Farmers only, when the Bats got Herr back

On Waring:

He has outstanding power, about this there is no question. But he also strikes out a LOT, has trouble with breaking balls, and may lose most of his batting average at higher levels. His glove at 3B is not very good, and given his relative lack of speed, he may end up at first base, which will increase the pressure to hit. We must respect his power, but we also need to see if he can handle pitchers who know how to work the strike zone and attack his weaknesses. Grade C+

On Frazier:

He could end up being a star in the majors, too, at least offensively. Although some scouts have complaints about his swing mechanics, they’ve never hurt him in games. His strike zone judgment is good and he has power to all fields. There are questions about his glove and where he fits on the field. He has a strong arm, but his range at shortstop is limited: just about everyone thinks he’ll have to move to third base. His hands may not be good enough for third, however, and some project he’ll have to play the outfield, which will reduce the value of his bat. A few unanswered questions, yes, but I’m confident in his offense. Grade B.

A B grade is an excellent grade from Sickels. He had Frazier as the #5 prospect in the Reds system before the season started (behind Bruce, Cueto, Votto, and Bailey), and this is a system he considers fairly loaded. He had Waring as the 21st prospect for the Reds. He’s very concerned about the strikeouts. However, a C+ is still a good grade and basically means that Waring has a decent shot at reaching the Majors, though he may just be a role player or marginal starter.