Dayton Most Metro

The Dayton Dragons and Cincinnati Reds today jointly executed a new Major League Baseball Player Development License agreement, cementing their player development relationship for the next 10 years.  Additionally, the Reds and Dragons announced the Dragons coaching staff for the 2021 season.

On December 9, 2020, the Reds formally invited the Dragons to operate as a Minor League franchise within the Cincinnati Reds organization as part of the new alignment constructed by Major League Baseball.  The Dragons will now operate as the Reds Class A-Advanced (“High A”) club.  The Dayton franchise previously played as the Class A (“Low A”) affiliate in its first 20 years of operations.

“The Dayton Dragons organization is thrilled to continue to partner with the Cincinnati Reds,” noted Dragons team president, Robert Murphy. “We are very proud of what has been a great relationship with Reds ownership and their Baseball Operations staff.  More than 100 Dragons players have played in the Major Leagues including Reds generational favorites like Joey Votto, Adam Dunn, Jay Bruce, Todd Frazier, and Johnny Cueto, and many of today’s Reds players like Jesse Winker, Nick Senzel, Amir Garrett, and Tucker Barnhart.  The opportunity to move up to the High A level will be an exciting change for our fans.”

“We couldn’t be happier to have the opportunity to continue our relationship with Dayton,” said Reds Vice President, General Manager Nick Krall. “It is well known within the game that the Dragons’ front office provides some of the best experiences in baseball for not only our players, but for visiting players and their Southwest Ohio fan base. For more than 20 years, they have been an important part in the development of Reds Major Leaguers, both on the field and in our communities.”

“We are excited to unveil this new model, which not only provides a pipeline to the Majors, but continues the Minor Leagues’ tradition of entertaining millions of families in hundreds of communities,” said MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred Jr.  “In modernizing our Minor League system, we prioritized the qualities that make the Minor Leagues such an integral part of our game while strengthening how we develop professional athletes on and off the field.    

The Dayton Metro Library and The Dayton Art Institute seek to commission site-specific art installations for the new Burkhardt Branch Library in Dayton. Proposals will be accepted through April 2, and the commissions will be announced on April 16. Detailed information about this Request for Proposals can be found at:DaytonMetroLibrary.org/works/artists.

ReImagining Works is a partnership between the Library and the DAI to acquire original artwork for each of the Dayton Metro Library’s new or renovated locations. Artists are invited to propose newly created artworks conceived in response to three artworks from the DAI’s permanent collection. These inspiration pieces were chosen by public vote, particularly Burkhardt Branch Library patrons. Artists may develop a response to one or all artworks.

The inspiration pieces are Joy of the Waters, a bronze sculpture by Harriet Whitney Frishmuth; Flying Pup King, an acrylic painting on canvas by Yoshimoto Nara; andVendedoras De Frutas, an oil on canvas painting by Alfredo Ramos Martinez.

The newly designed 17,800 square foot Burkhardt Branch Library will be located at the corner of Burkhardt and Shedborne Avenues in east Dayton. Proposed artworks should reflect the distinctive personality of this location; resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds; inspire collaboration, learning and creativity; and contribute to an inviting, engaging and stimulating environment.

From the proposals received, the DML ReImagining Works Committee will select the winning artists, who will meet with DML and DAI staff, architects, and construction representatives to confirm plans for the commission. The artists will be required to sign a Letter of Agreement by May 2021, and complete their work by December 2021.

Susan Anable is The Dayton Art Institute’s project manager for ReImagining Works. Due to safety considerations, in-person informational meetings will not be held. Instead, artists may email Susan at [email protected] with questions about the project or the art locations. Additionally, Susan will schedule individual phone calls with artists. To schedule a phone consultation, email [email protected].

For more information on the RFP, visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org/works/artists. ReImagining Works is made possible by an anonymous bequest. More information about the project, including photos of installations at completed Libraries, can be found atDaytonMetroLibrary.org/Works.