DAYTON DRAGONS 2018 YEAR IN REVIEW Dayton, Ohio—The Dayton Dragons 19th year of operation included some big stories: • The 2018 Dragons roster featured the most closely-followed prospect in Minor League Baseball, hard- throwing pitcher Hunter Greene. • Robert Murphy, the Dragons president since the organization’s inception prior to the 2000 season, was selected as Minor League Baseball’s national “Executive of the Year” by Baseball America. • The Dragons were selected by Dayton Business Journal as the Miami Valley’s “Customer Service Business of the Year.” • The Dragons were the Midwest League nominee for Minor League Baseball’s “Patriot Award” for the third straight year based on support of local military. • Dragons Vice President & Assistant General Manager Brandy Guinaugh was named to the 2018 class of the 40 Under 40 Awards. • Dragons broadcaster Tom Nichols received a one-game call-up to the Cincinnati Reds. • The Dragons all-time record streak of consecutive sold-out dates extended to 1,316…and counting. • The Dragons surpassed the 11 million mark in all-time attendance at Fifth Third Field. • The Dragons hosted a Wright State University baseball game at Fifth Third Field for the first time. • In another first for the Dragons, the organization wore special jerseys on two dates, with the jersey’s auctioned for charity after the game. • The Dragons made several improvements to the ballpark in multiple areas. Details on these stories with links to media coverage and a full review of the year are provided in this release. Professional Full-Season Debut of a Rising Star The eyes of the baseball world were focused on Fifth Third Field on April 9 and for much of the 2018 Dragons season with the arrival of hard-throwing pitching prospect Hunter Greene. Greene made his debut in a full- season league in Dayton on April 9 before an enthusiastic crowd and a press box filled with national, regional, and local media. Greene’s first pitch with the Dragons was clocked at 100 mph. The second overall pick of the 2017 draft, featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated before he finished high school, spent four months with the Dragons and showed tremendous improvement over the course of the season. In his final game, he fired a pitch at 102 mph, the fastest pitch ever measured at Fifth Third Field, breaking a record previously set by Greene and current Major League closer Aroldis Chapman. https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2018/04/10/hunter-greene-shows-he-does-more-than-just- throw-hard-his-dayton-debut-young-righty-pitches-out-jam/501755002/ Murphy Wins Major National Honor Dragons President & General Manager Robert Murphy was selected as the 2018 Minor League Baseball Executive of the Year by Baseball America, the industry trade publication. The award is presented annually to one individual from among all executives in 16 leagues and 190 teams across Minor League Baseball. Murphy became the 17th person to earn the honor since Baseball America began the award in 2002. Previous winners have included five league presidents and 10 team executives. https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/milb-executive-of-the-year-robert-murphy/ Dragons Named Customer Service Business of the Year by DBJ The Dragons were selected as the Miami Valley’s “Customer Service Business of the Year” by the Dayton Business Journal. The Dragons and winners of other 2018 DBJ awards were honored on November 15 at the Dayton Business Journal gala at the Schuster Performing Arts Center. Dragons Again Earn Midwest League’s “Patriot Award” Nomination For the third straight year, the Dragons were selected as the Midwest League nominee for the Charles K. Murphy Patriot Award, a national award selected by Minor League Baseball. The award is presented for outstanding support of and engagement with the United States Armed Forces and veterans, both at the ballpark and in the community. For many years, the Dragons have included local military programs into their season-long schedule of events and promotions. Dragons Recognized by Ohio Secretary of State The Dragons were recognized by Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted for the organization’s contributions to economic growth and the overall business climate. A pre-game presentation by Elaine Herrick, Regional Liaison for the Ohio Secretary of State, took place on Wednesday, July 25 at Fifth Third Field before the Dragons game. Other Awards for Dragons Front Office Members Dragons Vice President and Assistant General Manager Brandy Guinaugh was named to the 2018 Class of the Forty Under 40 Awards, which recognizes the area’s most extraordinary business and community leaders under the age of 40, sponsored by the Dayton Business Journal. Brandy has been with the Dragons since 2004. https://www.milb.com/dayton/news/dragons-vp-brandy-guinaugh-selected-as-forty-under-40-honoree/c- 269409220 On April 25, Katrina Gibbs, Dragons Director of Entertainment, was selected as the Daytonian of the Week by Dayton.com. Katrina oversees the Dragons Green Team, mascots, and all on-field entertainment. She is a native of Beavercreek and completed her third year in her current role with the organization. https://www.dayton.com/entertainment/personalities/daytonian-the-week-meet-the-woman-who-brings-the-fun- dragons-games/VweVpZjgI5onwEjDQVIZ7L/ Dragons Broadcaster Calls 4,000th Game, Gets One-Game Call-Up to Reds Tom Nichols, the voice of the Dragons on radio and television over the last 11 years, called his 4,000th career game on August 8, prompting a one-game call-up to the Reds on August 28. Nichols called three innings of play-by-play alongside Reds broadcasters Marty Brennaman and Jeff Brantley and was interviewed before and after the game on Reds TV on FOX Sports Ohio. The story was featured in an article in the New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/31/sports/baseball/in-this-comeback-ks-keep-a-low-profile.html The Streak The Dragons consecutive game sell-out streak continued through the 2018 season. After the final regular season home game on August 31, the streak now stands at 1,316 consecutive sold-out games, an all-time record for sports in North America. Longest Sell-Outs Streaks in Professional Sports History No. Team League Years 1,316 Dayton Dragons Minor League Baseball 2000-current 820 Boston Red Sox Major League Baseball 2003-’13 814 Portland Trail Blazers National Basketball Association 1977-‘95 744 Dallas Mavericks National Basketball Association 2001-‘18 662 Boston Celtics National Basketball Association 1980-‘95 Dragons Top 11 Million Milestone in All-Time Attendance The Dragons reached the 11 million milestone in all-time attendance at Fifth Third Field on July 31. They finished the season with an attendance total of 550,725, marking the 13th straight year that they have topped all Minor League Baseball teams below the Triple-A level. The Dragons have led all of Single-A baseball in attendance in each of their 19 seasons of operation. 2018 Attendance Rankings (affiliated teams) Minor League Top-10 (from among 160 teams) # Team Class League Total Avg 1 Charlotte Knights AAA International 619,639 8,980 2 Indianapolis Indians AAA International 619,122 8,845 3 Round Rock Express AAA Pacific Coast 616,636 8,809 4 Nashville Sounds AAA Pacific Coast 603,135 8,741 5 Columbus Clippers AAA International 587,067 8,633 6 Lehigh Valley IronPigs AAA International 561,745 8,511 7 Albuquerque Isotopes AAA Pacific Coast 556,330 7,948 8 Dayton Dragons A Midwest 550,725 7,868 9 El Paso Chihuahuas AAA Pacific Coast 539,520 7,819 10 Sacramento River Cats AAA Pacific Coast 538,785 7,808 Double-A and Single-A Top-10 (from among 130 teams) # Team Class League Total Avg 1 Dayton Dragons A Midwest 550,725 7,868 2 Frisco RoughRiders AA Texas 468,259 6,886 3 Hartford Yard Goats AA Eastern 408,942 6,014 4 Richmond Flying Squirrels AA Eastern 396,686 6,198 5 Birmingham Barons AA Southern 391,061 5,751 6 Reading Fightin Phils AA Eastern 388,510 5,713 7 West Michigan Whitecaps A Midwest 386,609 5,770 8 Fort Wayne TinCaps A Midwest 376,422 5,703 9 Trenton Thunder AA Eastern 351,297 5,019 10 Tulsa Drillers AA Texas 350,396 5,230 Wright State Baseball at Fifth Third Field On May 17, the Wright State Raiders met the University of Northern Kentucky at Fifth Third Field. It was the first-ever appearance for Wright State Baseball at the home of the Dragons. Wright State won the game, 12-0, and they went on to appear in the NCAA Regional at Stanford University to cap a big season. https://www.mydaytondailynews.com/sports/wright-state-blanks-nku-wet-night-fifth-third- field/gCtoed84TuipmWB0VZsMyL/ First Time Ever—Dragons Wear Special Jerseys, Conduct Two Jersey Auctions On “Defeating Cancer Night” on June 8, and “Hometown Heroes American Celebration Night” on August 18, the Dragons wore special jerseys. The jersey worn by every player and coach was auctioned after the game. Benefits went to the American Cancer Society for the June 8 jerseys, and to the First Sergeants Council for the jerseys worn on August 18. It was the first time in Dragons history that the team wore special jerseys to benefit charitable organizations. Defeating Cancer jerseys: https://www.milb.com/dayton/news/special-dragons-jersey-friday-on-defeating- cancer-night/c-279886198 Stars & Stripes jerseys: https://www.milb.com/dayton/news/dragons-to-wear-stars--stripes-jerseys-saturday/c- 290285382 Improvements to AZEK Dragons Lair On the heels of a successful new concept in 2017, the AZEK Dragons Lair featured additional improvements in 2018.