Another off day, and another look at how the Reds minor leaguers are performing.
Teams:
- LOUISVILLE BATS (AAA) - The Bats are 21-25 and 3rd out of 4 in the IL West, 3 games back of Columbus. Drew Stubbs and Norris Hopper are currently 12th and 14th in the IL in hitting, which is a huge improvement from the last time we checked in on them. Jonny Gomes, despite having been on the big league club for the last week, is tied for 3rd in the IL in home runs, is 6th in slugging percentage, and 7th in OPS. Looking for more HAVOC in the outfield? Drew Stubbs is 2nd in the IL in stolen bases with 16, and is 2nd in doubles. On the pitching side, Matt Maloney is 7th in ERA, and at 5-2, the newly acquired Justin Lehr is tied for 2nd in the league in wins. Matt Maloney is also 2nd in innings pitched and 7th in strikeouts.
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CAROLINA MUDCATS (AA) - The Mudcats are 22-24, but that's good for 2nd in the SL North, 2.5 games back of Huntsville. Chris Heisey is still the man down here, with a 1.016 OPS to lead the Southern League. He's also 4th in OBP, 4th in AVG, 2nd in SLG, 7th in HR, and 5th in stolen bases. Juan Francisco is also hitting with some pop in his bat, as he's 3rd in the SL in HR and 2nd in RBI. The pitching is also another huge piece of the puzzle there, as Travis Wood is leading the league in ERA at 1.38. Also, Jordan Smith is 4th in that category and James Avery is 8th. Woody is also 7th in strikeouts and Smith is 3rd in WHIP.
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SARASOTA REDS (A+) - Sarasota's 18-25 and in 5th place in the FSL South, 10.5 games behind Fort Myers. Yonder Alonso is 7th in the FSL in OPS, 6th in HR, and tied for 1st in RBI. Unfortunately, he's pretty much the only Sarasota Red that's hitting. Zach Stewart is 6th in the league in ERA, and is now in Carolina. Jeremy Horst is 9th in ERA and 2nd in innings pitched. Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette is tied for 6th in saves with 6.
- DAYTON DRAGONS (A) - The Dragons are 18-28 and 5th in MWL East, and are 13 games back behind West Michigan. Featured Farmhand Cody Puckett is 10th in the MWL in OPS, 3rd in the league in HR, and 9th in RBI. Outfielder David Sappelt is 8th in stolen bases. Matt Fairel is 3rd in strikeouts.
Red Reporter Top 15 Prospects List:
- #1 Yonder Alonso - 1B - .290/.367/.490, 6 HR, 35 RBI (Sarasota)
Yonder's hitting now, really in the swing of things. I wouldn't be surprised to see him make the jump to Carolina soon.
- #2 Neftali Soto - 3B - .264/.296/.377, 4 HR, 13 RBI (Sarasota)
We're seeing a really disappointing season for Neftali so far. Still plenty of time for him to turn things around, but he's been unimpressive so far.
- #3 Todd Frazier - LF/1B - .308/.346/.450, 2 HR, 23 RBI (Carolina)
Todd's still putting up solid numbers across the board, except still not hitting many home runs. He could stand to walk more too, with a 22/10 K/BB ratio.
- #4 Drew Stubbs - CF - .311/.405/.444, 1 HR, 15 RBI (Louisville)
Stubbs is looking like the leadoff hitter of the future, and putting himself in a pretty nice position for a September callup. His 16 SB is more than the current big league leadoff hitter, and he's got an 80% success rate.
- #5 Chris Valaika - SS - .161/.210/.290, 3 HR, 7 RBI (Louisville)
Not much better than last time we checked, but he's been injured since May 7th.
- #6 Juan Francisco - 3B - .247/.271/.458, 9 HR, 33 RBI (Carolina)
Same story as before. Solid numbers, and lots of power, but no plate discipline (47/7 K/BB).
- #7 Daryl Thompson - SP - 1-2, 6.59 ERA, 8 K, 6 BB (Louisville)
Not great in 6 starts. Has gone pretty far to establish himself as below Matt Maloney and Ramon Ramirez on the depth chart.
- #8 Kyle Lotzkar - SP
Kyle is still in extended spring training. Players have started to come out of there lately, so hopefully Lotzkar will be next. I'm anxious to see what he can do this year.
- #9 Chris Dickerson - OF - .229/.369/.349, 2 HR, 7 RBI (Cincinnati)
Dickerson has turned into the solid 4th outfielder everyone thought he could be. Way to be, Dickie.
- #10 Josh Roenicke - RP 1-0, 4 SV, 4.15 ERA, 16 G, 17.1 IP, 21 K, 2 BB (Louisville)
He's giving up more runs than he did last year, but his control has been stellar. Also, don't be alarmed with that saves number, Louisville seems to be doing a closer-by-committee thing this year.
- #11 Devin Mesoraco - C - .185/.287/.319, 2 HR, 13 RBI (Sarasota)
From most reports, Devin's getting better with the pitchers, but the bat still hasn't come around. Time to be concerned?
- #12 Danny Dorn - OF - .191/.256/.326, 5 HR, 12 RBI (Louisville)
Dorn isn't hitting either. He's been better lately, but still under the Mendoza line.
- #13 Yorman Rodriguez - OF
Still extended ST, will probably start in the GCL.
- #14 Zach Stewart - RP - 2-1, 1.69 ERA, 42 K, 10 BB (Sarasota/Carolina)
Z-Stew is putting together a hell of a season so far. In his 11 innings in AA so far, he hasn't given up a run yet.
- #15 Juan Duran - OF
Same as Rodriguez, probably headed to the GCL.
5 Top Hitters (min 100 AB)
- Chris Heisey (Carolina) - .357/.438/.577, 1.016 OPS
- Jonny Gomes (Louisville) - .282/.361/.580, .941 OPS
- Cody Puckett (Dayton) - .299/.347/.548, .895 OPS
- Yonder Alonso (Sarasota) - .290/.367/.490, .858 OPS
- Drew Stubbs (Louisville) - .311/.405/.444, .850 OPS
5 Top Pitchers (min 20 IP)
- Logan Ondrusek (Carolina) - 3-0, 0.74 ERA, 16 K, 7 BB
- Enerio Del Rosario (Sarasota) - 2-1, 1.32 ERA, 21 K, 5 BB
- Travis Wood (Carolina) - 3-3, 1.38 ERA, 41 K, 29 BB
- Zach Stewart (Carolina) - 2-1, 1.69 ERA, 42 K, 10 BB
- Derrik Lutz (Carolina) - 1-2, 2.08 ERA, 17 K, 10 BB
10 More Prospects To Watch
- Norris Hopper (OF, Louisville) - .305/.336/.405, 0 HR, 15 RBI
- Zack Cozart (SS, Carolina) - .262/.340/.384, 2 HR, 19 RBI
- Tony Brown (OF, Sarasota) - .267/.353/.383, 2 HR, 11 RBI
- Byron Wiley (OF, Dayton) - .245/.393/.400, 2 HR, 15 RBI
- Carlos Mendez (3B, Dayton) - .316/.347/.376, 1 HR, 13 RBI
- Robert Manuel (RHRP, Louisville) - 2-2, 2.77 ERA, 22 K, 8 BB
- Jordan Smith (RHSP, Carolina) - 4-0, 2.45 ERA, 22 K, 7 BB
- Alexander Smit (LHSP, Carolina) - 1-0, 3.23 ERA, 35 K, 17 BB
- Jeremy Horst (LHSP, Sarasota) - 2-4, 2.19 ERA, 36 K, 15 BB
- Lance Janke (LHSP, Dayton) - 1-2, 2.90 ERA, 32 K, 5 BB