The Dayton Dragons introduced new manager Vince Harrison Jr. and announced their 2024 coaching staff on Thursday.
The Dragons, who are the High-A affiliate in the Cincinnati Reds minor league organization, will have a new manager for the second time in three years.
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Harrison has 10 years of minor league managing and coaching experience, and he’s a longtime hitting coach. He was the manager of the Kane County Cougars in 2019 when the team, led by Arizona Diamondbacks Geraldo Perdomo and Alek Thomas, went 81-58 to tie for most wins in the Midwest League.
“The Dayton Dragons are known for their top-quality operation and big attendance numbers, and I am excited for the opportunity to be part of the positive atmosphere at Day Air Ballpark in 2024 and call it home,” Harrison stated in a release. “I am also excited for my family. Dayton is a drivable distance from our home, so this will provide an opportunity for my wife, children, and parents to share in this experience.”
The Cincinnati native also was the manager of the Hillsboro Hilltoppers in the Diamondbacks organization from 2021-22. Harrison compiled a 112-130 record those two seasons.
Harrison spent the 2023 season as a coach with the Triple-A Louisville Bats.
Harrison is also the older brother of former Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Josh Harrison. Their uncle is former outfielder John Shelby, who played with the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers among 11 years spent in the big leagues.
“We are excited for Vince Harrison to return to the Cincinnati area and manage in Dayton this year,” Cincinnati Reds Senior Director of Player Development Jeremy Farrell stated in a release. “With his previous managerial experience and the impact he made on the organization in 2023, we feel that he is a great fit for this role in 2024. We are looking forward to the leadership Vince is going to bring to the Dragons this year.”
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Joining Harrison on the Dragons coaching staff are pitching coach Brian Gorman, hitting coach Jose Leon and coach Jefry Sierra.
A native of Wapokoneta, Ohio, Garman returns to Dayton after working as the pitching coach with Double-A Chattanooga in 2023. He spent the 2021-22 seasons in the same role for the Dragons.
Leon enters his sixth year as a professional coach and third in the Reds organization. He started with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018 and went on to manage the State College Spikes at the A-ball level in 2019 and Palm Beach Cardinals at the Low-A level in 2021.
Sierra embarks on his 10th season as a coach in the Reds organization, serving as a coach with the Single-A Daytona Tortugas in 2022 and Double-A Lookouts in 2023. He is the second former Dragon to go on and return to the team as a coach, joining former manager Luis Bolivar.
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Additionally, the Dragons named Lauren Powers their new athletic trainer. She becomes the first woman to be part of the Dragons field staff, according to a release.
Powers has five years experience coaching in the Reds organization. She spent the 2023 season with Low-A Daytona.
Michael Sadler will be Dayton’s strength and conditioning coach, Luis Rios-Jimenez will be performance coach and Hunter Richard will be the video and tech specialist.
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