Three Dragons Named to Midwest League All-Star Team
Dayton, Ohio—Minor League Baseball today announced its official 2024 Midwest League Full-Season All-Star Team and player awards, and three Dayton Dragons players were selected. Cam Collier (third baseman), Ethan O’Donnell (outfielder), and Sal Stewart (utility) were among a total of 16 MWL players selected (10 position players; 6 pitchers). Eight
Dayton, Ohio—Minor League Baseball today announced its official 2024 Midwest League Full-Season All-Star Team and player awards, and three Dayton Dragons players were selected. Cam Collier (third baseman), Ethan O’Donnell (outfielder), and Sal Stewart (utility) were among a total of 16 MWL players selected (10 position players; 6 pitchers). Eight of the 12 Midwest League teams had at least one player selected. Lake County catcher Cooper Ingle was selected as the MVP of the Midwest League for 2024.
The awards were chosen in a vote by Midwest League managers. Midwest League broadcasters served as the nominating group for the voting process, selecting the names on the ballot.
The selection of Collier, O’Donnell, and Stewart marks the third time in Dragons franchise history that three Dayton players were named as Midwest League Full-Season all-stars. The Dragons have never had more than three picked in a season. In 2002, Dragons players Edwin Encarnacion (third baseman), Noochie Varner (outfielder), and Nate Cotton (relief pitcher) were selected. In 2007, Justin Turner (second baseman), Juan Francisco (third baseman), and Chris Valaika (shortstop) were chosen.
Since the Dragons moved up to the High-A level in 2021, a total of three players had been selected as MWL Full-Season all-stars prior to this season. In 2023, Edwin Arroyo (shortstop) and Julian Aguiar (pitcher) were selected. In 2022, Elly De La Cruz (shortstop) was selected.
Collier, the Reds first round draft pick in 2022 out of Chipola College, finished second in the MWL in RBI (74) and tied for second in home runs (20). He finished third in the league in extra base hits (42) and tied for fifth in slugging percentage (.443). Collier played in 119 of the Dragons 132 games.
O’Donnell, a sixth round pick in 2023 out of the University of Virginia, served as a hustling, hard-nosed spark plug for the Dragons. He was second on the team in stolen bases (31) while adding 10 home runs. His OPS of .774 was second on the team to Collier among qualifiers. O’Donnell played in 104 games.
Stewart was a supplemental first round draft pick in 2022 out of Westminster Christian High School in Miami, Florida. He was on his way to a potential league MVP season when he suffered an injury in July that he did not return from. Stewart played in 80 games prior to the injury. Stewart would have ranked among the top-five in the MWL in OPS, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage, but his total number of plate appearances (338) fell just short of the minimum to qualify. He split his time between third base and second base and emerged as one of the Dragons top defensive players.
Dragons All-Time Midwest League Full-Season All-Stars
2000: Austin Kearns (OF), Braxton Whitehead (C)
2001: Wily Mo Pena (OF), Samone Peters (DH)
2002: Edwin Encarnacion (3B), Noochie Varner (OF), Nate Cotton (RH Relief Pitcher)
2004: Chris Dickerson (OF)
2005: Tonys Gutierrez (1B)
2006: Jay Bruce (OF)
2007: Justin Turner (2B), Chris Valaika (SS), Juan Francisco (3B)
2008: Zack Cozart (SS), Brandon Waring (3B)
2011: Billy Hamilton (SS), Drew Hayes (RH Relief Pitcher)
2015: Tyler Mahle (RH Starting Pitcher)
2017: Jose Siri (OF)
2018: Hendrik Clementina (DH), John Ghyzel (RH Relief Pitcher)
2022: Elly De La Cruz (SS)
2023: Edwin Arroyo (SS), Julian Aguiar (Starting Pitcher)
2024: Cam Collier (3B), Ethan O’Donnell (OF), Sal Stewart (utility)
No Dragons selected in 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021.
The Dragons won the Midwest League East Division Second Half title in 2024 to earn a playoff berth. Their winning percentage in the Second Half of .615 ranks third in franchise history for best winning percentage in a half season, trailing only 2011, 2nd Half (48-22, .686); and 2007, 1st Half (44-26, .629). The Dragons won 40 games in a half for the first time since the 1st Half in 2017 when they went 41-29 (Half-Seasons were 70 games prior to 2021; there are now 66 games). The Dragons finished with a winning record in both halves for the second time in franchise history (2001: 41-29 & 41-28). The Dragons full-season winning percentage of .565 ranked third in franchise history, trailing 2011 (.593) and 2001 (.590). The Dragons won the Second Half East Division title for just the second time in franchise history (2011). They have two first half division titles (2001, 2007) and four playoff berths as a wildcard team (second place teams qualified for post-season prior to the 2021 season).
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring