In one of the more suspicious votes of the year, Jeremy Kivel vaults Juan Silva and Ryan LaMarre (by a 3-vote margin) to take the 23rd spot. The live-armed righty struck out almost 10 batters per nine last season in Arizona, though his walk-rate (4.1) could certainly stand to go down. Let's hope he can keep it up next year. There's definite upside there. Speaking of upside...a more obscure name joins the list.
JUAN SILVA, 23, OF
Highest 2013 Level: High-A (Bakersfield Blaze)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: .386 OBP in 2013, .376 career OBP
Most Worrisome Fact: .413 career SLG and durability concerns
Alias(es): High Ho Silva
Not actually property of the Dodgers (thanks, MiLB.com), Juan Silva seems to be one of the more underrated prospects in the Reds system. Injuries have slowed his development, but the kid knows how to get on base. He's played all over the outfield, more in LF than anything else, but he logged 33 games in CF in 2013. His offensive game would profile well in center, but you'd like to see more power if he ends up getting moved to a corner spot. After a full season in Bakersfield, this will be a big year for Silva making the jump to AA.
RYAN LaMARRE, 25, OF
Highest 2013 Level: AAA (Louisville Bats)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: Very good CF defense, speed
Most Worrisome Fact: 25 years old, 14 AAA plate appearances
Aliases: Hedy, LaMarre LaMerrier
Here's a name we've seen before. LaMarre has been on our radar since being drafted out of Michigan in the second round of the 2010 draft. He's got speed, a little bit of pop, great defense at a key position, and he seems capable of taking a walk, but for some reason he's never quite put it all together. At this point, LaMarre might break in as a back-up/fill-in OF who will play quality defense and might knock the occasional double and steal a base, but it's looking increasingly unlikely that he'll be a starter or even regular. Let's hope he can put together a nice little season in Louisville.
DAN LANGFIELD, 23, RHP
Highest 2013 Level: None. He spent 2012 in Billings
Eye-Poppingest Fact: 13.1 K/9
Most Worrisome Fact: 4.1 BB/9, age, and injury history
Aliases: Rodney DanLanfield, Dan Wangfield
Dan Lanfield was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2012 draft. He is another of the Tony Cingrani mold. He was a part time starter and reliever in college. He was drafted by the Reds and put up a great strikeout rate in his pro debut. Then, Langfield started to have shoulder problems in the offseason. He was diagnosed with shoulder impingement and spent the entire 2013 season rehabbing. This is the same injury that Homer Bailey struggled with in 2011. Langfield has a lot of potential, but will be old for any level he pitches. If he is healthy enough to pitch, I'd look for Langfield to start in Dayton or maybe Bakersfield, if the Reds are being super aggressive. But, being 23 and never pitching past Billings isn't a good start. Some people said they wanted to vote for Langfield, so I figured I'd put him up on the list. Plus, I wanted to say Wangfield.
AMIR GARRETT, 22, LHP
Highest 2013 Level: A- (Dayton Dragons)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: Throws ball fast, is left handed.
Most Worrisome Fact: 15 K and 16 BB in 34 innings at Dayton.
Alias(es): The Basketball Player, ???
Amir Garret splits time between playing college hoops and minor league baseball, though he's yet to excel at either. It's frustrating for Reds fans that he has yet to focus full time on baseball, but the front office knew what they were getting themselves into when they picked Garrett in the 22nd round of the 2011 draft. Garrett is still extremely raw at this point, but as a flame throwing southpaw, he still has a lot of upside. After 5 successful starts in Billings (2.66 ERA, 6.5 K/9, 3.8 K/BB), Garrett got the promotion to Dayton where his numbers took a major tumble in his final 8 starts (6.88 ERA, 4.0 K/9, 4.2 BB/9). I'm guessing that Garrett will have his first full season this year, most likely starting the season in Dayton again.
RYAN WRIGHT, 24, 2B
Highest 2013 Level: A+ (Bakersfield)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: Very average player, does everything well, doesn't strike out too much
Most Worrisome Fact: Sub .400 slugging % in a full season at Bakersfield in 2013.
Alias(es): Ryan "The Price is" Wright, Wilbur, Orville
Ryan Wright is a prospect that was taken in the fifth round of the 2011 draft out of Louisville, KY. The local product is the kind of player that does all the little things. He doesn't have any overpowering tools, but there isn't a point in his game that will kill you. He can hit a little bit, will take some walks, can run the bases, and has a little pop. John Sickels also believes he is underrated out in the field. If John Sickels said it, then it must be true. The only glaring weakness I can see is his power dropped off last season, and he is turning 24 and hasn't played in AA, yet.
TYLER MAHLE, 19, RHP
Highest 2013 Level: Rookie Leagues (AZL Reds)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: 3.75 K/BB, 2.1 BB/9
Most Worrisome Fact: TINSTAAPP
Alias(es): DJ Mahle Marl; Rap Attack; Pop that Mahle
Nobody will vote for Mahle, but I like him, so you should hear about him. A 7th round pick in 2013 out of high school, Mahle, at 19, already has a nice combination of polish and projectability. He doesn't walk many guys, and while his strikeout numbers weren't overpowering, they were solidly mid-7s. He's still super young, and could rise up lists with a solid 2014.
KEVIN GARCIA, 20, OF
Highest 2013 Level: Rookie Leagues (Billings Mustangs)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: .309/.383/.447, 23 BB / 27 K
Most Worrisome Fact: 20 year old rookie-leaguer
Alias(es): Kevin from Venezuela?
Another low minors guy with upside. Garcia took the AZL by storm, playing all 3 outfield positions well and flashing both power and speed (.447 SLG; handful of steals). He knows how to work the strike zone, which is great to see, but he's a long ways away from the majors. I figured these last few names are more for education purposes than anything, but if Garcia showed up at the end of this list I wouldn't disapprove.
JOSH FELLHAUER, 26, OF
Highest 2013 Level: AAA (Louisville Bats)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: .359 OBP in AAA
Most Worrisome Fact: .358 SLG in AAA
Alias(es): The Hellflower
For a three-year player out of a solid program like Cal State Fullerton, you would have thought that the Hellflower would have been able to move more quickly. Entering his age 26 season, his 6th as a professional, Fellhauer just got to AAA for the first time last year. Fellhauer has shown the ability to get on base at every level (.351 career OBP), but he hasn't hit for power enough to stick at a corner OF position (.379 SLG). His minor league numbers are eerily similar to Skip Schumaker's, which isn't a huge compliment, but it's a thing nonetheless.
KYLE WALDROP, 22, OF
Highest 2013 Level: A+ (Bakersfield)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: 21 HR in 2013
Most Worrisome Fact: That was done in Bakersfield, and he had a .304 OBP with 121 Ks
Alias(es): Kyle Baldrop, The Wallflower
Kyle Waldrop was a 12th round pick in 2010 out of Ft. Myers, FL. He as had a little bit of an up and down professional career. What I mean by that is, he had one year with an OBP close to .350, the rest around .300. He has shown some power (21 HR in 2013), but that was in Bakersfield. But, he has shown a tendency to hit extra base hits and he is pretty decent on the basepaths. What Waldrop has is age on his side, and room for improvement. Look for him to start in AA to improve his stock.
AVAIN RACHAL, 19, 2B/3B
Highest 2013 Level: Rookie Leagues (Billings Mustangs)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: 17.6% BB% in 233 PA last season. That's insane.
Most Worrisome Fact: .108 ISO in 2013
Alias(es): F*R*I*E*N*D*S; ??
Yes, he's young. Sure, he has a looong way to go. But 17.6% walk-rate? It's not completely unheard of to sport ridiculous walk-rates in the Pioneer League, but he was still 3rd in the league for players with more than 200 PA. He struck out fewer times than he walked last year. That's a skill that's scarce in this organization, and it's even better that he's seen time all around the infield (although mostly second and third). He won't make the list, probably, but he's worthy of at least being in the conversation.