Get ready for an exciting season as the Dayton Dragons gear up for their 26th year of baseball! The much-anticipated 'Opening Night' game is set for April 7th, pitting the Dragons against their Ohio rivals, the Lake County Captains, at Day Air Ballpark. But here's the twist: this season opener is just the tip of the iceberg, with a 132-game schedule awaiting the team, including 66 home games.
The Dragons are part of the Midwest League, a 'High-A' circuit with two divisions, each consisting of six teams. Over the next month, we'll dive into an eight-part series, previewing the candidates for the Dragons' 2026 roster. So, whether you're a seasoned fan or a newcomer, get your tickets ready and join us on this journey!
Spring training is in full swing in Goodyear, Arizona, with a competitive field of 165 minor league players battling for spots within the Cincinnati Reds organization. Additionally, there are 40 major league players and 11 minor league prospects training with the Reds, making for a total of 216 athletes vying for their place on the team. Only 146 will make the cut, so the competition is fierce!
The Reds' full-season affiliates for 2026 remain unchanged from the past five years. Each minor league team will play a spring schedule from March 11th to 29th, with the Dragons arriving in Dayton on March 31st for some pre-season workouts before heading to Lansing.
The affiliate teams include the Louisville Bats (Triple-A), Chattanooga Lookouts (Double-A), Dayton Dragons (High-A), and Daytona Tortugas (Single-A). For those who don't make the cut, there's still a chance to continue their development through 'Extended Spring Training' in Arizona, where they'll play against players from other organizations before the start of the Arizona Complex League Reds season in May.
In this first part of our eight-part series, we'll focus on the catchers who could be part of the Dragons' opening roster. These players are not just any ordinary athletes; they're the cream of the crop, the future stars of the game.
Let's start with the top prospect and one of the most highly-regarded catchers in Dragons history: Alfredo Duno. At just 20 years old, Duno, a native of Venezuela, stands at an impressive 6'3" and weighs 248 lbs. He's not only the highest-rated catcher prospect to play for the Dragons but also one of the top prospects to ever pass through Dayton, regardless of position. Baseball America ranks him as the #2 prospect in the Reds organization, trailing only Sal Stewart.
Duno spent the entire 2025 season with the Daytona Tortugas, one level below the Dragons, and was named the Florida State League's Most Valuable Player and best Major League prospect. He dominated the league, leading in eight key categories, including home runs (18), runs batted in (81), extra base hits (52), and runs (78). His performance was even more impressive considering the Florida State League is notoriously tough for hitters.
Baseball America's scouting report on Duno highlights his advanced understanding of the strike zone and exceptional power, predicting he could regularly hit 25 home runs. His signature game came in the Arizona Fall League playoffs, where he hit three home runs, two of which traveled over 450 feet! That's a feat that's rarely achieved, and Duno did it in a single game.
Duno's success continues a legacy of MVPs for the Dragons. The last player to win his league's MVP before joining the Dragons was Chris Valaika, now the Reds hitting coach, who played for Dayton in 2007 after winning the Pioneer League MVP in 2006. Duno's achievement is even more remarkable as he also won the award for best prospect in the Florida State League last year, a rare combination.
Comparing Duno to past Dragons prospects, he would become the eighth player to be ranked as the Reds' #2 prospect, joining the likes of Adam Dunn, Jay Bruce, and Billy Hamilton. The highest-ranked catcher prospect to play for the Dragons was Tyler Stephenson, who was rated as the Reds' #4 prospect in 2016.
Duno's elite talent raises questions about how the Reds will construct the Dayton roster at the catcher position. It's likely they'll keep three catchers to ensure Duno gets playing time, even as the designated hitter, and to have an available catcher on the bench in case of injuries.
The other catcher in the mix is Ryan McCrystal, who had an excellent 2025 season split between Daytona and the Dragons. He can also play first base, and his talent is undeniable. The Reds could utilize McCrystal at catcher and first base, depending on Duno's schedule, or primarily at first base, as they did in 2025 at Daytona. This decision will be made by the Reds' Director of Player Development, Jeremy Farrell, with input from Corky Miller, the Reds' Catching Coordinator.
McCrystal, a former East Carolina University player, was the Reds' ninth-round draft pick in 2024. In his first full professional season in 2025, he hit .295 with four home runs in 67 games with Daytona, significantly above the FSL league average of .234. He then moved up to the Dragons, where he hit .271 in 20 games. While his defense is still a work in progress, McCrystal is expected to be one of the Dragons' best hitters.
The third catcher, Diego Omana, a 23-year-old Venezuelan, is known for his exceptional defense. While the Reds' farm system currently boasts former Dragon Connor Burns for his defensive skills, Omana quietly had a season that matched Burns' caliber. His throwing stats might not reflect his true abilities due to the recording system in the minors, but Omana effectively shut down opposing base stealers last season. However, his hitting has been a struggle, batting just .200 with one home run in 48 games in 2025.
Stay tuned for the next part of our series, where we'll explore the first basemen who could be part of the Dragons' 2026 roster. With such talented players, the Dragons are poised for an exciting season, and we can't wait to see how it unfolds!
