RR Community Prospect Rankings: This kid is a Hellflower
Josh "Hellflower" Fellhauer (hat tip to BK for the nickname) is #24. I'm glad he finally made the list, because I think he's going to be legit. He should start the year in Lynchburg at the Reds new A+ affiliate team. Why am I telling you this? Because I'm super excited that Reds prospects will be out of the offensive abyss that is Sarasota, Florida. Hopefully he can have a positive year and move his way up this list.
Ok, kids, this is our last prospect of 2010! Surely there's someone left that you feel deserves to be on this list, so vote for them. But more importantly, tell us why we should vote for them too!
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
Miguel Rojas, SS:
Rated by Baseball America as the best infield defender in the organization. Plays a plus-plus SS with good range, soft hands, and a strong arm. All of his value comes defensively, though, as his only real offensive weapon is the ability to make contact. Hits mostly groundballs and has very little power. Small frame that could grow, but right now projects as a defensive specialist, unless he can develop more plate patience and/or power.
Baseball America rank: NR
2009 RR CPR rank: NR
2010 John Sickels Rank: NR
Age: 21
Draft/Acquisition Details: Signed in 2008 out of Venezuela
Highest Level Played: A (Dayton)
2009 Statistics:
Dayton (A): 130 G, 469 AB, 3 HR, 49 RBI, 14 SB, .273/.326/.339/.665
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:
Cibaenas (DWL): 4 G (2 GS), 0-2, 8.59 ERA, 7.1 IP, 6 K, 5 BB, 2.32 WHIP
Juan Silva, CF:
Last year's 8th round pick was considered the best prospect to come out of the Puerto Rican baseball academy. Has above average speed and an above average arm, so may be able to stick in CF. Hit .279/.373/.464 as an 18 year old in the GCL this season. Has very solid tools all the way around, but still has a ways to go on the developmental curve. Definitely one to watch going forward.
Baseball America rank: NR
2009 RR CPR rank: NR
2010 John Sickels Rank: 17
Age: 19
Draft/Acquisition Details: 8th round (239th pick), Reds, 2009
Highest Level Played: Rookie (GCL Reds)
2009 Statistics:
GCL Reds (Rookie): 42 G, 140 AB, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 7 SB, .279/.373/.464/.837
Mark Serrano, RHSP:
2nd team All-American and Summit League Player of the Year in 2009. Put up gaudy numbers in college last year, but faced weak competition at Oral Roberts for most of those starts. Worth noting that he did face a few good teams in Rice, ASU and Arkansas, and his 13.77K/9 was ranked 2nd in the nation. Showed some good signs last year, still racking up lots of strikeouts in Dayton and kept K and BB ratios similar. Will move up the system quickly, but if he can keep up these numbers, he could develop into a solid back-end starter or shut-down reliever. Needs to watch walk numbers against lefties, but keeps the ball in the ballpark. Fastball in the upper 80s up to around 94, with an average changeup and curve.
Baseball America rank: NR
2009 RR CPR rank: NR
2010 John Sickels Rank: NR
Age: 24
Draft/Acquisition Details: 6th round (179th pick), Reds, 2009
Highest Level Played: A (Dayton)
2009 Statistics:
Billings (Rookie): 3 G (0 GS), 0-0, 1.42 ERA, 6.1 IP, 8 K, 3 BB, 0.95 WHIP
Dayton (A): 11 G (8 GS), 3-1, 2.20 ERA, 49 IP, 57 K, 12 BB, 1.00 WHIP
Alexander Smit, LHSP:
The Dutch Dot-Com put up decent numbers again this year in Carolina, earning a spring training invite for this year. Still has control problems, walking almost 5 hitters every 9 innings, but got hitters out via fly balls and strikeouts. Unfortunately, that means he doesn't give up many grounders, which may not fly in GABP. He split hit appearances basically in half from the bullpen and rotation, and there wasn't too much difference between the two roles for him. His future probably lies in the bullpen since his stuff isn't great, but since he's a lefty, he has big league bullpen potential. He was a quite highly regarded prospect with the Twins coming out of the Netherlands, but since being picked up by the Reds off of waivers in 2007, has fallen off a bit with injury problems and needs a solid season between AA and AAA to keep his dream alive.
Baseball America rank: NR
2009 RR CPR rank: NR
2010 John Sickels Rank: NR
Age: 24
Draft/Acquisition Details: Signed in 2002 out of the Netherlands (Twins), selected off waivers by Reds in 2007
Highest Level Played: AA (Carolina)
2009 Statistics:
Sarasota (A+): 3 G (2 GS), 0-0, 4.26 ERA, 12.2 IP, 12 K, 7 BB, 1.50 WHIP
Carolina (AA): 21 G (10 GS), 4-3, 3.04 ERA, 71 IP, 73 K, 42 BB, 1.35 WHIP
Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette, LHRP:
Lefty bullpen arm out of Canada had another very solid season last year between Sarasota and Carolina. There are definitely good signs here, with a decent strikeout percentage and an excellent ground-ball percentage (50% on the season). The downside from his game last year was his walks, which ended up at almost 5 walks per 9 innings last year. Phil-Alex has decent stuff, and can get his fastball into the mid 90s. With a little luck, he could sniff the major leagues as early as this year.
Baseball America rank: NR
2009 RR CPR rank: NR
2010 John Sickels Rank: NR
Age: 23
Draft/Acquisition Details: 7th round (198th pick), Reds, 2004
Highest Level Played: AA (Carolina)
2009 Statistics:
Carolina (AA): 27 G, 1-1, 2.76 ERA, 32.2 IP, 27 K, 20 BB, 1.38 WHIP
Dave Sappelt, OF:
Excellent range in CF, enough so that Baseball America ranked him the organization's best defensive outfielder. (Drew Stubbs was ineligible) Unfortunately doesn't have a great arm, so a move to a corner may eventually be necessary. Has good plate approach, good contact skills, and good on-base skills but little power. Did flash some power in college but has yet to show it two pro seasons. Has very good speed and is an aggressive baserunner, but currently gets caught stealing too much. (68% success rate so far as a pro) If he can stick in CF he might hit enough to play everyday, but a more likely ceiling is as a 4th-5th outfielder.
Baseball America rank: NR
2009 RR CPR rank: NR
2010 John Sickels Rank: NR
Age: 23
Draft/Acquisition Details: 9th round (268th pick), Reds, 2008
Highest Level Played: A+ (Sarasota)
Dayton (A): 74 G, 301 AB, 3 HR, 25 RBI, 26 SB, .269/.322/.392/.714
Sarasota (A+): 62 G, 251 AB, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 21 SB, .295/.333/.406/.739
0 recs |
83 comments
|
Comments
SILVA
because he is one of our toolsy latin players but actually knows how to take a walk! I dont understand why he isnt getting any love
"strikeouts are a lot sexier than groundouts"
I went Silva
He’s not getting votes because RR hasn’t sold him enough on us yet. Plus, the name “Silva” carries a tone of mediocrity with it (see Jose, Carlos). But this one’s got stud possibilities.
by Brian B on Feb 5, 2010 9:00 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Silva's better than bronze...
I’ve been voting Silva for a few days now. I don’t know anything about any of these guys other than the scouting reports posted here, but his upside sounded more intriguing than others.
by the finest muffins on Feb 5, 2010 12:09 PM EST up reply actions
It's been sounded, for that lame ass nickname
BOOM!
/Hellflower’d
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -Aristotle
by nycredsfan on Feb 5, 2010 8:27 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
i like the idea
of sounding the Fellhaurn from high in the Alpine mountaintops!

by Charlie Scrabbles on Feb 5, 2010 8:34 AM EST up reply actions
Nice apse, man.
Calmer than you are.
by 3 Fast 3 Furious on Feb 5, 2010 2:17 PM EST up reply actions
I like a good Jamon Serrano
after a day of pedaling my Sappelts at the trading post. Rojas.
Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Feb 5, 2010 9:52 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Feb 5, 2010 9:53 AM EST up reply actions
didn't we find
a hard-throwing Cuban lefthander up in them thar Alps?
Wait, that was the Pekinese.
Something like that.
Wee wee mouse ear.
Thankfully, for idiots like you, our forefathers gave us the second commandment – the right say whatever you want no matter if you’re wrong. — Unknown, for the most part
Its funny,
I like him a lot more now that he has an awesome nickname
"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander
This thread just got Euro real fast
Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Feb 5, 2010 9:53 AM EST reply actions
I've voted Gregorious
now for several rounds.
How could anyone not vote for a set of double D’s.
Surely BOOBS is with me on this.
I know I cast aside
several other prospects in favor of old Double-D.
Twice.
Thankfully, for idiots like you, our forefathers gave us the second commandment – the right say whatever you want no matter if you’re wrong. — Unknown, for the most part
Silva may not have made an impression on RR voters this time around
but I think of anyone left on the list, he’s one that’s most likely to see his stock rise dramatically this season. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a Top 10 or 15 guy next year. LeCure may have more immediate value to the Reds, but he’s not really in the conversation for the starting rotation unless some pretty catastrophic injuries happen. At best, he’s a 5th or 6th guy in the bullpen.
Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Feb 5, 2010 11:40 AM EST reply actions
am i wrong by assuming none of these guys will ever be serviceable major leaguers?
Sonny my pitched my wild
except silva...
i think silva has a great chance… i think lecure will log some time at the big league level but he won’t be a mainstay in the rotation… outside of those two, i don’t really see it.
Sonny my pitched my wild
Generally agree
Though between Gregorious, Sappelt and Rojas, you’ve got at least one semi-regular player at a premium position. Seems like the defense among those three is good enough to where at least one will stick. With his contact rate, Gregorious could be somewhere between Orlando Cabrera circa ’08 and Paul Janish. Silva, however, seems like he could have enough of a bat to be a pretty solid CF.
Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Feb 5, 2010 11:52 AM EST up reply actions
And if defense is the new market inefficiency
then maybe it will make these guys more valuable either to the Reds – if they improve their understanding of defensive value – or in a trade. I think it’s pretty sound development strategy to stock up on CF and SS that play excellent defense. If you can turn out someone who can get on base too, then you can avoid the market altogether and spend the free agent bucks where defense matters less and offense is more abundant. Snatching up as many cost-controlled pitchers, CF and SS as possible should be the ideal. Catchers should probably in there too, but I think it’s such a crapshoot, that unless you can get a Matt Wieters or Bryce Harper, you’re just hoping for a competent base of talent.
Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Feb 5, 2010 12:02 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
It's hard to tell
LeCure and Valiquette will probably at least make it in some capacity, whether they stick will be up to them. Smit needs a bounce-back year to get taken seriously, I think. The other guys are a lot harder to predict, as they’re all fairly far off, but everyone on that list has at least one thing they do well. At this point, most of them need consistency at higher levels to be considered legit future big leaguers, but you still can’t say that any of them definitely won’t be.
"aaron harnann is so aweseom" - justin
by BK on Feb 5, 2010 11:52 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, you might be wrong
Silva is too young to tell, but his ceiling is an average everyday CF, I think.
Rojas has plus plus defense at SS, which will carry him far. If his bat comes along at all he could be a starter. If not, he could be Paul Janish.
Mark Serrano was one of the best pitchers in all of college baseball last year, stats wise. The problem with him is he was at a tiny school and he was old for his competition this year as a pro. If he does well in A+/AA this year, he’ll become a legit prospect, but at age 24 already he needs to move fast.
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -Aristotle
I was gonna vote Serrano,
but you guys talked me into Silva.
What did you expect? It's the internet. Some of us are full of crap.
hey
Is it snowing in Ohio?
How much snow is falling in DC?
I hear people are canceling their Super Bowl parties down there. And some fans trying to get to Miami for the Super Bowl are stranded.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
Supposed to get over two feet
I’m across the Chesapeake Bay from Baltimore. Came in to work tonight prepared to stay till Monday morning.
Before the curse of stastics fell upon mankind we lived a happy, innocent life, full of merriment and go and informed by fairly good judgement.
-Hilaire Belloc
holy cow
Does that mean you’re missing the Super Bowl?
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
We'll see
Got about eight inches so far. Supposed to keep at it till Saturday evening. Don’t really much care about the Super Bowl, though. I don’t have TV in the house, so football’s pretty much passed me by.
Before the curse of stastics fell upon mankind we lived a happy, innocent life, full of merriment and go and informed by fairly good judgement.
-Hilaire Belloc
how do you follow baseball?
Radio? MLB.TV?
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
MLB.TV
Bought a 180 year old house two years ago. Decided that if I were going to get done what needs to be done, I couldn’t be sitting on the couch in front of the TV.
Before the curse of stastics fell upon mankind we lived a happy, innocent life, full of merriment and go and informed by fairly good judgement.
-Hilaire Belloc
I'm thinking of canceling cable myself
I don’t watch TV that much anyway. I could get a Netflix subscription instead, and either build an antenna or buy one of those dongles to catch sports off the air. (Apparently, one of the advantages of digital is that you get cable-like quality over the air…if you have the right antenna.)
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
this is what I have right now
it’s not bad. I’m not as much of a football watcher as you, though. I can get college games through ESPN360 where I live, and if there’s a pro game I really want to watch I’ll just nurse a beer or something at a bar.
"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander
My only complaint with Time Warner is that I can't get ESPN360
I don’t think I could live without cable though.
"They're the ones that gave you the keys, they can’t get upset when you crash the car" -- 'tHan on my being a mod
Yeah, TiVo really still has the best DVRs.
I told my mother to invest in DVR technology back in 1996. She could have quadrupled her money.
What did you expect? It's the internet. Some of us are full of crap.
ESPN 360 is the fucking truth
Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. A f*ckin' playground for the cocks*ckers.
-Lee Elia on Cubs fans
by Farneyismycopilot on Feb 6, 2010 1:40 PM EST up reply actions
you probably have no idea how many questions I'm brimming with right now
You have a 180 y.o. house in baltimore? You work on the eastern shore and you’re not a migrant farmer? Or are you a migrant farmer and you’re working all weekend?
"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander
The house is on the eastern shore, too
But it’s the upper shore, so most of the farms are dairy. Not much work for migrants. I work in a hospital – yeah, they have those on the shore. And you know what’s right next to the hospital? A college. A real live college.
Before the curse of stastics fell upon mankind we lived a happy, innocent life, full of merriment and go and informed by fairly good judgement.
-Hilaire Belloc
hey now, I had a great time at Washington College once
all in all it sounds like a sweet deal. Just coming from UMaryland, the Eastern Shore gets a little, you know, stereotyped.
"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander
It's a stereotype that is well earned
Could be that it makes one a bit touchy.
The house kicks ass, though. Wanna buy it?
Before the curse of stastics fell upon mankind we lived a happy, innocent life, full of merriment and go and informed by fairly good judgement.
-Hilaire Belloc
It's snowing but nothing too awful
Cincy’s supposed to get about 6"…..3-5" for Northern KY, 8-9"+ north of the city.
"They're the ones that gave you the keys, they can’t get upset when you crash the car" -- 'tHan on my being a mod
CNN
Reported that flights to Miami from Indianapolis were canceled, causing much distress to Colts fans.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
In Dayton area, we're supposed to get a foot or so.
We’ll see if that actually happens.
I'd take a one legged midget over Shayne Graham in a heartbeat. - btcoop71
It's gonna hasve to pick up the pace if we're gonna get 6" here
"They're the ones that gave you the keys, they can’t get upset when you crash the car" -- 'tHan on my being a mod
sooo, it picked up the pace :)
about 6" here….How did you guys do in Dayton?
"They're the ones that gave you the keys, they can’t get upset when you crash the car" -- 'tHan on my being a mod
We're at about 8" so far.
It’s still snowing, though.
I'd take a one legged midget over Shayne Graham in a heartbeat. - btcoop71
so
Applying the male-to-reality conversion factor, that’s 3" and 4", right?
;-)
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
by BubbaFan on Feb 6, 2010 7:24 AM EST up reply actions 5 recs
18 inches and still falling
I’m gonna be at work till pitchers and catchers report.
Before the curse of stastics fell upon mankind we lived a happy, innocent life, full of merriment and go and informed by fairly good judgement.
-Hilaire Belloc
we have about 6-8 inches here in Columbus
it’s pretty wild, because just a half hour or so south of the city it’s only 2-3, and north and east it’s a foot or more. needless to say, these cityfolk dont know how to get around in weather like this. the whole city is pretty much frozen dead.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Feb 6, 2010 1:07 PM EST up reply actions
I lived in Columbus for five years
no one in that town knows how to drive — bad weather or not.
Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. A f*ckin' playground for the cocks*ckers.
-Lee Elia on Cubs fans
by Farneyismycopilot on Feb 6, 2010 1:41 PM EST up reply actions
preach
it’s so annoying because snow like this is such a big deal. i watched the 11 oclock news last night and they covered the snow storm the whole half hour.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Feb 6, 2010 3:36 PM EST up reply actions
It's not snowing here,
but I am at work. :(
What did you expect? It's the internet. Some of us are full of crap.
As of 1900 we officially had 34 inches
Before the curse of stastics fell upon mankind we lived a happy, innocent life, full of merriment and go and informed by fairly good judgement.
-Hilaire Belloc
What the hall does 110 years ago have to do with now?
"They're the ones that gave you the keys, they can’t get upset when you crash the car" -- 'tHan on my being a mod
G;obal Warm'd
"Television has brought back murder into the home - where it belongs."
Alfred Hitchcock 1899 - 1980
That's a rec!
"They're the ones that gave you the keys, they can’t get upset when you crash the car" -- 'tHan on my being a mod
I'll green it.
But I don’t like it. ;o)
I'd take a one legged midget over Shayne Graham in a heartbeat. - btcoop71
Chris Heisey will be the prospect with the greates impact in 2010…mark it down.
by CincyBengals4life on Feb 6, 2010 4:21 PM EST reply actions
Definitely a good argument
"aaron harnann is so aweseom" - justin
by BK on Feb 6, 2010 4:56 PM EST up reply actions
Heisey
deserves a callup.

Poodle and I agree on this. We’re experts when it comes to tigrmetrics, so yes, mark it down!
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
I read this as Chris Henry
and got real, real sad.
"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander
He already got his callup
"They're the ones that gave you the keys, they can’t get upset when you crash the car" -- 'tHan on my being a mod
by jch24 on Feb 7, 2010 12:27 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
wow
toooooo sooooooon
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -Aristotle
It could have been worse
Had I said he got sent down.
"They're the ones that gave you the keys, they can’t get upset when you crash the car" -- 'tHan on my being a mod
Cuz I'm a dick I rec'd that ...
Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. A f*ckin' playground for the cocks*ckers.
-Lee Elia on Cubs fans
by Farneyismycopilot on Feb 7, 2010 1:13 PM EST up reply actions
Hey, are we gonna have a Wright St.-Butler thread?
Anybody? Anyone? (cricket)
I'd take a one legged midget over Shayne Graham in a heartbeat. - btcoop71
MLB Trade Rumors
reports that Gomes could end up in Cleveland.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
This would not please me.
"aaron harnann is so aweseom" - justin
by BK on Feb 7, 2010 11:39 PM EST up reply actions
This would not please me either.
'The secret to chili is you gotta have good mooseburger in there."
Sarah Palin
I kinda think we have to play Bladdy and Maloney for a while to start the year.
And, of course, Stubbs.
But if we ain’t gonna play Blad or Maloney, we kinda owe it to them to trade them to an organization that will give them the chance.
What did you expect? It's the internet. Some of us are full of crap.
That's how I feel about the Gomes to Cleveland rumors
He deserves a chance to play in the majors. I’d like it to be for us, but if he can get the playing time somewhere else, then that’s where he should go.
Cleveland is in the Majors?
'The secret to chili is you gotta have good mooseburger in there."
Sarah Palin

by 

























