DaytonDailyNews.com

Powell to return to Dragons in 2006

Dayton - The Cincinnati Reds wanted a new hitting coach for the Dayton Dragons for the upcoming season and the Dragons' parent club has turned to a familiar face. Alonzo Powell, who was slated as the bench coach for the AAA Louisville Bats and who managed the 2004 and 2005 versions of the Dragons, will instruct the Reds hitters in Dayton during the 2006 season replacing Billy White, who was dismissed by Cincinnati.

Powell's claim to fame in his 19 seasons of professional baseball was as a hitter. He batted .281 in 14 minor league seasons and hit .313 in seven seasons playing professional baseball in Japan. Powell won three consecutive batting crowns in Japan and is still the only non-Japanese born player to hold that distinction. Following his playing career, he began in the Reds Minor League system as the hitting coach with AA Chattanooga, before his managerial stint in Dayton.

"I'm excited about coming back to Dayton for the 2006 season," Powell stated. "We (the Reds) had some changes this spring which prompted the move but I'm looking forward to coming back. I enjoyed my two seasons in Dayton and love the ballpark and the fans. I know I can help the guys who will play for the Dragons this year to get better and I want to do whatever I can to help the team and the organization become successful."

The reassignment of Powell will leave Louisville down one coach but will add an additional 24 years of baseball experience to the Dragons field staff. "We're taking a hit in Louisville by not having Zo there," said Grant Griesser, Reds Assistant Director of Player Development. "When this situation presented itself, it was a tough decision to move him from AAA but the logical choice. He was excited and willing to return to Dayton to help out some of the prospects that they'll have there. That shows you the type of team player Alonzo Powell is."

The Dragons will open up the 2006 Midwest League season at Fifth Third Field on Thursday, April 6th versus the South Bend Silver Hawks, the MWL affiliate of Arizona Diamond Backs. The first pitch on opening night is scheduled for 7:05 PM, with the game being broadcasted live on WING AM 1410 ESPN Radio and at www.daytondragons.com and televised in the Miami Valley on Time Warner Television.

Dayton Dragons Baseball
Fifth Third Field
P.O. Box 2107
Dayton, OH 45401