The Dayton Dragons are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Dayton, Ohio, and play their home games at Day Air Ballpark. In 2011, they broke the record for most consecutive sellouts by a professional sports team, selling out their 815th consecutive game, breaking the record formerly held by the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Dragons came to Dayton in 2000 as the franchise was relocated from Rockford, Illinois. The franchise was previously known as the Rockford Expos (then Royals, Cubbies, and Reds). In 2021, the Dragons and 11 other teams that had previously competed in the Midwest League entered the High-A Central as Major League Baseball completed a large restructuring of Minor League Baseball. This was a temporary name change, with the historical "Midwest League" moniker returning for the 2022 season.
Day Air Ballpark The team's home park is Day Air Ballpark in Dayton, formerly (until 2020) known as Fifth Third Field. During its first season, the Dragons set a Minor League Baseball Class-A single-season attendance record of 581,853. The Dragons broke that record in 2003 and again in 2004. The Dragons broke the record again in 2010 with a season attendance total of 597,433, which still stands as the Class-A record.
The Dragons have averaged 8,258 fans per game over their 21-year history (through the 2021 season). They have led the Class-A level in attendance in all 24 years of their existence and have finished first among all teams below the Triple-A level for 18 straight seasons, from 2006 to 2019 and in 2021-24 (there was no season in 2020).Dayton Dragons 2024 Organization and Team Season Review In 2022, the Dragons' per-game average attendance of 7,935 was first among all 120 teams across Minor League Baseball.DAYTON DRAGONS 2022 YEAR IN REVIEW
On July 9, 2011, the Dragons officially set a new record of 815 consecutive sellout home games. The sellout streak is the longest across all professional sports in the US, passing the previous record set by the Portland Trail Blazers from 1977 to 1995. On May 10, 2014, the streak of consecutive sellouts reached 1,000 games. After announcing the sellout streak was in jeopardy at the beginning of the 2023 season, the streak reached 1,500 games on August 26, 2023. According to the official team website, every home game in the team's first 20 years (prior to the canceled 2020 season) was a sellout. The streak (which was "paused" in 2020 due to the season being cancelled, and again in 2021 due to all minor league ballparks opening with reduced capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions) now stands at 1,573 consecutive sold-out home games (through the end of the 2024 season), an all-time record for sports in North America.
Ownership In 2014, the founding ownership group, Peter Guber's Mandalay Baseball Properties, sold the team to Palisades Arcadia Baseball LLC, led by Greg Rosenbaum, Nicholas Sakellariadis, and Michael Savit.
On March 14, 2025, Palisades Arcadia announced that they had agreed to sell the Dragons to Diamond Baseball Holdings, an organization which owns and operates over 40 Minor League clubs including the Louisville Bats, the Reds' Triple A club. The Dragons will remain in Dayton as the Reds' High A affiliate and Robert Murphy and his front office staff will continue to operate the club.Dayton Dragons Welcome Diamond Baseball Holdings as New Owner
Achievements
The Dragons have led the Midwest League and all of Single A baseball in total season attendance in each of their 23 season, and the #1 for under Triple - A level Ball for the last 17 seasons. In 2000, Dragons President Robert Murphy received the Midwest League Executive of the Year Award. He received the award again in 2012. In 2004, the Dragons were selected as the winner of the Bob Freitas Award by Baseball America (top Class-A franchise). In 2007, the Dragons were selected as one of the "10 Hottest Tickets in Sports" by Sports Illustrated. On July 9, 2011, the Dragons set a new record for most consecutive sold-out games (815 total) in all of professional sports. As of the beginning of the 2026 season, the still-in-progress record stands at 1,639 straight games.
In 2011, Ballpark Digest named the Dragons the "Minor League Baseball Organization of the Year."Dragons Selected as Organization of the Year. Dayton.dragon.milb.com (August 23, 2011). Retrieved on September 23, 2011. This honor came during a year in which they set the all-time professional sports sellout streak of 815 (they finished the season at 843 consecutive sellouts) finished 1st in the Midwest League Eastern Division best overall Midwest League record (.593) set franchise records for wins (83–57), wins in a half (48–22 during the second half) , road wins (38), wins in a month (22 in August); stolen bases (224, including 103 by shortstop Billy Hamilton, which was the 9th highest total ever for a Minor Leaguer); team ERA (3.39); and shutout wins (14); set a Midwest League pitching record for strikeouts (1,292).Dragons enter playoffs with best record in team history. Daytondailynews.com (September 6, 2011). Retrieved on September 23, 2011.Dragons End Regular Season with Record-Breaking Win. Web.minorleaguebaseball.com (September 5, 2011). Retrieved on September 23, 2011.Dragons pitchers set MWL record. Daytondailynews.com (September 4, 2011). Retrieved on September 23, 2011. In 2012, the Dragons were a finalist team for the Sports Business Journal "Professional Sports Team of the Year". In 2012, the Dragons franchise was selected as the winner of the John H. Johnson President's Trophy. The winning team, chosen from all minor league teams (Single A, Double A, and Triple A), is chosen by the president of Minor League Baseball and given to "the complete baseball franchise—based on franchise stability, contributions to league stability, contributions to baseball in the community, and promotion of the baseball industry." Only two other Midwest Leagues teams have received this award.Major Award Winners, milb.com In 2016, Forbes listed the Dragons as the third-most valuable Minor League Baseball team with a value of $45 million, making them the most valuable Class A minor league franchise. In 2016, Dragons Vice President of Sponsor Services Brandy Guinaugh was named the Rawlings Woman Executive of the Year for all of Minor League Baseball In 2016, 2017, and 2018, the Dragons have been the Midwest League nominee for Minor League Baseball's Charles K. Murphy Patriot Award for outstanding support of U.S. Armed Forces and Veterans. In 2018, the Dragons were selected by Dayton Business Journal as the Miami Valley's Customer Service Business of the Year. In 2018, Robert Murphy, Dragons President & General Manager, was selected by Baseball America as the Minor League Baseball Executive of the Year.
Season-by-season records Season Regular Season Postseason Won Lost Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result200070 67 .511 4th in MWL East 2 3 .400 Defeated West Michigan in League Quarterfinals, 2–1 Lost to Michigan in League Semifinals, 2–0200182 57 .590 2nd in MWL East 2 2 .500 Defeated Lansing in League Quarterfinals, 2–0Lost to South Bend in League Semifinals, 2–0200273 67 .521 4th in MWL East 0 2 .000 Lost to West Michigan in League Quarterfinals, 2–0200361 78 .439 6th in MWL East – – – Did not Qualify200448 92 .343 6th in MWL East – – – Did not Qualify200560 79 .432 6th in MWL East – – – Did not Qualify200667 73 .479 5th in MWL East – – – Did not Qualify200778 62 .557 3rd in MWL East 1 2 .333 Lost to South Bend in League Quarterfinals, 2–1200866 72 .478 2nd in MWL East 2 2 .500 Defeated Lansing in League Quarterfinals, 2–0Lost to South Bend In League Semifinals, 2–0200959 80 .425 4th in MWL East – – – Did not Qualify201053 85 .384 8th in MWL East – – – Did not Qualify201183 57 .593 1st in MWL East 1 2 .333 Lost to Lansing In League Quarterfinals, 2–1201260 78 .4358th in MWL East – – – Did not Qualify201365 74 .4686th in MWL East – – – Did not Qualify201468 70 .493 3rd in MWL East – – – Did not Qualify201571 68 .511 5th in MWL East – – – Did not Qualify201647 93 .336 8th in MWL East – – – Did not Qualify201771 69 .507 4th in MWL East 3 3 .500 Defeated West Michigan in League Quarterfinals, 2–1Lost to Fort Wayne in League Semifinals, 2–1201858 80 .420 8th in MWL East – – – Did not Qualify20195882.4147th in MWL East–––Did not Qualify202000.000Season Canceled–––No playoffs202165 55 .542 T-1st in High-A Central East – – – Did not Qualify20226761.5231st Half: 2nd in MWL East2nd Half: 4th in MWL East - - -Did not Qualify20236765.5081st Half: 2nd in MWL East2nd Half: 4th in MWL East - - -Did not Qualify20247458.5661st Half: T - 2nd in MWL East2nd Half: 1st MWL East02.000Lost to Lake County Captains in League Semi- Finals, 0-220255276.4061st Half: 6th in MWL East2nd Half: 4th in MWL East - - -Did not Qualify20266763.5151st Half: 1st in MWL East2nd Half: 5th in MWL East23.400Defeated Great Lakes in League Semi-Finals, 2-1Lost to Quad Cities in League Finals, 2-0TOTAL 1690 1861 .476 — 13 21 .382 —
Major league alumni Through the 2025 season, 157 Dragons players have gone on to play in Major League Baseball since the team's move to Dayton in 2000.Dayton Dragons Alumni The following are notable players whose minor league career included playing for the Dayton Dragons, including the years they played in Dayton.
Austin Kearns (2000) Adam Dunn (2000) Wily Mo Peña (2001) Edwin Encarnación (2001–02) Ryan Hanigan (2002–03) Todd Coffey (2002–03) Joey Votto (2003–04) Chris Dickerson (2004) Homer Bailey (2005) Johnny Cueto (2006) Travis Wood (2006) Adam Rosales (2006) Jay Bruce (2006) Drew Stubbs (2007) Justin Turner (2007) Chris Heisey (2007) Zack Cozart (2007–08) Devin Mesoraco (2008) Todd Frazier (2007–08) Didi Gregorius (2010) Ronald Torreyes (2010–11) Billy Hamilton (2011) Tucker Barnhart (2011) Michael Lorenzen (2013) Jesse Winker (2013) Sal Romano (2013–2014) Amir Garrett (2013–14) Tyler Mahle (2015) Aristides Aquino (2015) Nick Senzel (2015) Tanner Rainey (2016) José Siri (2016–17) Jonathan India (2018) Noah Davis (2021) Elly De La Cruz (2022)
Managers and coaches The Dragons have had 13 managers in their history:
Freddie Benavides (2000) Donnie Scott (2001–2003, 2007–2008) Alonzo Powell (2004–2005) Billy Gardner, Jr. (2006) Todd Benzinger (2009–2010) Delino DeShields (2011–2012) José Nieves (2013–2015) Dick Schofield (2016) Luis Bolivar (2017–19) José Moreno (2021) Bryan LaHair (2022-2023) Vince Harrison, Jr. (2024-2025) Julio Morillo (2026–present)
Additionally, past Dragons coaching staffs have included three inductees into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame as players: Chris Sabo (2005 Dragons hitting coach) Ken Griffey, Sr. (2010 Dragons hitting coach) Tom Browning (2012, 2015 Dragons pitching coach)
Media Radio: All Dragons home and road games are broadcast on radio on 980 WONE, with Tom Nichols as the lead broadcaster. The broadcasts are also available via the internet at daytondragons.com and wone.com and on mobile devices via the Dragons mobile app. Dragons radio broadcasts moved to WONE starting with the 2011 season after Dragons games aired on WING 1410 AM from 2003 to 2010 and on WHIO 1290 AM from 2000 to 2002. Nichols has served as the Dragons Director of Broadcasting and lead play-by-play announcer since the 2008 season. Mike Vander Woude was the team's primary broadcaster from 2000 to 2007. All home and road games have been broadcast throughout the Dragons history.