RR Community Prospect Rankings: Mesoraco catches #14

Offering proof of his improving defense, Devin Mesoraco gunned down Billy Hamilton, blocked Enerio Del Rosario, and picked off Matt Klinker to secure the #14 ranking in this year's list.  Some consider him a bust, some consider him a marginal prospect, and some still hold out hope.  Hopefully Devin can have the breakout year many of us expect and vault himself up these rankings.  Now onto #15.  There are no new candidates today, but still plenty of enticing options left on the board.  Who you got?

Also, before you vote, a few notes.  Minorleagueball.com, John Sickels' great site on SBN, voted Yonder Alonso the #30 prospect in baseball.  Also, a writer at The Hardball Times put up his Reds top 10 prospects list.  It's pretty oriented towards fantasy value, but interesting nonetheless.  Finally, if you are at all interested in Reds prospects, you need to be checking out Doug's excellent site, Redsminorleagues.com, on a daily basis.  OK....vote!

Enerio Del Rosario, RHRP:

Made huge strides at 3 levels last season.  Doesn't strike out a lot of people, but doesn't walk a ton either and keeps the ball in the ballpark.  Also, is a ground ball machine (68.4 GB% in 2009).  Stuff is not overpowering, but changes speeds well and "knows how to pitch".

Baseball America rank: NR
2009 RR CPR rank: NR
2010 John Sickels Rank: 20
Age: 24
Draft/Acquisition Details: Signed in 2007 out of the Dominican Republic
Highest Level Played: AAA (Louisville)

2009 Statistics: 

Sarasota (A+): 31 G, 2-1, 1.98 ERA, 50 IP, 33 K, 6 BB, .92 WHIP
Carolina (AA) : 4 G, 0-0, 1.59 ERA, 5.2 IP, 9 K, 0 BB, .35 WHIP
Louisville (AAA): 15 G, 1-0, 1.09, 24.2 IP, 12 K, 6 BB,  1.22 WHIP
Gigantes (DWL): 20 G, 3-2, 1.99 ERA, 22.2 IP, 11 K, 3 BB, .93 WHIP

Matt Klinker, RHSP:

Local product from Lakota West HS in Cincinnati.  Late round pick who had success at 3 levels last season, but has finally caught up to his age.  K/9 averages over 9, with a good walk rate, although this the first time in his career that it's been that high.  Throws a 2-seam fastball and a looping 12-6 curve.  A little prone to giving up HRs to lefties, at 1.43 HR/9 last year.

Baseball America rank: NR
2009 RR CPR rank: NR
2010 John Sickels Rank: NR
Age: 25
Draft/Acquisition Details: 15th round (469th pick), Reds, 2007
Highest Level Played: AAA (Louisville)

2009 Statistics: 

Sarasota (A+): 9 GS, 2-2, 4.89 ERA, 42.1 IP, 42 K, 8 BB, 1.44 WHIP
Carolina (AA): 6 GS, 3-2, 2.95 ERA, 36.2 IP, 40 K, 13 BB, 1.09 WHIP
Louisville (AAA): 5 GS, 2-2, 2.48 ERA, 29 IP, 30 K, 13 BB, 1.21 WHIP

Logan Ondrusek, RHRP:

Tall.  Converted from a starter to setup man after 2007.  Was old for his level in Sarasota, but pitched lights out there and had success at 3 levels last season.  Doesn't strike out a lot of guys, but keeps the ball on the ground and in the ballpark.  Walks weren't a huge concern last year, but that was a drastic outlier.  He throws a 4-seam fastball in the low-mid 90s, and a change in the low 80s, along with a slider and cutter.  Had a rough AFL campaign, giving up 4 HR in 10 innings after giving up 1 in 72 during the season.

Baseball America rank: NR
2009 RR CPR rank: NR
2010 John Sickels Rank: NR
Age: 25 (on February 13)
Draft/Acquisition Details: 13rd round (392nd pick), Reds, 2005
Highest Level Played: AAA (Louisville)

2009 Statistics:

Sarasota (A+): 13 G, 2-0, 0.96 ERA, 18.2 IP, 12 K, 7 BB, .75 WHIP 
Carolina (AA): 24 G, 2-1, 1.65 ERA, 32.2 IP, 24 K, 12 BB, 1.01 WHIP
Louisville (AAA): 19 G, 0-0, 1.74 ERA, 20.2 IP, 11 K, 2 BB, .87 WHIP
Peoria Saguaros (AFL): 10 G, 2-1, 13.50 ERA, 10 IP, 8 K, 2 BB, 2.4 WHIP 

Donnie Joseph, RHRP:

Very effective in Billings and Dayton last season.  Lots of strikeouts (11.34K/9), control may be an issue.  Held hitters to a .165 average, and didn't give up any long balls in 33.1 IP.  Downright nasty against lefties, and could move up the system quickly.  Two pitch pitcher, with a fastball in the low 90s up to around 94, and an above average slider with plenty of break.  Also known as a high-character guy.

Baseball America rank: NR
2009 RR CPR rank: NR
2010 John Sickels Rank: 11
Age: 22
Draft/Acquisition Details: 3rd round (88th pick), Reds, 2009
Highest Level Played: A (Dayton)

2009 Statistics: 

Houston (NCAA): 31 G, 3-1, 2.16 ERA, 50 IP, 75 K, 22 BB, 1.10 WHIP
Billings (Rookie): 8 G, 2-0, 0.77 ERA, 11.2 IP, 11 K, 4 BB, .86 WHIP
Dayton (A): 16 G, 2-2, 4.35 ERA, 20.2 IP, 31 K, 10 BB, 1.11 WHIP

Josh Fellhauer, CF:

Cal St. Fullerton product displayed good plate discipline (7.5% BB rate) and solid contact skills (14.4% K rate) in Dayton this season.  Has compact swing that doesn’t produce much power.  Good runner, but not excellent.  Somewhat like Chris Heisey, has solid tools but no outstanding ones.  If he can stick in CF could be a solid prospect.  If he needs to move to a corner spot probably lacks the power to progress.

Baseball America rank: NR
2009 RR CPR rank: NR
2010 John Sickels Rank: 13
Age: 22
Draft/Acquisition Details: 7th round (209th pick), Reds, 2009
Highest Level Played: A (Dayton)

2009 Statistics: 

Cal State Fullerton (NCAA): 60 G, 227 AB, 6 HR, 55 RBI, 18 SB, .396/.478/.529/1.007
Dayton (A): 57 G, 236 AB, 7 HR, 23 RBI, 7 SB, .280/.351/.453/.804

Mariekson (D.D.) Gregorius, SS:

Has the arm and range to stick at SS.  (DD at SS?)  Good plate discipline at a young age, makes excellent contact (13% K rate).  Has very little power, even for a SS, but that could develop as he gets older. Currently only listed at 6’-1", 152 lbs, so frame has room to fill out a bit.

Baseball America rank: NR
2009 RR CPR rank: NR
2010 John Sickels Rank: NR
Age: 20
Draft/Acquisition Details: Signed in 2008 out of the Netherlands
Highest Level Played: A+ (Sarasota)

2009 Statistics: 

Billings (Rookie): 50 G, 204 AB, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 8 SB, .314/.363/.387/.750
Sarasota (A+): 22 G, 71 AB, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, .254/.274/.310/.584

Juan Carlos (J.C.) Sulbaran, RHSP:

Curacao product who built a reputation on the Netherlands national team in the WBC last summer.  Didn't have the best debut season, but there are lots of things to be excited about.  K/9 rate is excellent at 9.41, but needs to corral the fly balls, as that's where more than half of the balls hit landed, and his HR rate was not impressive.  Same with walk rate, not good.  Throws a fastball in the low 90s with a lot of movement that he can hit 94 with, and an average to above average changeup and curveball.  Changeup runs in the low 80s, about a 10mph difference to fastball, and the curveball moves a lot too.

Baseball America rank: NR
2009 RR CPR rank: NR
2010 John Sickels Rank: 19
Age: 20
Draft/Acquisition Details: 30th round (899th pick), Reds, 2008
Highest Level Played: A (Dayton)

2009 Statistics:

Sam LeCure, RHSP:

Formerly of the University of Texas, exhibits good command with a high pitching IQ.  Throws a fastball in the low 90s that gets up to 93, and a changeup and slider.  Nothing spectacular, but can locate all three pitches and is very consistent overall.  K and BB rates are decent, and the walk rate is improved from last year.  Gave up lots of dingers last year, but with his pitching acumen, could be a back of the rotation starter in the big leagues.  May be a candidate for the bullpen, as he has some trouble with lefties.

Baseball America rank: NR
2009 RR CPR rank: NR
2010 John Sickels Rank: NR
Age: 26
Draft/Acquisition Details: 4th round (122nd pick), Reds, 2005
Highest Level Played: AAA (Louisville)

2009 Statistics: