Player Promotions
Posted on 18. Aug, 2009 by Corey in All, Dayton Dragons Baseball, General Baseball.
Zach Stewart at Texas Tech
I can only imagine how minor league coaches and managers feel when their players get promoted to a higher level in the organization and continue their climb to the ultimate goal of reaching the Major Leagues. Although I have no influence on a player’s development on the field, I try to assist them in every way possible off the field and try to help them advance out of Dayton to the next step in their career.
As my second season as the Head Clubhouse and Equipment Manager of the Dayton Dragons begins to wind down, there are three players that I worked with in Dayton last season who have made a Triple-A roster. I am still awaiting my first player to make it to the bigs. Matt Klinker and Enerio Del Rosario have recently received promotions to the Triple-A Louisville Bats and remain just one step away from the Majors.
The third player to reach Triple-A is Zach Stewart, currently with the Las Vegas 51′s. Stewart was traded at the Major League trading deadline in the deal that brought Scott Rolen to Cincinnati. I talked to Stewart the evening he was traded to congratulate him and wish him luck with his new organization. He seemed to be very excited to be this close to getting a call up.
At the end of Spring Training this season, Stewart came back to Dayton to participate in the Cincinnati Reds Futures Game. As they were packing up to leave, I jokingly told Stewart not to forget me when he reaches the big leagues soon. He smiled and told me, “There is no way I could forget my first clubhouse manager. You helped me more than you know.”
I just cannot wait to be able to attend Major League Baseball games and see players I consider friends to be playing. Good luck to all the current, former and future Dragons. We are all watching the journey.
[...] last season I wrote an article (HERE) about waiting to see the first player I had in Dayton make it to the big leagues. At the time I [...]