Dayton Dragons offered promotion in Reds system for 1st time in 20 years

DAYTON — The Dayton Dragons have been offered a promotion to the High-A level in the minor league system for the Cincinnati Reds, which would be a step up from the Low-A level the team has played in for its first 20 years.

The announcement came this afternoon as part of the Cincinnati Reds restructuring of its minor league clubs.

“We are pleased to have received the invitation, and we look forward to receiving and reviewing the complete terms and conditions of the new Player Development License,” said Robert Murphy, Dragons President and General Manager.

The Reds said Major League Baseball will announce the team’s league affiliation and scheduled later. The Dragons have played in the Midwest League since it started playing at Day Air Ball Park.

“The Dayton Dragons organization has been thrilled to partner with the Cincinnati Reds and proud of what has been a great relationship with Reds ownership and their Baseball Operations staff,” Murphy said.

The Reds previous High-A team, the Daytona Tortuguas, will move to low-A with the announcement.

Louisville and Chattanooga were offered AAA and AA classifications respectively.

The Reds will end its 47-year affiliation with the Billings Mustangs, which will continue play in the Pioneer League, a new independent MLB Partner League that will be supported by Major League Baseball.

The previously affiliated Greeneville club will join the Appalachian League under a new format featuring the nation’s top college freshmen and sophomores in wood-bat play each summer.

“We thank and appreciate the ownership groups and staffs at Greeneville and Billings for their hard work and dedication toward the development of our players and contributions to our history. Billings owner Dave Heller and general manager Gary Roller have been wonderful partners for a long time. Over the last five decades, almost every homegrown Reds player was a Mustang first. We will always consider Montana part of Reds Country,” said Reds Vice President and GM Nick Krall.

Cox Media Group