Daytona Tortugas Announce 2026 Break Camp Roster

Daytona Tortugas Announce 2026 Break Camp Roster

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Daytona Tortugas, in conjunction with the Cincinnati Reds, have announced the club’s 2026 Break Camp roster ahead of Opening Day on April 2 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

The initial 29-man roster is subject to change prior to the start of the season, but it offers an early look at a group that blends returning contributors, highly regarded prospects, and one of the most globally diverse rosters in Minor League Baseball.

Coming off a 2025 campaign that culminated in a Florida State League Championship Series appearance, a strong core returns to begin the 2026 season.

Among the returning position players are Ichiro Cano, Drew Davies, Kyle Henley, Bernard Moon, Mason Neville, Anthuan Valencia, Rafhlmil Torres, and Arnaldo Lantigua, all of whom gained valuable experience during last year’s playoff run. Cano especially delivered during last year’s postseason campaign, leading the team with five base hits in as many games to end the season.

Behind the plate, the Tortugas will carry returner Jacob Friend, as well as Daytona newcomers Henry Hunter and Dylan King, giving Daytona a trio of left-handed hitting catchers in the group.

On the mound, Daytona returns a deep group of arms including Mason Morris, Nelfri Payano, Ovis Portes, Tristan Smith, Mike Villani, Edgar Colon, and Lisnerkin Lantigua, giving the club continuity as it looks to build toward another postseason push.

The roster is headlined by six of the Reds’ Top 30 prospects (MLB.com), including infielder Tyson Lewis (No. 5) and right-handed pitcher Sheng-En Lin (No. 11), both of whom appeared with the Tortugas during 2025.

Also featured among the organization’s top prospects are Arnaldo Lantigua (No. 16), Mason Neville (No. 22), Deivi Villafana (No. 29), and Mason Morris (No. 30), an extremely talented group expected to play key roles for the Tortugas this season.

Neville returns after a strong 2025 season, slashing .247/.333/.442 in 23 games, Arnaldo Lantigua is back in Daytona after appearing with the club last year, entering his fourth season in professional baseball at just 20 years old. On the pitching side, Lin, Villafana, and Morris headline a talented group of developing arms, the three combined for 19 appearances with the club last season.

That international presence is a defining characteristic of this year’s roster. Players from 10 different countries are represented, including the United States, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia, Nicaragua, Taiwan, Antigua and Barbuda, and Switzerland.

The group includes international standouts such as Ichiro Cano (Mexico), Sheng-En Lin (Taiwan), Abraham Gaitan (Nicaragua), Dominic Scheffler (Switzerland), Ovis Portes (Antigua and Barbuda), and Drew Davies (Australia).

They are joined by a strong Latin American contingent featuring Arnaldo Lantigua, Lisnerkin Lantigua, Nelfri Payano, Deivi Villafana, Rafhlmil Torres, and Anthuan Valencia, underscoring the Reds’ continued investment in global player development.

The roster also features a heavy concentration of recent draft talent, with 13 players selected in the 2024 and 2025 MLB Drafts.

Eight members of the 2025 draft class begin their first full professional season in Daytona, including Brady Afthim, Bryce Archie, Jake Brink, Dylan King, Kyle McCoy, Mason Morris, Mason Neville, and Andrew Shaffner.

They are joined by members of the 2024 class in Edgar Colon, Jacob Friend, Tyson Lewis, Tristan Smith, and Mike Villani, many of whom are expected to contribute heavily throughout the season.

Additional depth comes from Griffin Green, the oldest player on the roster at 25 years of age. He joins the Reds organization after a short stint with the Frederick Keys of the MLB Draft League.

Overall, the 29-man roster is composed of 17 pitchers, three catchers, six infielders, and three outfielders, forming a pitching-heavy roster construction designed to handle the demands of a 132-game schedule.

The Tortugas will be led by manager Ricky Gutiérrez, who returns to Daytona for his second stint with the organization after previously managing the club from 2018–19. Gutiérrez brings more than three decades of professional baseball experience, including recent Major League coaching roles with the Washington Nationals, and will guide a roster that combines youth, experience, and high-end talent.

OPENING DAY

The Tortugas open the 2026 season on April 2nd at Jackie Robinson Ballpark against the Jupiter Hammerheads. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET, with postgame fireworks to follow.

ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS

The Daytona Tortugas are entering their 11th season as the Single-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of Minor League Baseball’s Florida State League. The Tortugas play at historic Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida, which was recently voted as the best Single-A Ballpark in the country by USA Today. “The Jack” was recently designated a National Commemorative Site and also plays host to Bethune-Cookman University, the Jackie Robinson Ballpark Museum, and many community events and initiatives of all sizes throughout the year.