Reds Top 20 Prospects

Our take on the top prospects in the Reds system. Very strong talent at the top. What are your thoughts?

7 months ago MJMars 14 comments 1 recs |

Comments

Cool stuff.

I would have some of the AAA guys higher, but I think that’s more due to my personal grading system than anything “correct” or not. And I wouldn’t have Didi on there, but hey.

We’ll be doing our own system throughout the winter where we’ll have plenty to say, very litlte of it nice.

"You said 'walks' twice."
"I like walks."

by Cy Schourek on Nov 8, 2011 9:27 AM EST reply actions

This list shows a strong understanding of our system.

Since you invited me to, I will happily nit-pick it:
6. Robert Stephenson, the only thing that puts him on this list (and many others) is the size of his signing bonus. I would wait for some numbers before he makes any list of mine.
8. Neftali Soto. A one dimensional AAA 1b who is third on the depth chart in the top ten? I feel you are being wooed by those HR’s. After a full year in L’ville, we may never think of him again.
9. Kyle Lotzkar. If he wasn’t made of glass this would be about right. I have a feeling he is headed to the bullpen, 200ip will just be too much to ask. ducks
12. Amir Garrett, Again a talented athlete, but what do we have? A kid who would not work hard enough to capitalize on a Stanford full ride? Well that makes me wonder if he is going to work hard enough to rise through a system.
I can only think of a few omissions: Hayes, Lutz, and Vidal. But I will admit to being a tad too high on this years Dragons.

by Eastwindquinn on Nov 8, 2011 10:43 AM EST reply actions

I don't care one bit about Garret's Stanford scholarship or his supposed work ethic

But as a 2 sport athlete who is basically all raw tools at this point, he has WAY too many questions to be that high.

It feels so nice to be back to normal

by nycredsfan on Nov 8, 2011 10:51 PM EST up reply actions

Really?

I feel like in High school I knew a lot of talented athletes that could have used there ability to truly make a better life for themselves through education and who knows what. But because they were so used to everything coming easy, they got no where, and now they work at the grain elevator in Champaign county.
So yeah, Garret new he was going to have to raise his academic stock his senior year to play for one of the big boys, and he did not get it done. That is a big red flag to me.
I will take the kid who really wants to be there, and makes the most of every ounce of talent he has over this kid everytime.

by Eastwindquinn on Nov 9, 2011 10:01 AM EST up reply actions

I thought it was St. John's, not Stanford?

Not that it’s too much of a difference, but there’s a chance the dude just isn’t terribly booksmart. He wouldn’t be the first.

"You said 'walks' twice."
"I like walks."

by Cy Schourek on Nov 9, 2011 11:07 AM EST up reply actions

I think he had a Stanford ride all set up

but couldn’t meet their academic standards. So he went to St. John’s instead.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Nov 9, 2011 11:37 AM EST up reply actions

is he going to St Johns? I thought he didn't qualify there, either?

/fires up Thundering Turtle Signal

"You said 'walks' twice."
"I like walks."

by Cy Schourek on Nov 9, 2011 1:53 PM EST up reply actions

I believe that is correct

He is attending St. John’s but is currently academically ineligible for the upcoming season.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Nov 9, 2011 1:54 PM EST up reply actions

I got the two school mixed up, my bad.

they both wear red right?

by Eastwindquinn on Nov 9, 2011 2:07 PM EST up reply actions

You must've gone to Sunday School the day they talked about Saint Anford.

This would be a better story if he transferred to St. Johns College in Annapolis.

"You said 'walks' twice."
"I like walks."

by Cy Schourek on Nov 9, 2011 3:30 PM EST up reply actions

There's a big difference between academic work ethic and athletic work ethic

We all know that we tend to work/try harder at things we are good at. If he isn’t very good at school, then maybe he didn’t do enough to get eligible, but to me that has nothing to do with his work ethic when it comes to sports.

There are a lot of “dumb jocks” who are great at just doing simple, repetitive things coaches tell them to do in order to get better. Maybe he has that, maybe he doesn’t, but at this point I don’t care about that.

It feels so nice to be back to normal

by nycredsfan on Nov 10, 2011 12:07 PM EST up reply actions

Cingrani made the list

But…not much good to say about Frazier, but he’s still #13?

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Nov 8, 2011 12:14 PM EST reply actions

Close to reaching his upside

As he already has over 100 major league plate appearances. Has a strong chance of becoming a league regular, and if not, still useful at multiple positions. In my opinion that is enough to be in the #15 range.

minorleaguerundown.com
twitter.com/milbrundown

by MJMars on Nov 8, 2011 7:54 PM EST up reply actions

So tough to balance upside with performance

Stephenson definitely has the stuff to be a very good starter and I would argue that he is there because he throws a mid-90’s fastball with strong command for his age, though I understand your point about the signing bonus.

Definitely good points with Soto and Lotzkar. Hard to argue with either. Soto’s power upside just seemed strong enough in my opinion and this season will be a make or break for Lotzkar. As for Garrett, I rarely am concerned with effort at that age. Could be legitimate, but time will tell. Think his upside among the top few in the system.

Thanks for the comments.

minorleaguerundown.com
twitter.com/milbrundown

by MJMars on Nov 8, 2011 7:52 PM EST reply actions