Dragons 2016 Season Review

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Dayton, Ohio-The Dayton Dragons completed their 17th season of Midwest League baseball on Monday. The 2016 season included many major storylines. They included:   

The Streak Marches On

The Dragons consecutive game sell-out streak continued through the 2016 season. After the final home game on September 2, the streak now stands at 1,188 consecutive sold-out games, an all-time record for sports in North America (see more on the sell-out streak below).

Top Draft Pick Nick Senzel Joins Dragons

Nick Senzel, the second overall selection in the 2016 draft and the highest draft pick for the Cincinnati Reds in 33 years, joined the Dragons after the draft and lived up to his lofty expectations. Senzel, a product of the University of Tennessee, arrived on July 1 and produced one of the finest two-month periods for a hitter in Dragons history. Senzel's .567 slugging percentage was the highest in Dragons history for any player appearing in at least 50 games, edging Austin Kearns' mark of .558 in 2000. Senzel's slugging percentage and his .415 on on-base percentage would have both ranked first in the Midwest League if he had reach the required number of plate appearances to qualify. His .329 batting average would have tied for third. Senzel collected 33 extra base hits in 58 games with the Dragons (23 doubles, three triples, seven home runs), the best ratio of extra base hits per game in Dragons history among players to play in at least 50 games. Jay Bruce, with 63 extra base hits in 117 games in 2006, had the previous best mark.

Other Premium Draft Picks with the Dragons in 2016

In addition to Senzel, the Dragons roster in 2016 also featured many of the top draft picks over the last two seasons by the Cincinnati Reds. With two first round draft picks and three second round picks from the last two drafts, the 2016 Dragons featured some of the Reds top prospects.

• Tyler Stephenson, the Reds first round pick in 2015 out of Kennesaw Mountain High School in Georgia, was on the Dragons opening day roster and spent most of the season with the Dragons despite battling a wrist injury. 
• Chris Okey, the Reds second round draft pick in 2016 out of Clemson University, arrived on the same day as Senzel and blasted six home runs in his first month with the Dragons. 
• Tony Santillan, the Reds second round pick in 2015, also spent part of the 2016 season with the Dragons, showcasing his blazing fastball that has been clocked as high as 101 mph during his professional career. He reached double-digits in strikeouts in two of his seven starts with the Dragons. 
• Tanner Rainey, taken just after Santillan as a Reds second round draft pick in 2015, spent the entire season with the Dragons, featuring a fastball that was clocked as high as 99 mph at Fifth Third Field.

Expanded Netting Announcement

With fan experience and safety in mind, the Dayton Dragons announced expanded netting in the seating area beginning in the 2017 season. Currently, protective netting extends from the home plate side of the Dragons dugout on the third base line to the home plate side of the visitors' dugout along the first base line, protecting seating in sections 108 to 111 behind home plate. The new, expanded netting will protect the seating areas of section 104 through section 116. Additionally, all existing netting will be raised approximately five feet in order to better shield fans seated in the club level and luxury suites.

"Protective netting behind home plate has always made that area the most desired seat location in the stadium," said Robert Murphy, President of the Dragons. "While everyone is aware that there are inherent risks in attending any sporting event, we take safety very seriously. What we are doing at Fifth Third Field is taking the safety and security of our fans one step further to ensure that each fan has the best experience possible. The new, extended netting will better protect the fans from foul balls and bats that may inadvertently enter the seating areas during play."

New Television Partner

The Dragons announced a new television broadcast partnership with Dayton's CW (WBDT-TV) in 2016 that included 25 game telecasts from Fifth Third Field in high definition. All games were broadcast over the air on Channel 26 and were also available on Time Warner Cable Channels 13 and 1013. Legendary Reds pitcher Tom Browning served as color commentator on some broadcasts. Others who were part of the 2016 broadcasts included Jeff Reboulet, a Kettering native whose 12-year Major League career made him one of the most accomplished players ever to come out of Montgomery County. WDTN TV-2 Sports anchors Jack Pohl and Hutch Konerman also provided commentary for numerous games. The telecasts featured state-of-the-art high definition production quality with seven camera positions, slow-motion replays, player interview clips and the Dragons Hermes award-winning information graphics package. Meanwhile, for the sixth straight year, the Dragons broadcast every home and road game on WONE 980 AM (Fox Sports 980).

Season Review

The Dragons season began on April 7 and concluded on September 5. Here are some of the facts and statistics: 

The Dragons completed the 2016 regular season with an attendance total for the year of 548,588. Dayton averaged 8,188 per date over 67 home openings in 2016. The Dragons have led all of Single-A baseball in attendance in each of their 17 seasons. 

Longest Sell-Outs Streaks in Professional Sports History

No.      Team                                       League                                                Years

1,188   Dayton Dragons                      Minor League Baseball                       2000-current

820      Boston Red Sox                      Major League Baseball                       2003-'13

814      Portland Trail Blazers             National Basketball Association          1977-'95

662      Boston Celtics                         National Basketball Association          1980-'95

610      Chicago Bulls                          National Basketball Association          1987-'00

 

Dayton Dragons 2016 Recap

Final Record: 47-93

First Half: 21-49 (8th in Eastern Division)

Second Half: 26-44 (Tied-7th in Eastern Division)

 

Final Attendance: 548,588

Per Game Attendance Average: 8,188

 

2016 Dragons Midwest League All-Star Game Participant:

Ariel Hernandez, Relief Pitcher (replaced due to promotion)

Tanner Rainey, Starting Pitcher

 

Midwest League Batter/Pitcher of the Week

Franderlin Romero: MWL Pitcher/Week, April 25-May 1 (1-0, 1 GS, 7.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 12 SO)

Wendolyn Bautista: MWL Pitcher/Week, August 22-28 (1-0, 1 GS, 9 IP, 0 R, CG ShO)

 

2016 Dragons Team Leaders

Batting

Batting Average (qualifier; min. 378 plate apps.): Shed Long, .281 (Nick Senzel, .329 with 249 plate apps.)

Home Runs: James Vasquez, 14

Runs Batted In: James Vasquez, 66

Stolen Bases: Brantley Bell, 23

Games Played: James Vasquez, 130

 

Pitching

Victories: Ty Boyles/Jose Lopez, 6

Earned Run Average (qualifier; min. 112 IP): Jose Lopez, 3.97

Saves: Sarkis Ohanian, 13

Games Pitched: Manuel Aybar, 40

Innings Pitched: Austin Orewiler, 131

 

Dragons among Midwest League Leaders

Slugging Percentage: Shed Long, .457, 6th

Saves: Sarkis Ohanian, 13, Tied-2nd

Strikeouts Per/Nine Innings (Starting pitchers): Jose Lopez, 8.97, 3rd

Strikeouts Per/Nine Innings (Relief pitchers): Manuel Aybar, 11.64, 1st

Lowest Opponent's Batting Average (Relievers): Manuel Aybar, .210, 3rd

 

The Craziest Play of the Year

The home game on August 11 will be remembered for one of the craziest double plays ever seen in a professional baseball game, earning ESPN SportsCenter's Play of the Day. In the top of the fourth inning, South Bend's P.J. Higgins hit a line drive that struck Dragons pitcher Alex Webb, changed directions and deflected off base umpire Isaias Barba, redirected toward the second base bag, was fielded on the bounce by Dragons shortstop Luis Gonzalez, who stepped on second and threw to first to complete the double play. The play appeared on the front page at ESPN.com and was picked up by CBS Sports for all of their platforms. It has been seen by more than 474,000 viewers on the Dragons Twitter page, and more than 589,000 on Facebook, topping the one million mark in those two combined social media outlets alone. Here is the link: https://twitter.com/DragonsBaseball/status/763898972557631488

 

Notable Dragons Performances

• On August 22, the Dragons battled back from a late 10-3 deficit to beat Lansing 11-10 in what many fans called the most exciting Minor League game they had ever seen. The Dragons scored five runs in the seventh inning and one more in the eighth to pull to within one run at 10-9 heading to the bottom of the ninth inning. After the first two batters were retired on strikeouts, Brantley Bell delivered a single to start the game-winning rally. Red-hot Nick Senzel drew an intentional walk, and James Vasquez followed with a game-tying single to drive in Bell. Chris Okey sent the crowd into an uproar with a base hit to center field that drove in Senzel to end the game. It was the largest comeback in a Dragons victory since 2013.

• The Dragons put together a late-season home winning streak that came within one game of matching the all-time franchise record. On August 13, the Dragons pounded first half East Division champion South Bend, 13-0, igniting a home winning streak that reached nine consecutive games. The winning streak included numerous dramatic victories including an August 14 win against South Bend when five-foot eight inch utility man Josciel Veras connected on a game-tying home run with one out in the bottom of the ninth to open the door to a Dragons win in the 10th when James Vasquez singled in Nick Senzel from third base for the "walk-off" victory. The winning streak also included a four-game sweep of the Fort Wayne TinCaps. The Dragons won the first three games of a four-game series against Lansing, leaving them one win short of the club record of 10 straight home victories, but they fell to the Lugnuts in the series finale.

• On April 26, Dragons pitcher Franderlin Romero provided one of the finest pitching performances ever turned in at Fifth Third Field. Romero came within four outs of a no-hitter and did not allow a hit or walk until the final batter he faced in the game, a single to left field by Kane County's Jose Queliz with two outs in the eighth inning. Romero struck out 12 of the 25 batters he faced in the game and was honored as the Midwest League Pitcher of the Week.

• On June 10, the Dragons exploded for an 11-1 win over Fort Wayne. The Dragons connected on three home runs in one inning when Mitch Trees, Tanner Rahier, and James Vasquez all went the distance in the sixth. For Vasquez, the home run was part of a stretch in which he hit six long balls over a 14-game period.

• On August 26, Dragons starting pitcher Wendolyn Bautista fired the first nine-inning complete game shutout by a Dragons player in eight years. Bautista shutout the Bowling Green Hot Rods, allowing just four hits and no walks while striking out seven to earn Midwest League Pitcher of the Week honors. Prior to Bautista's gem, the last Dragons pitcher to toss a nine-inning shutout was Enerio Del Rosario on August 28, 2008 at Lansing.

• Dragons outfielder Daniel Sweet gets the "waste no time" award for 2016. On August 27, Sweet hit the very first pitch of the game for a home run at Bowling Green. Sweet also put together a 12-game hitting streak in August, the longest of the year by a Dayton player until Luis Gonzalez finished the season by hitting safely in the final 14 games.

• Reliever Sarkis Ohanian put together one of the most amazing two-month stretches of complete domination by a pitcher in Dragons history in June and July. During those two months, Ohanian made 21 relief appearances and notched 10 saves, allowing just six hits while striking out 42 batters and walking only five in 22 innings. Opposing batters went a combined 6 for 74 against Ohanian during the two months.

• Dayton reliever Ariel Hernandez rose from completely under the radar to become a high-level prospect during his time with the Dragons in 2016. Let go by both the Giants and Diamondbacks, Hernandez featured a fastball in the 95-98 mph range along with one of the sharpest curve balls in all of Minor League baseball. In 18 games with the Dragons, Hernandez allowed Midwest League batters to hit just .107 against him. They collected only 11 hits in 31.1 innings against him, and 40 of the 103 batters he faced were strikeout victims. Hernandez was selected to play in the Midwest League All-Star Game in Cedar Rapids but was promoted to Daytona just prior to the game.

Other 2016 Highlights at Fifth Third Field:

Hometown Heroes Celebration Nights: Two times during the 2016 baseball season, the Dragons partnered with the Dayton Development Coalition and their partners to pay tribute to all service men and women associated with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Springfield Air National Guard Base. Festivities included the playing of the national anthem by Wright Brass, the presentation of the colors by the Wright Patterson Air Force Base Honor Guard, a showcase of equipment used in evacuation missions, and swearing in ceremonies for a group of local Air Force recruits. Dates were May 21 and August 13.

Home Run for Life: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Dragons teamed up to provide five children battling serious medical conditions with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities during Dragons games. Each honoree got to take an honorary home run "lap" around the bases of Fifth Third Field during a game, high five the players from both teams, and receive an honorary bat from Dragons manager Dick Schofield. Dates were May 25, June 15, July 13, July 27, and August 17.

Community All-Stars:  For the fourth straight year, the Dragons Community All-Stars Program honored individuals who have gone above and beyond to improve the quality of life in the Miami Valley. Five of whom appeared on the field during a game with a tribute video telling their story. Dates were May 13, June 13, July 18, August 13, and August 25.

Honor Them: For the third year in 2016, the Dragons partnered with Dayton Area Ford Dealers to honor Miami Valley veterans at Dayton Dragons games. The Honor Them program was a season-long tribute to local veterans. Five veterans received a special honor at Dragons games. Dates were May 1, May 22, June 12, July 17, and August 14.

High School Baseball: For the 11th consecutive season, the Dragons played host to high school baseball at Fifth Third Field. In April and May, 32 area high school teams participated in 17 games and raised over $30,000 for their athletic programs.

Subway Dragons 5K: For the fifth time, the Dragons and SUBWAY® partnered for a 5K run around downtown Dayton on July 23.   

Other Events:

• Boy Scout Overnighter: May 13
• Home Build on the Plaza in partnership with Habitat for Humanity and Coldwell Banker Heritage Realtors: May 21
• Girl Scout Overnighter: July 15
• Dragons Experience Youth Baseball Clinics: June 30-July 1; July 21-22
• Heidelberg's Great American Beer Tasting: August 6
• Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Health & Fitness Carnival: August 14
• Donatos Pizza Movie Night: August 20
• Fifth Third Bank College Prep Night: Coming up September 28

Five "Walks" at Fifth Third Field Coming up in 2016

Miami Valley Down Syndrome Association: September 17

American Heart Association: September 24

Walk to End Alzheimer's: October 8

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer: October 15

Free to Breathe Walk: October 22

 

National Entertainment Acts at Fifth Third Field

The Dragons home schedule in 2016 featured nine national entertainment acts. They included:

May 14: Team Zoom Canine Entertainment

June 24: Team Zoom Canine Entertainment

June 25:   ZOOperstars

June 26: BirdZerk!

July 29: Olate Dogs

July 30: The Famous San Diego Chicken

July 31: Team Zoom Canine Entertainment

August 18: Team Zoom Canine Entertainment

August 25: Jesse White Tumblers

 

In the News

Dayton Daily News columnist Tom Archdeacon authored a story entitled "Dragons Medina's Journey 'Something out of the Movies," which detailed Medina's numerous attempts to escape from his native Cuba to play baseball in the United States. The story, which included details of Medina spending his 18th birthday in a Mexican prison after being detained during an escape attempt, was picked up by many newspapers and websites across the nation. Go to this link for the story: http://www.mydaytondailynews.com/news/sports/archdeacon-dragons-medinas-journey-something-right/nrm7z/

 

Other Accomplishments

For the 17th straight year, the Dragons utilized community non-profit groups to operate the concessions stands for every Dragons game at Fifth Third Field. With a percentage of each game's concessions revenue donated back to the non-profit groups who operate the stands, approximately $300,000 was raised in 2016 for those groups. Over the Dragons history, approximately $5.1 million has been donated to local non-profit groups. More than 40 non-profit organizations participate in the program.

Former Dragons who Made Major League Baseball Debuts in 2016 (80 total since 2000)

Drew Hayes, Cincinnati Reds

Steve Selsky, Cincinnati Reds

Layne Somsen, Cincinnati Reds

Robert Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds

Daniel Wright, Cincinnati Reds

Wandy Peralta, Cincinnati Reds

Major League Injury Rehabilitation Assignments with the Dragons in 2016

Anthony DeSclafani, Starting Pitcher, April 29 vs. Clinton at Fifth Third Field

Social Media

The Dragons continued to expand into social media in 2016. The Dragons Facebook page climbed to over 40,400 "likes" while the Dragons Twitter page jumped to over 10,400 followers. 

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