Former major leaguer to rehab with Dragons

New York Mets' Albert Almora Jr. runs home to score on a single hit by Jonathan Villar during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Credit: Lynne Sladky

Credit: Lynne Sladky

New York Mets' Albert Almora Jr. runs home to score on a single hit by Jonathan Villar during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Outfielder Albert Almora Jr., once the Chicago Cubs’ center fielder of the future, is joining the Dayton Dragons this week on a road trip to Lake County for a rehab assignment.

Almora is on the injured list with the Reds’ Triple-A team in Louisville. The Reds signed Almora as a free agent to a minor-league contract on March 20.

Almora played for the Cubs from 2016-2020. He played like he might live up to his status as the No. 6 overall pick in 2012 draft when he hit .298 in 2017 and .286 in 2018. He hit 13 home runs over those two seasons and carried a .405 slugging percentage.

Almora appeared in 536 major-league games from 2016-21. He batted only .134 in 82 at-bats since 2020 with the Cubs and New York Mets. He split last season between Triple-A Syracuse and the Mets.

Dayton falls on road: The Dragons opened a six-game series vs. Lake County on Tuesday night with a 5-1 loss.

The Captains scored four runs in the seventh to break a 1-all deadlock.

Dayton starter Joe Boyle pitched four scoreless innings without allowing a hit. He struck out seven and walked four.

The Dragons’ run came in the top of the seventh when Elly De La Cruz singled, stole second and scored on the same play on a pair of throwing errors. That tied the game at 1 before the Captains broke it open in the bottom of the inning.

Catcher Mat Nelson had two hits for Dayton.

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