
That could happen, considering some of the possible minor-league players mentioned by Reds director of minor league development Terry Reynolds.
"It is hard to nail down specific players at this point, especially pitchers who might have thrown a day or two previous of the game," he said.
The minor-leaguers - called the Reds Futures - will come from Class A, Class AA and Class AAA teams.
Possible players: first baseman Yonder Alonzo, the team's No. 1 draft pick in June; shortstop Chris Valaika, the Reds' minorleague player of the year in 2008; shortstop/outfielder Todd Frazier; third baseman Juan Francisco, the club's minor-league hitter of the year; outfielder Drew Stubbs and catcher Devin Mesoraco, the team's No. 1 draft pick in 2007.
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Reds in Dayton What: Cincinnati Reds vs. Reds Futures When: Saturday, April 4, 2009 Where: Fifth Third Field, Dayton Time: To be determined Tickets: First choice goes to Dragons season-ticket holders, corporate partners and suite-holders. If any tickets remain, they will be offered to those on the Dragon s' seasonticket waiting list.
