Dragons 2025 Team Preview, Part 3: Second Basemen
As spring training continues in Goodyear, Arizona, the Dayton Dragons continue to look ahead to their 25th season in 2025. The entire season will be a celebration of the Dragons rich history, and it will kick off with a special game on March 25 at Day Air Ballpark in Dayton
As spring training continues in Goodyear, Arizona, the Dayton Dragons continue to look ahead to their 25th season in 2025. The entire season will be a celebration of the Dragons rich history, and it will kick off with a special game on March 25 at Day Air Ballpark in Dayton when the Cincinnati Reds battle a team of minor league prospects at 6:10 pm. Minor League spring training games will continue through March 29 in Arizona.
The Dragons annual home “Opening Night” game is set for Tuesday, April 8 against the Fort Wayne TinCaps at 7:05 pm at Day Air Ballpark. The Dragons will officially open their season on the road in 2025, four days prior to their home opener, when they battle the West Michigan Whitecaps in Grand Rapids, Michigan at 6:35 pm on April 4.
There are roughly 180 minor league players currently in competition for roster spots within the Reds organization in Arizona. The four Reds full-season farm clubs are the Louisville Bats (Triple-A), the Chattanooga Lookouts (Double-A), the Dayton Dragons (High-A), and the Daytona Tortugas (Single-A). A fifth Reds farm club, the Arizona Complex League Reds (Rookie classification), begins its season in May.
This is part two of an eight-part positional preview of the candidates for the Dragons 2025 roster. Players listed here are candidates for positions on the Dragons season-opening roster.
This preview is an unofficial projection of possible roster candidates. Minor League rosters are not established until April 1. Spring training variables including performance, injuries, trades, and additional player acquisitions will impact the roster accordingly.
For Dragons season ticket or group ticket information, go to daytondragons.com/tickets or call (937) 228-2287.
The Second Basemen
Click links on each name for career stats and player information.
Candidates: Peyton Stovall, Victor Acosta
Peyton Stovall appears to be one of the most advanced college hitters the Reds have drafted in recent years. He was selected in the fourth round of the 20-round draft by the Reds in 2024 out of the University of Arkansas. He will begin his first full season of professional baseball in 2025.
When Stovall completed his career at Haughton High School in Louisiana in 2021, he was ranked as the #1 prospect in the state by Perfect Game. Baseball America rated Stovall as the 16th best high school draft prospect in the entire country in ‘21, and he was selected by Collegiate Baseball as a high school All-American. He made it clear that his intentions were to go on to college rather than turn pro out of high school, so he was not selected at all in the draft that year. In college in 2022, Stovall started as a freshman at Arkansas at first base and played a key role for a Razorbacks team that reached the College World Series and finished the year as the #3 team in the nation. In 11 post-season games for Arkansas, Stovall batted .429 with two home runs and 13 RBI. Stovall hit .360 in the CWS with a home run against Ole Miss, the eventual national champion. Stovall finished his freshman season with a batting average of .295 with six home runs in 52 games.
After a disappointing sophomore season in 2023 when he battled a shoulder injury, Stovall bounced back with a huge season in ’24 with Arkansas while playing second base. He batted .340 with nine home runs in 48 games, missing the early part of the season with a broken left foot. He was selected as a Third Team All-American. He was a team captain and was named to the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll. He signed with the Reds for a reported $625,000. Stovall played briefly with Daytona at the end of the 2024 season, appearing in 16 games as he got his feet wet at the pro level. He will begin his first full season in April.
Stovall is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Reds #27 prospect, just ahead of 2023 Dragons second baseman Tyler Callihan, and just behind 2024 Dragons shortstop Leo Balcazar. It is possible that Stovall could start the 2025 season back with Low-A Daytona to gain more experience, and then join the Dragons later in the season, but his profile suggests he could be with the Dayton club on opening night, similar to the way the Reds pushed college outfielder Ethan O’Donnell to Dayton in 2024, his first full season of pro ball after being taken in the sixth round in ’23 out of the University of Virginia, or 2022 Dragons second baseman Jose Torres, who had been selected in the third round out of North Carolina State the previous summer.
Victor Acosta, a switch-hitting middle infielder, was the Dragons starting second baseman in 2024 and was one of the youngest players in the Midwest League (he did not turn 20 years old until June 10 of last season). Acosta struggled to hit with the Dragons in 2024 and will likely return to Dayton in 2025.
Acosta was originally signed by the San Diego Padres as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2021, reportedly given a signing bonus of $1.8 million, the largest awarded to any Padres international signing that year. The Reds dealt for Acosta at the trade deadline in 2022 when veteran third baseman Brandon Drury went from Cincinnati to San Diego. Acosta was a very highly-regarded prospect at the time of the trade. He was ranked as the Padres #11 prospect entering the 2022 season, the Reds #17 prospect entering 2023, and #19 on the Reds list entering his 2024 season with the Dragons.
Acosta played in 107 games for the Dragons in 2024, tied with Cade Hunter for fourth most on the team (behind Hector Rodriguez, Cam Collier, and Jay Allen II). He started 68 games at second base and 34 at shortstop. Acosta also started both Dragons playoff games at second base. Acosta had made his full-season minor league debut with Low-A Daytona in 2023 and held his own, batting .251 in 100 games, but the transition in 2024 to the High-A level was difficult for Acosta, still a teenager for the first two months of the season in a league in which the average age for a pitcher was 23. Acosta had 404 plate appearances on the year, and 402 of those were against pitchers who were older than he was. Acosta finished his season with the Dragons batting .186 with four home runs and 14 stolen bases.
Acosta does have talent and will be a strong candidate to show improvement with the Dragons in 2025. Depending on what the Reds do with Stovall, Acosta could return to the Dragons in a starting role, or fill a utility position with the defensive skills to play both second base and shortstop.
There could also be a possibility that 2024 Dragons shortstop Leo Balcazar could return to the Dragons in 2025 and play second base, though Balcazar might be ready for the jump to Double-A Chattanooga. There could be a bit of a logjam in Double-A with former Dragons shortstop Edwin Arroyo penciled in for the shortstop job there after missing all of 2024 with an injury. The Reds also have middle infield prospect Dominic Pitelli at Chattanooga as well as former Dragon Sal Stewart, primarily a third baseman, but a prospect who can play some second base too, so it looks a bit crowded in the Chattanooga infield. But Balcazar is highly-rated and could find a spot with the Lookouts, though a return to Dayton for Leo is also a possibility. It will be sorted out before the end of spring training.
Next up: Shortstops
New Dragons Ownership Visits Dayton to Celebrate Start of 25th Season
DAYTON, OHIO – As the Dayton Dragons welcomed fans to Day Air Ballpark on Tuesday night to begin the Dragons 25th season, the club’s new ownership group, Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH), who acquired the team earlier this month, was in attendance to celebrate the occasion alongside the community. Peter Freund,
Reds Prospects Edge Reds in Spring Training Finale in Dayton
Reds Prospects 7, Reds 5 March 25, 2025 Click here for the box score Reds Prospects (R-H-E): 7-9-0 Cincinnati Reds (R-H-E): 5-9-2 Win: Luis Mey Loss: Lyon Richardson Save: Reiver Sanmartin HR: Reds Prospects: Will Banfield (1 on base in third inning); Will Benson (1 on base in third inning).
Dragons 2025 Team Preview, Part 6: Outfielders
The Dayton Dragons continue preparations for their historic 25th season at Day Air Ballpark. The Dragons home Opening Night game is set for Tuesday, April 8 against the Fort Wayne TinCaps at 7:05 pm at Day Air Ballpark. The Dragons will officially open their season on the road in 2025,
Ticket Sales begin Today for Dayton Flyers vs Wright State Raiders at Day Air Ballpark on April 29
DAYTON, OHIO – The Dayton Dragons have announced that ticket sales are now underway for the 2025 matchup between the University of Dayton Flyers and the Wright State Raiders at the home of the Dragons, Day Air Ballpark. The Flyers will meet the Raiders on Tuesday, April 29 at 7:00
Day Air Ballpark to Open Early for Reds Batting Practice on March 25
DAYTON, OHIO – The Dayton Dragons announced today that fans with tickets to the 25th Season Celebration Game with the Reds presented by Winsupply on Tuesday, March 25 at Day Air Ballpark in Dayton can arrive early and watch the Reds take batting practice. Gates will open at 4:00 pm
Dragons Single-Game Ticket Sales Now Underway
DAYTON, OHIO – Single-game ticket sales for Dayton Dragons 2025 home games will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 19. The Dragons 25th Opening Night is set for Tuesday, April 8 when they host the Fort Wayne TinCaps at Day Air Ballpark at 7:05 pm. Single-game tickets for Dragons
Dayton Dragons 2025 Team Preview: Part 5—The Third Basemen
Several former Dayton Dragons players performed well for the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday night in the Reds spring breakout game against the Milwaukee Brewers, a game that was nationally televised on the MLB Network and spotlighted top prospects from both teams. Sal Stewart, a key member of the 2024 Dragons,
Dragons 2025 Team Preview, Part 4: Shortstops
The Dayton Dragons continue preparations for their historic 25th season at Day Air Ballpark. The Dragons home Opening Night game is set for Tuesday, April 8 against the Fort Wayne TinCaps at 7:05 pm at Day Air Ballpark. The Dragons will officially open their season on the road in 2025,
Dayton Dragons Welcome Diamond Baseball Holdings as New Owner
DAYTON, OHIO (March 13, 2025) – Palisades Arcadia Baseball LLC, led by Nick Sakellariadis, Greg Rosenbaum and Mike Savit, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to sell the Dayton Dragons to Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH), an organization that owns and operates select minor league clubs affiliated with
Dragons Kids Club is Back in 2025
DAYTON, OHIO – The Dayton Dragons Kids Club returns in 2025 with a special celebration of 25 years of Dayton Dragons baseball with a unique, Limited Edition Dragons pullover jersey. The full package of the Dragons Kids Club is just $34.99 per child and carries a total value of over
Dragons 2025 Team Preview, Part 2: First Basemen
As the spring calendar marches forward, so does the progression toward the start of the 2025 baseball season for the Dayton Dragons. Today, the Dragons and the two other Cincinnati Reds farm clubs, Chattanooga and Daytona, open their spring training schedules with games against other minor league workout groups, while
Dragons 2025 Team Preview, Part 1: Catchers
The Dayton Dragons will celebrate a special year in 2025, their 25th season of operation as a Cincinnati Reds affiliate in the Midwest League. The Dragons annual home “Opening Night” game is set for Tuesday, April 8 against the Fort Wayne TinCaps at 7:05 pm at Day Air Ballpark. The
Ticket Sales Underway for 25th Season Celebration Game with the Reds presented by Winsupply
Dayton, Ohio—The Dayton Dragons have announced that ticket sales for the 25th Season Celebration Game with the Reds presented by Winsupply are underway. Tickets may be purchased via the Dragons Box Office, via phone, or through Ticketmaster (see options to purchase tickets below). Tickets may also be purchased directly at
Pitchers & Catchers Report to Spring Training; Dragons Ticket Plans Available Now
Dayton, Ohio—The start of the 2025 baseball season has reached a milestone date. Cincinnati Reds pitchers and catchers have reported to spring training in Goodyear, Arizona and will conduct their first workout of the season tomorrow. The Reds will open their spring schedule on February 22 and conclude the spring
Dayton Flyers to Battle Wright State Raiders at Day Air Ballpark on April 29
DAYTON, OHIO – The Dayton Dragons are excited to announce that the University of Dayton baseball team will host Wright State University at Day Air Ballpark in 2025. The Flyers will meet the Raiders on Tuesday, April 29 at 7:00 p.m. at the home of the Dayton Dragons. Gates will
Nine Questions with Dragons Manager Vince Harrison Jr.
Vince Harrison Jr. served as manager of the Dayton Dragons in 2024 and will return in the same role in 2025. In 2024, Harrison guided the Dragons to a record of 74-58 (.561) as the team won a Second Half division title for the first time since 2011 and qualified
Vince Harrison Jr. Returning to Lead Dragons 2025 Coaching Staff
Dayton, Ohio—The Dayton Dragons announced their 2025 coaching staff today, as assigned by the Cincinnati Reds. Vince Harrison Jr.—Manager Willie Blair—Pitching Coach Troy Gingrich—Hitting Coach Peterson Plaz—Coach Lauren Powers—Athletic Trainer Dominic Cothern—Strength & Conditioning Coach Hunter Rickard—Video & Tech Specialist TBA—Performance Coach Vince Harrison Jr. will return to the Dragons
2024 Dragons Cam Collier, Sal Stewart, & Hector Rodriguez get Reds Spring Training Invitations
Dayton, Ohio—Three members of the 2024 Dayton Dragons and six other former Dragons from previous years are on the list of minor league players invited to participate in Major League spring training with the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds have invited infielders Cam Collier and Sal Stewart along with outfielder Hector
Reds and Dragons Say Thanks to Fans with Reds Spring Training Game at Day Air Ballpark
Dayton, Ohio—In conjunction with the 25th season of Dayton Dragons Professional Baseball in 2025, the Dragons and their Major League affiliate, the Cincinnati Reds, will say thank you to Dragons fans when the Reds close out their spring training schedule with a game at Day Air Ballpark in Dayton. The
Win Big in the Dragons Holiday 50/50 Raffle
DAYTON, OHIO --- The Dayton Dragons Foundation has launched a special online 50/50 raffle with proceeds benefitting The Dayton Dragons Foundation. Starting Friday, November 29 through Thursday, December 12, 2024, one lucky fan will win 50% of the jackpot. The other half of the net proceeds will benefit The Dayton
Former Dayton Dragons Luis Mey, Tyler Callihan Added to Reds 40-Man Roster
DAYTON, OHIO—Former Dayton Dragons Luis Mey and Tyler Callihan were added yesterday to the Cincinnati Reds 40-man roster. Yesterday was the deadline for Major League teams to add players to their 40-man roster to protect them from being selected by another club in the Rule 5 draft in December. Mey
2024 Dragons Pitcher Luis Mey Named AFL Relief Pitcher of the Year
DAYTON, OHIO—Luis Mey, a hard-thrower pitcher who spent the first three months of the 2024 season with the Dayton Dragons, has been honored as the “Relief Pitcher of the Year” in the Arizona Fall League. Mey (pronounced MAY) broke the all-time record for fastest pitch thrown at Day Air Ballpark
Baseball America List of Reds Top-10 Prospects for 2025 Includes Five Former Dragons, Five More on the Way
DAYTON, OHIO—Baseball America, the trade publication for Minor League Baseball, has announced its annual list of top-10 prospects in the Cincinnati Reds organization. Selection to the top-10 prospect list is a notable achievement for any player among the approximately 175 minor leaguers in the Reds system. Rhett Lowder, who in
Dragons to Conduct Auditions for Mascot Performers, Green Team, On-Field Hosts for 2025
DAYTON, OHIO—The Dayton Dragons are conducting auditions for several professional entertainment positions with the team. The Dragons are holding auditions for mascot performers, the Green Team, and on-field entertainment hosts for the 2025 season. The Dragons are seeking fun, energetic, and enthusiastic performers for these positions. Candidates must be at