Cincinnati Reds Top 20 Prospects

by John Sickels on Feb 23, 2006 3:18 PM EST in News

CINCINNATI REDS TOP 20 Prospects

Homer Bailey, RHP, Grade B+
Travis Wood, LHP, Grade B
Jay Bruce, OF, Grade B
B.J. Szymanski, OF, B-
Phil Dumatrait, LHP, B-
Chris Denorfia, OF, C+
Tyler Pelland, LHP, C+
Joey Votto, 1B, C+
Justin Germano, RHP, C+
Zach Ward, RHP, C+
Sam Lecure, RHP, C+
Bobby Basham, RHP, C+
Adam Rosales, SS, C+
Jeff Stevens, RHP, C+
William Bergolla, 2B, C
Travis Chick, RHP, C
Elizardo Ramirez, RHP, C
Rafael Gonzalez, RHP, C
James Avery, RHP, C
Miguel Perez, C, C

Not exactly a top system by any means. Bailey is a potentially excellent pitcher if he continues making progress with his command. I like both 2005 draftees Wood and Bruce, but we need to see them in a full season context. Guys like Szymanski, Dumatrait, Denorfia, and Pelland all have significant positives in their profile, but also major questions of one sort or another. Then you have a large mass of Grade C+/C type guys, more or less interchangeable.

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Comments

John

Any hope left for former top prospect blake hawksworth?

by CrimsonLiederhosen on Feb 23, 2006 3:19 PM EST reply actions

Doh!

My bad. I dunno why I keep thinking Hawksworth is with the Reds...

by CrimsonLiederhosen on Feb 23, 2006 4:43 PM EST up reply actions

Basham and Hall

Where does Josh Hall fit into this mix? And what issues, outside the recurring injury risk, do Basham and Hall have to overcome?

by rojosoto on Feb 23, 2006 3:59 PM EST reply actions

EE

where would edwin encarnacion rank and what would his grade be, if he hadn't exceeded his rookie eligibility? i would think he'd push bailey for #1 honors. i've noticed that those prospects that play just a couple months during their first big league season seem to get lost in the shuffle.

by jpahk on Feb 23, 2006 4:02 PM EST reply actions

EE

EE would be number one.

by John Sickels on Feb 23, 2006 4:13 PM EST up reply actions

Adam Rosales

What are the chances that he stays at SS as he moves up the ladder? Does anybody know his power potential?

by RJB7 on Feb 23, 2006 4:05 PM EST reply actions

Just an anecdotal thought on Bailey ...

I am NO scout, but I had the opportunity to see him throw for Dayton last year. He got beat around a little bit by average competition, but does he ever seem have some special arm action. When he came in the game, compared to the avergae/soft tossers who were in before him, it was night and day.

If only the Reds had a prayer of developing an arm ... sigh ...

Paul Householder, Gary Redus, Tommy Lawless, Duane Walker ... prospects rawk!

by design28 on Feb 23, 2006 4:56 PM EST reply actions

elizardo ramirez

i know and understand why you only rated him as a c, but i do not agree with the ranking. he has excellent control for a 22 year old, and he has had success at every level he has been at except the major league level to this point. he proved himself at A ball as a 20 year old. he proved himself in AA at 21. he proved himself in AAA at 22.

he may not have electric stuff, but he certainly has the capability to be a solid middle of the rotation starter, and he isn't far away from that point. i think that based on his likely future impact, he should be rated as a B- or at least a C+ and a spot in the top 10.

by overlord on Feb 23, 2006 11:27 PM EST reply actions

scouting reports

I think his ERA looks nice, but the scouting reports indicate that he doesn't have the "stuff" to get major league hitters out. He would project to have a lot of problems with hits and homeruns in the majors. Of course, he is young enough that something could change or improve in his approach or arsenal, but without the improvement he is not a "B" prospect,IMHO.

by rojosoto on Feb 24, 2006 10:06 AM EST up reply actions

With exception to those first three....

....there is really nothing to look forward to in this system...I am pretty skeptical on pitching prospects, but I definitely have a strong man-crush on Homer...I could watch clips of him pitching all day...please, oh please, if the Reds only develop one arm ever, let it be Homer...I can see him winning game 7 for Cincy in the 2009 WS...for Junior's sake...

by daveh33 on Feb 24, 2006 3:20 PM EST reply actions