Cincinnati Reds Pre-Season Top 20 Prospects in Review
1) Edwin Encarnacion, 3B
Hit .293/.374/.512 with 13 homers in 70 games for Triple-A Louisville, .222 in 10 games (18 at-bats) for the Reds. His AAA numbers are solid and he remains an excellent, if often overlooked, prospect.
2) Richie Gardner, RHP
3-5, 5.72 in 11 starts at Double-A Chattanooga, with a 42/19 K/BB in 57 innings, allowing 73 hits. Has not been fully healthy this year, bothered by bicep soreness.
3) Joey Votto, 1B
Hitting .256/.342/.408 with 8 homers and 87 strikeouts in 80 games for Class A Sarasota. Disappointing numbers, I thought he would break through but it has not happened.
4) Thomas Pauly, RHP
Won't pitch this year due to shoulder injury.
5) Homer Bailey, RHP
4.14 ERA, 69/37 K/BB in 59 innings for Class A Dayton. Showing good stuff, strong K/IP ratio, needs better control.
6) B.J. Szymanski, OF
Hitting .255/.349/.455 for Dayton, but limited to just 29 games so far by a knee injury.
7) Todd Coffey, RHP
In 29 innings for the Reds, has a 5.59 ERA, 17/6 K/BB, and 44 hits allowed. Good command but way too hittable.
8) William Bergolla, 2B
Hit .314/.345/.419 in 48 games for Louisville, just .132 in 17 games for the Reds. Not ready for the Show, needs more Triple-A.
9) Tyler Pelland, LHP
4.40 ERA for Sarasota, but with a 73/33 K/BB in 59 innings. Very strong K/IP ratio is a positive sign; he's a sleeper.
10) Carlos Guevara, RHP
Another guy to watch, 1.95 ERA with 41/12 K/BB in 32 innings for Sarasota, allowing only 22 hits and 1 homer, 6 saves.
11) Paul Janish, SS
.245/.346/.385 in 208 at-bats for Dayton, overall production not impressive although his strike zone judgment has been decent.
12) Daylan Childress, RHP
Put on waivers after posting a 6.75 ERA in 11 Triple-A games. Claimed by Minnesota, sent to Double-A, but continuing to struggle with 6.29 ERA. Command has been biggest problem this year.
13) Matt Belisle, RHP
Used as swingman in Cincinnati and doing decently, 4.07 ERA in 55 innings, 36/17 K/BB ratio. Should post similar numbers in second half.
14) Bubba Nelson, RHP
3.68 ERA, 10 saves, 48/14 K/BB in 44 innings for Chattanooga. Has handled conversion to relief quite well, stock is rebounding.
15) Jesse Gutierrez, 1B-C
.310/.360/.530 in 26 games for Chattanooga, hitting very well, but won't play again this year due to torn ACL (hat tip to Red Reporter).
16) Steve Kelly, RHP
5-4, 4.08 ERA in 17 starts for Louisville, 61/34 K/BB in 97 innings. Doing OK, not great, not bad.
17) Elizardo Ramirez, RHP
2.99 ERA in 11 starts for Louisville, but 8.46 in 4 starts for the Reds. Weak K/IP ratio of 42/69 at AAA was a big red flag (no pun intended) for his chances in the Majors.
18) Steve Smitherman, OF
.248/.272/.333 at Louisville, poor numbers, led to demotion to Chattanooga, where he's at .234/.322/.403. Inability to control strike zone consistently inhibits his power.
19) Joe Valentine, RHP
9.53 ERA for the Reds, 5.93 for Louisville. Combined K/BB on the year is 28/33 in 39 innings. Obviously the problem here is poor control. He has a good arm but can't throw strikes.
20) Rafael Gonzalez, RHP
Was horrible in 10 games for Dayton (9.35 ERA), and is starting over again at short-season Billings. 2.35 mark so far, but with poor 12/12 K/BB in 15 innings. Raw ability is here but will need lots of time.
Lots of injury attrition here. Encouraging signs are performances from Belisle in the Show and Nelson in Double-A.
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