Chris Valaika closes out a top 5 that ultimately had very few surprises. I think it's safe to say that while the Reds may not have a clear superstar in the top 5, they've got a solid group there, all of whom could be important pieces for the next 5 to 10 years.
Now we start to move into some gray area. I think it is unclear what order the next tier of prospects fall in. Juan Francisco has drawn a few more eyes this off-season, but how much weight should we put on the improvements he appears to have made in the DWL? Kyle Lotzkar and Zach Stewart have put up impressive numbers, but they are a lot farther from success than Daryl Thompson, so who knows how they should fall. I'm interested to see how you all see the next set of prospects line up.
Let me know if you think there is somebody else we should be voting on at this point as well.
Josh Roenicke, RHRP:
John Sickels rank: 6
Redsminorleagues rank: 14
Age: 26
Draft/Acquisition Details: 10th round (pick 249), Reds, 2006
Last Level Played: MLB
2008 Statistics:
Chattanooga (AA): 22 G, 22 IP, 21 H, 12 BB, 28 SO, 3.27 ERA, 1.50 WHIP
Louisville (AAA): 35 G, 39 IP, 34 H, 14 BB, 43 SO, 2.54 ERA, 1.23 WHIP
Cincinnati (MLB): 5 G, 3 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 6 SO, 9.00 ERA, 2.67 WHIP
Daryl Thompson, RHSP:
John Sickels rank: 9
Redsminorleagues rank: 12
Age: 23
Draft/Acquisition Details: Drafted 8th Rd (pick 237), Expos, 2003. Acquired in 2006 in The Trade
Highest Level Played: MLB
2008 Statistics:
GCL Reds (Rk): 1 G, 4 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 4 SO, 0.00 ERA, 0.50 WHIP
Sarasota (A+): 3 G, 15.2 IP, 20 H, 7 BB, 7 SO, 6.89 ERA, 1.72 WHIP
Chattanooga (AA): 10 G, 61.1 IP, 44 H, 14 BB, 56 SO, 1.76 ERA, 0.95 WHIP
Louisville (AAA): 7 G, 45.2 IP, 39 H, 9 BB, 33 SO, 2.76 ERA, 1.05 WHIP
Cincinnati (MLB): 3 G, 14.1 IP, 20 H, 7 BB, 6 SO, 6.91 ERA, 1.88 WHIP
Kyle Lotzkar, RHP:
John Sickels rank: 8
Redsminorleagues rank: 7
Age: 19
Draft/Acquisition Details: 1st round (pick 53), Reds, 2007
Last Level Played: A (Dayton)
2008 Statistics:
Dayton (A): 10 GS, 37.2 IP, 29 H, 24 BB, 50 SO, 3.58 ERA, 1.41 WHIP
Zach Stewart, RHRP:
John Sickels rank: 7
Redsminorleagues rank: 8
Age: 22
Draft/Acquisition Details: 3rd round (pick 84), Reds, 2008
Last Level Played: A+ (Sarasota)
2008 Statistics:
Texas (College): 20 G, 3 GS, 47 IP, 48 H, 21 BB, 43 SO, 4.98 ERA, 1.47 WHIP
Dayton (A): 11 G, 16.1 IP, 10 H, 3 BB, 13 SO, 0.55 ERA, 0.80 WHIP
Sarasota (A+): 13 G, 16.2 IP, 16H, 11BB, 23 SO, 1.62 ERA, 1.62 WHIP
Juan Francisco, 3B:
John Sickels rank: 10
Redsminorleagues rank: 10
Age: 21
Draft/Acquisition Details: Signed in 2004 out of Dominican Republic
Last Level Played: A+ (Sarasota)
2008 Statistics:
Sarasota (A+): 127 G, 516 AB, .277/.303/.496
Gigantes del Cibao (DWL): 39 G, 158 AB, .361/.420/.671
Devin Mesoraco, C:
John Sickels rank: NR
Redsminorleagues rank: 6
Age: 20
Draft/Acquisition Details: Drafted 1st round (pick 15), Reds, 2007
Last Level Played: A (Dayton)
2008 Statistics:
Dayton (A): 80 G, 306 AB, .261/.311/.399
Danny Dorn,OF:
John Sickels rank: 16
Redsminorleagues rank: 9
Age: 20
Draft/Acquisition Details: Drafted 32nd round (pick 954), Reds, 2006
Last Level Played: AA (Chattanooga)
2008 Statistics:
Sarasota (A+): 5 G, 20 AB, .250/.286/.500
Chattanooga (AA): 98 G, 336 AB, .277/.367/.539