1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:04,320 Speaker 1: All right, let's do this six twenty seven hundred WLW. 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: The Dayton Dragons open the season Tomorrow night on the 3 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:10,400 Speaker 1: road in Lansing, before returning for their home opener next 4 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:13,040 Speaker 1: Tuesday night at seven h five. Let's go straight to 5 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 1: the source and welcome in the man about to begin 6 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 1: his eighteenth season as voice of the Dayton Dragons, his 7 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:22,959 Speaker 1: thirty ninth season calling professional baseball games and over forty 8 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: seven hundred games. That must mean we're talking to the 9 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: outstanding play by play voice of the Dayton Dragons, Tom Nichols. 10 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 2: Hi, Tom, tonight. 11 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: You got it man. The roster was announced yesterday. I 12 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 1: know you or you're excited. Dayton's got to be excited. 13 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: You guys get the Reds top prospect, twenty year old 14 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: catcher Alfredo Duno. 15 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,559 Speaker 2: Yeah. So he's, at least, according to the rankings, the 16 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 2: highest rated catching prospect we've ever had. We've had two 17 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 2: first rounders and they're both household names for Reds fans. 18 00:00:56,320 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 2: Devin Meserako and Tyler Stevenson both were ranked his top 19 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 2: ten prospects when they played in Dayton. But Duno, as 20 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:06,960 Speaker 2: you mentioned, technically is number two. But the guy who's 21 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:09,199 Speaker 2: number one is South Stewart, not really a minor leaguer 22 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 2: at all anymore and won't be again. And so Duno's 23 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 2: the top player and the farm system. As far as 24 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 2: prospect status, we're really anxious to see him. He's a 25 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 2: different kind of catcher physically. He's listed at six three 26 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:25,039 Speaker 2: to forty eight, so you don't see many catchers like that, 27 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:27,680 Speaker 2: but we're looking forward to to getting a look at him. 28 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:30,399 Speaker 1: Another name that jumped out to me and I'd be 29 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 1: interested in your perspective, and alfeud Or, I believe it's 30 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 1: pronounced keon Vu. 31 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 2: Tell us about him well, he does have an interesting background, 32 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 2: and then he played at Arizona State. Obviously great baseball program, 33 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:45,319 Speaker 2: great baseball conference. He won the batting title, hit over 34 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 2: four hundred reds. Took him last year in the draft, 35 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 2: so he's actually moving up quicker than most do. You 36 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 2: don't often see a college player at the high A 37 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 2: level in his first full season, but he got about 38 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 2: a month's experience last year in Daytona. Actually won the 39 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 2: Florida State League Player of the Week his first week 40 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 2: of pro ball. So this is a guy we're also 41 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 2: very excited to see. After leaving the PAC twelve in Battle, 42 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 2: it was still the PAC twelve is sophomore year, which 43 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 2: is twenty twenty four. He hit four thirteen, so caan 44 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:17,640 Speaker 2: argue with those kind of numbers. 45 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:20,399 Speaker 1: A couple of pitching names jump out. I recognize Luke 46 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 1: Hayden certainly, but there's one name I'm curious about. I 47 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:24,679 Speaker 1: don't know as much about it, and he must have 48 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 1: opened some eyes last year. Tell everybody about JP or Tz. 49 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 2: He's a draft pick. They took him as what they 50 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,079 Speaker 2: call us a draft and follow, which means you take 51 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 2: a junior college player on the draft, then you let 52 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 2: him play his next season the following spring. Then you've 53 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:44,679 Speaker 2: got a decision to make sign him or don't sign him. 54 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 2: They made a wise decision to sign him. He had 55 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 2: the best ERA in the entire Reds farm system last 56 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 2: year at Daytona, and his ERA was two point eighty one. 57 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 2: No Reds prospect had a better ERA among starters. And 58 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:03,519 Speaker 2: he'll be our opening night home starter on Tuesday when 59 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:07,080 Speaker 2: we play Lake County the Cleveland Guardians Farm Club at 60 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 2: day Air Ballpark in dayton Supposedly he's he's got a 61 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:13,920 Speaker 2: big arm. I haven't seen him, but he's he's a 62 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:16,679 Speaker 2: guy that's a junior college player, and sometimes those guys 63 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 2: can come on quickly as prospects. 64 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 1: The broadcasting Hall of Famer Tom Nichols checking in tonight 65 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: Voice of the Dayton Dragons. You've been telling me and 66 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:26,799 Speaker 1: everyone who would listen to going back two years ago 67 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: about Sal Stewart, and man, as you watch him, how 68 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 1: cool must it be to see him finding early success 69 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: in the major leagues? 70 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 2: Really cool? And the funny thing about it is, and 71 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 2: I've told people this before, you know, when he was 72 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 2: taken in the in the draft by the Reds, he 73 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 2: was a supplemental first round picks who was taken like 74 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 2: the I think maybe the thirty seventh pick of the 75 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 2: draft something like that, out of high school in Florida. 76 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 2: And he earned that type of draft status really through 77 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 2: his baseball skills. He's, as you've seen in lance, He's 78 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 2: not a guy that you'd classify as a world class 79 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 2: athlete or a real tools he guy. He just can 80 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 2: play the game of baseball. He can hit. And he 81 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 2: told me, I said, Sal, guys are talking about moving 82 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 2: you to first base and he was a third baseman. 83 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 2: He said, those are people that are just Bozo's they 84 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:18,720 Speaker 2: don't know what they're talking about. I'm going to say 85 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 2: at third base and prove I can play there. Well, 86 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 2: now he's playing first base, and I'm sure he's thrilled 87 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 2: to be there in the big leagues and getting this chance. 88 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 2: And not only is a rookie. Did he make the 89 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 2: opening day lineup, but he hit clean up on opening 90 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 2: day and then one of the National League Player of 91 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 2: the Week his first week of the season. So you 92 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:41,479 Speaker 2: know you've seen him enough to know the personality that 93 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 2: I think the fans are really going to enjoy. He 94 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 2: just believes so much in himself and he's so intense. 95 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 2: But also I think you've seen this maybe a time 96 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 2: or two this season. He does have good baseball intelligence. 97 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,359 Speaker 2: I'm thinking of the play he was on there first 98 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:00,200 Speaker 2: and third. He was on third ground out of the first. Yes, 99 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 2: he steps on the bag, eliminates the force at second, 100 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 2: and he's motioning getting a rundown so he can touch 101 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 2: the plate before the runners tagged out. It didn't work out, 102 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:13,360 Speaker 2: but he was thinking all the way because he's a 103 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 2: very high baseball IQ guy. But I think the fans, 104 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:19,839 Speaker 2: as time goes by, they're gonna like him. He's got 105 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 2: a little bit of Pete Rose in him, not so 106 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 2: much that the pure hustle, but just the love of 107 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 2: the game, the intensity and the baseball IQ and and 108 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 2: just the ability to go up there and just hit 109 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 2: the ball hard every time at. 110 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:33,839 Speaker 1: Bat boy in time. While we're on the theme of 111 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:35,840 Speaker 1: former Dragons make it to the big leagues, and you 112 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:38,160 Speaker 1: guys have been so fortunate over the years to see 113 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: so many eventual major leaguers churn through Dayton. How about 114 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 1: the other night where three are involved in the process 115 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:47,360 Speaker 1: of a major League win, a save, and a first 116 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 1: major league appearance at all three head ties to the 117 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:51,720 Speaker 1: Dragons at one point. 118 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 2: Just the starter. I'm a big Burns fan. I think 119 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 2: Burns will will be a perennial All Star and a 120 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 2: guy you build a start rotation around. He's just got 121 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 2: that kind of stuff. I mean, he's probably not gonna 122 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,720 Speaker 2: he was a reliever in college throwing one hundred. We 123 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 2: haven't seen much of the triple digits, but he's going 124 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:14,479 Speaker 2: to give you a consistent ninety eight ninety nine, maybe 125 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 2: touch one hundred. But his slider is a very good pitch, 126 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:19,359 Speaker 2: and he just looks like he's in command out there, 127 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:22,839 Speaker 2: and I think there's just big things ahead for him. 128 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,480 Speaker 2: Then we saw Jose Franco, who spent a whole season 129 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 2: with us in Dayton, come in make his major league debut, 130 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 2: pitch scoreless relief, thinking any and two thirds. And then 131 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,479 Speaker 2: a guy I've always been really high on, and he's 132 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:38,080 Speaker 2: not perfect at this point by any means, and you'll 133 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 2: still see some outings you wish went a little differently, 134 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 2: But that's Connor Phillips stuff wise. I mean, elite at 135 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:49,360 Speaker 2: the major league level, ninety nine in most games, and 136 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 2: his best pitch is that sweeper that he gets lots 137 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,840 Speaker 2: of swings and misses on. You hope as he develops 138 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 2: competence the control improves. I think it will. I think 139 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 2: he'll be a eventually down the road that becomes a 140 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 2: big important part of their bullpen, eighth or ninth inning 141 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 2: type of guy. 142 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 1: Last question for it always good catching up. Is it 143 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 1: safe to say, Let's see, are the bags packed? Is 144 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: the bus loaded? Are you ready to hit the road 145 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 1: to Lansing, Michigan. 146 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 2: Exit on the bus. I've got one more to carry out. 147 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 2: There's a little light rain falling up here in Dayton. 148 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:26,720 Speaker 2: We're heading to Lancing, tomorrow. We'll head out in an 149 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 2: hour or actually from now it will be about half 150 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 2: an hour and get in about eleven PM and weather permitting. 151 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 2: And that's a big if right now because it's supposed 152 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 2: to be raining up there. But we get up there. 153 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 2: We'll open our season tomorrow night with a six ZHO 154 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 2: five game, and then the home opener again is Tuesday, 155 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 2: and we invite all the fans. We still got some 156 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 2: season tickets available. Day air Ballpark is a great experience 157 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 2: and we've had I think it's now up to one 158 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty eight Dragons players go to the major leagues. 159 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,240 Speaker 2: And you look at that Reds roster and half thirt 160 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:03,679 Speaker 2: team plus Hunter Green and Nicolodolo were injured right now 161 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 2: are former Dragons. So thirteen of the twenty six active 162 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 2: plus those two, so a lot of these guys. You're 163 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 2: getting a close up look see at the at the player, 164 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 2: and you'll get to know him and then see him 165 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 2: in the big league sometime soon. 166 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 1: I love a twenty sixth season of Dayton Dragons baseball. Unbelievable. 167 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 1: My wife and I anticipate getting up there soon. Want 168 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 1: to say, Hi, do you want to see how Fredo 169 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 1: Duno can't wait to check out Dragons baseball this year. 170 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 2: Thank you Dayton Dragons dot com slash tickets and let's 171 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 2: hope for a good year. And I hope to see 172 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 2: the Reds bounce back from a couple of tough losses 173 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 2: when they get the next series started. On what are 174 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 2: we at now on Friday? I guess yes, all the 175 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 2: days run together. You lose track of the days and 176 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 2: you get in baseball. 177 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: I know what is Thanks Tom having a say. 178 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 2: Trip, Thank you Lamb. 179 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 1: All right, there you go. Tom Nichols, one of my favorite, 180 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 1: singing his eighteenth season, his voice of the Dragons thirty nine, 181 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:05,679 Speaker 1: calling baseball games in over four thousand, seven hundred baseball 182 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: games over the years. Alfredo Duno, twenty years old, just 183 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 1: turned twenty, won the MVP in the Florida State League 184 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: last year. He led the league in homers, RBIs, extra 185 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:21,200 Speaker 1: base hits, runs, doubles, on base percentage, slugging and ops. 186 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 1: What didn't he win? That would have been much quicker 187 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 1: to get to. I don't know if there's anything he 188 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: didn't win. All right, hang tight, there's more to get to, 189 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 1: including a developing situation. We're gonna get caught up on 190 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: news plus the very latest on the approaching launch of 191 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:37,200 Speaker 1: Artemis two. That is, we continue navigating our way till 192 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 1: nine o'clock tonight. It's Arnel Carrier Sports Talk, presented by 193 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 1: Kelsey Chevallet on seven hundred WLW