Former Dash righty Yency Almonte makes MLB debut

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (June 22, 2018) - Former Dash right-hander Yency Almonte made his Major League debut on Thursday with the Colorado Rockies, marking the first Dash alumnus to reach The Show during the 2018 season. Almonte pitched for Winston-Salem in 2015.
Almonte, who threw a scoreless inning of relief against the New York Mets, becomes the 358th Winston-Salem alumnus to graduate to the Major Leagues and 50th during the Dash era (2009-present). 

A 17th-round pick by the Los Angeles Angels in 2012, Almonte spent two seasons in the Angels organziation before being traded to the Chicago White Sox organization in February of 2015.
After beginning the season with Low-A Kannapolis, Almonte earned a promotion to Winston-Salem in early June, tossing seven innings of relief to earn a win in his High-A debut. The right-hander was transferred back to Kannapolis before receiving another call-up to the Dash in early August, finishing the season with Winston-Salem. As a member of the Dash, Almonte went 3-3 with a 2.42 ERA in seven appearances (six starts), striking out 39, walking 12 and holding opponents to a .179 average in 44.2 innings. 
Following the 2015 season, Almonte was traded to the Colorado Rockies organization in exchange for right-hander Tommy Kahnle. Kahnle was later shipped to the New York Yankees as part of the trade that sent David Robertson, Blake Rutherford , Tito Polo , and Ian Clarkin to the White Sox.
Despite Almonte becoming the first Dash alumnus to reach the Majors this year, Winston-Salem had two players at the start of the year who had logged time in the big leagues. José Ruiz and Ricardo Pinto, who each made their Major League debut in 2017, were on the Dash's active roster on Opening Day.