LOS ANGELES -- Fifth Third Field, home to the Cincinnati Reds' Class A affiliate in Dayton, Ohio, is among the most electric venues in the minor league circuit, with more than 1,300 consecutive sellouts and counting. Now picture, if you will, that crowd, on a Saturday night in April, catching a glimpse of an opposing pitcher who's 6-foot-6, scrawny as can be, with a lush red afro puffing out of his cap and an accompanying red beard running down to his chin.
The unflattering comps poured in as soon as Dustin May began to warm up.