Dayton, Ohio-Seven former members of the Dayton Dragons have been invited to participate in the Cincinnati Reds Major League spring training camp as non-roster players.

The list includes left-handed relief pitcher Donnie Joseph, who was selected as the Reds 2010 Minor League Pitcher of the Year based in part on his 19 appearances with the Dragons this past season. Catcher Devin Mesoraco, a member of the 2008 Dragons and the Reds 2010 Minor League Player of the Year, is also among the group.

Others include West Chester resident Matt Klinker (Lakota West High School), a right-handed starting pitcher who spent the 2008 season with the Dragons; left-handed reliever Jeremy Horst, who was the Dragons top starting pitcher on their 2008 playoff roster; center fielder Dave Sappelt (’09 Dragons), right-handed starting pitcher Scott Carroll (’08 Dragons), and catcher Chris Denove (’06 Dragons).

Joseph will begin his second full season in professional baseball in 2011. With the Dragons in 2010, he allowed just two earned runs in 23 innings (0.78 earned run average) while striking out 40 of the 88 batters he faced. He earned six saves and two victories before being promoted. He eventually finished the season at the Double-A level.

Mesoraco, the Dragons catcher in 2008 after being drafted in the first round by the Reds the previous summer, enjoyed a breakout season in 2010. He led the Reds organization with 26 home runs while batting .302 at three different classification levels.

Klinker led all Reds minor league pitchers in victories in 2010, spending most of the season at Double-A Carolina. With the Dragons in 2008, he made 18 starts and logged 105 innings, going 6-4 with a 3.26 ERA.

Horst pitched at three different levels in the Reds system in 2010, going a combined 4-4 with a 2.66 ERA in 44 games. He struck out 75 batters in 71 innings and walked only 18. With the Dragons in 2008, Horst was 8-2 with a 2.38 ERA. He was the starting and winning pitcher in game one of the playoffs at Fifth Third Field for the Dragons that season.

Sappelt also played at all three levels of the Reds farm system in 2010. His overall batting average of .342 was 37 points higher than any other full-season player in the organization. He was the batting champion in the Southern League with Carolina at .361. Sappelt spent most of 2009 with the Dragons, appearing in 74 games and batting .269 with 26 stolen bases.

Carroll was the Dragons opening day starting pitcher in 2008. The former Purdue University quarterback spent the 2010 season with Double-A Carolina.

Denove spent the 2006 season on a Dragons prospect-filled club that also included Jay Bruce, Paul Janish, Johnny Cueto, Travis Wood, Logan Ondrusek, Carlos Fisher, and Adam Rosales. He split the 2010 season between Double-A and Triple-A and batted a combined .292.

The Reds have invited a total of 14 non-roster players to spring training to train with the 40 players on the active roster. Of the 54 players set to participate in camp, 27 have played for the Dragons. Former Dragons on the Reds 40-man roster include infielders Joey Votto, Paul Janish, Juan Francisco, Chris Valaika, Todd Frazier, and Zack Cozart; outfielders Jay Bruce, Drew Stubbs, and Chris Heisey; catcher Ryan Hanigan; and pitchers Homer Bailey, Johnny Cueto, Travis Wood, Logan Ondrusek, Carlos Fisher, Jordan Smith, Daryl Thompson, and Philippe Valiquette. Additionally, pitchers Edinson Volquez and Jared Burton pitched for the Dragons after reaching the Major Leagues.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

The Cincinnati Reds have agreed to a one- year deal with right-handed pitcher Edinson Volquez, avoiding arbitration.

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) – The Cincinnati Reds have agreed to a one- year deal with right-handed pitcher Edinson Volquez, avoiding arbitration.

Volquez became the final arbitration-eligible Reds player to sign, according to the club’s Twitter account. Financial terms of the deal were not released.

The Dominican Republic native made 12 starts last season after making his debut in July. He missed the first several months of the season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and also served a 50-game suspension for a violation of the league’s drug policy.

He went 4-3 with a 4.31 earned-run average, and fanned 67 batters in 62 2/3 innings.

Over six years in the majors with Texas and Cincinnati, the 27-year-old has tallied a 28-22 record in 74 games (70 starts), with a 4.36 ERA and 375 strikeouts.

© 2011 The Sports Network

CINCINNATI — Right-hander Edinson Volquez and the Reds have agreed to a one-year contract worth $1,625,000.

The deal, which avoided salary arbitration, includes $50,000 in performance bonuses: $25,000 each for 24 and 28 starts.

Cincinnati offered a multiyear deal to Volquez, who returned from reconstructive elbow surgery last season.

The 27-year-old returned last August and went 4-3 with a 4.31 ERA in 12 starts, getting better as he went along. He made $445,000.

Volquez was the last Reds player in arbitration.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

For the past 15 years the Cincinnati Reds have taken part of a Reds Caravan, traveling around Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia to promote the team.

Over the weekend, the Reds Caravan continued its trip and made a stop at Stoops Automotive in Muncie.

About 500 Reds fans showed up to have a chance to meet and get autographs from members of the Reds including second baseman Brandon Phillips, radio broadcaster Marty Brennaman and top catching prospect Devin Mesoraco.

“It’s for the fans, that’s what it’s all about,” Phillips said. “It’s about giving back to seeing how big Reds Country really is. We love our fans in Indiana and all over and it’s crazy to see how many fans we have.”

When the Reds arrived, they were introduced to the crowd and a question and answer session was opened to the crowd.

One child asked Phillips what college he attended.

“I attended the college of Major League Baseball,” Phillips answered.

He said he never attended college but advised others to stay in school.

After the question and answer session, fans were lined up throughout the dealership that ended at a long table the Reds were sitting at.

Fans talked, joked and received autographs, which lasted the duration of the event.

Brennaman said he enjoys coming along on the Reds Caravan.

“I don’t miss any of them,” Brennaman said. “I’ve been on it every year they’ve had it. I enjoy doing it. For me, its another kick-off to baseball season.”

Even Carter’s Hot Dogs made an appearance at the event. Phillips later tweeted about how he enjoyed the food.

Brennaman said that Muncie being a college town influenced the Reds to make a stop in town.

“You have baseball fans on every college campus in the country,” Brennaman said. “With a school this size, which is a very easy trip from here to Cincinnati and to attract the college crowd here at Ball State certainly makes a lot of difference.”

After three hours of signing autographs and meeting fans, the Reds were pleased with the turnout from the Muncie crowd.

Brennaman said he expects to make future trips to Muncie.

“We always have a big crowd here, Brennaman said. “I would imagine that Muncie would be on our itinerary for years to come when we have our Caravan.”

Tweet Phillips made:

@DatdudeBP I just had a Mike Carter hotdog in Muncie, IN! Delicious!!! Damn I want another one! Somebody hook a brother up!!!