The Dayton Dragons are gearing up for their 26th season, and the excitement is palpable! The team's Opening Night is set for April 7th, kicking off with a thrilling match against the Lake County Captains at 7:05 pm at Day Air Ballpark. But the action doesn't stop there! The Dragons will officially begin their season on the road, facing the Lugnuts in Lansing on April 2nd.
This year, the Dragons will play a 132-game schedule, including 66 home games, as part of the Midwest League's 'High-A' classification. The league is divided into two six-team divisions, and the Dragons are one of 12 teams in the circuit. Over the next four weeks, we'll delve into an eight-part series previewing the 2026 Dragons roster, starting with the catchers.
Spring training is in full swing in Goodyear, Arizona, where 165 minor league players are vying for spots within the Cincinnati Reds organization. Additionally, 40 players on the Reds' major league roster and 11 minor league players are training alongside them, making for a total of 216 players competing for spots. Only 146 players will make the final cut, so the competition is fierce!
The Reds' full-season affiliates for 2026 remain unchanged from the previous five seasons. Each minor league team will play a spring schedule, with games held from March 11th to 29th. The Dragons will arrive in Dayton on March 31st and participate in two workouts at Day Air Ballpark before heading to Lansing.
Now, let's dive into the catchers! The top prospect is none other than Alfredo Duno, a 20-year-old Venezuelan native with impressive credentials. Duno is not just the highest-rated catcher prospect in Dragons history; he's one of the top prospects to ever grace the team at any position. Baseball America currently ranks him as the #2 prospect in the Reds organization, just behind Sal Stewart.
Duno's 2025 season with the Daytona Tortugas was remarkable. He led the Florida State League in eight crucial categories, including home runs, runs batted in, extra-base hits, runs, doubles, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS. His .287 batting average and 112 base hits were only outshone by his league-leading .430 on-base percentage and .518 slugging percentage. The league's 'unfriendly' nature for hitters only highlights Duno's impressive achievements.
Baseball America's scouting report on Duno is insightful: "Duno's advanced understanding of the strike zone is rare among young hitters. His career .425 OBP ranks fourth among active minor league hitters with at least 750 plate appearances. He doesn't swing at out-of-zone pitches, and his power could result in 25 home runs regularly. Duno's agility for his size is a bonus."
Duno's signature game came during the Arizona Fall League playoffs in November 2025, where he hit three home runs, two of which were estimated at over 450 feet. This achievement is remarkable, as no player in Dragons history has hit a 450-foot home run in an entire season. Duno also drove in six runs in that game.
In the regular season, Duno became the second Daytona player to win the Florida State League MVP since the Reds affiliation began in 2015, following Aristides Aquino in 2016. Before 2025, the only other Reds minor leaguer to win a full-season league MVP in the last 15 years was Billy Hamilton in the High-A California League in 2012. Notably, former Dragon Sal Stewart joined Duno in 2025 as a Reds prospect who won a league MVP award, named the best player in the Southern League.
The last time the Dragons had a player win their league's MVP the previous year was in 2007 with Chris Valaika, now the Reds hitting coach. But Duno also won the award for best prospect in the Florida State League, a rare combination as the best prospect is often the youngest player in the league. Duno became the first Daytona player to earn this honor since the league started selecting it in 2021.
When comparing Duno to past Dragons seasons, he stands out. Over the team's 25 seasons, only two Dayton players were ranked as the Reds' #1 prospect, most recently Homer Bailey in 2005. Duno would be the eighth Dragons player to be ranked as the Reds' #2 prospect, joining a list of talented players.
The highest-ranked catcher prospect to play for the Dragons was Tyler Stephenson, who was rated as the Reds' #4 prospect when he opened the 2016 season with the team. Stephenson returned in 2017, ranked as the Reds' #10 prospect. Devin Mesoraco was ranked as the Reds' #6 prospect when he played for the Dragons in 2008, and both were Reds first-round draft picks.
Duno's elite talent level raises questions about the Reds' roster construction at the catcher position. They will likely keep three catchers to ensure Duno gets playing time as the designated hitter when he needs a defensive break, and a third catcher would provide an available option in case of injury.
Ryan McCrystal, a catcher who split his 2025 season between Daytona and the Dragons, can also play first base. He showed enough talent to earn everyday playing time in 2026, but his position remains uncertain. The Reds might give McCrystal two or three games per week at catcher, utilizing him at first base multiple times per week, with some days as the designated hitter. This decision will be made by Reds Director of Player Development Jeremy Farrell, with input from Corky Miller, the Reds Catching Coordinator.
McCrystal was the Reds' ninth-round draft pick in 2024 from East Carolina University, where he was Second Team All-Conference in his junior year, batting .346 with seven home runs in 54 games. In his first full professional season, he hit .295 with four home runs in 67 games, an impressive mark considering the FSL league average of .234. His OPS was 100 points higher than the league average.
The third catcher in the mix is Diego Omana, a 23-year-old Venezuelan native. Omana's defense was exceptional with the Dragons in 2025, and while most attention is on Connor Burns, Omana's performance was equally impressive. Teams stopped trying to steal bases on his days, and he threw out three base stealers in one game at Beloit in July. However, Omana's hitting struggles have kept his defense from getting the recognition it deserves.
In 48 games between Dayton and Daytona, Omana batted .200 with one home run. This is frustrating, as he showed promise as a hitter earlier in his pro career, hitting .287 in 78 games at the Rookie level from 2021-24. Omana could back up Duno if the Reds choose to keep McCrystal at first base.
