RR Community Prospect Rankings: Boxy Brown won't let The Man keep him down

Devin Mesoraco, C:

2007 first round pick has yet to show skills at the plate, although his peripherals are improving, and this year's numbers were likely depressed by the Florida State League. Has improved his line drive rate and isolated power each year in the minors, and walk rate this year was a very solid 10%. Defensively, still a work in progress, but improving: threw out 30% of attempted stealers this year. Still young, but needs to perform in 2010.

Baseball America rank: NR
2009 RR CPR rank: 11
2010 John Sickels Rank: NR
Age: 22
Draft/Acquisition Details: 1st round (15th pick), Reds, 2007
Highest Level Played: A+ (Sarasota)

2009 Statistics:

Sarasota (A+): 92 G, 312 AB, 8 HR, 37 RBI, 0 SB, .228/.311/.381/.692

Neftali Soto, 3B:

Very toolsy, but had a down year. Like Mesoraco, numbers were depressed by playing in the Florida State League. Has been very young for every level he's played as a pro, and dominated until this season. Makes decent contact, but doesn't walk much. Very good power potential and potential to hit for average. Question where he fits defensively. Might be moved to the outfield.

Baseball America rank: NR
2009 RR CPR rank: 2
2010 John Sickels Rank: 15
Age: 21
Draft/Acquisition Details: 3rd round (109th pick), Reds, 2007
Highest Level Played: A+ (Sarasota)

2009 Statistics:

Sarasota (A+): 131 G, 505 AB, 11 HR, 57 RBI, 1 SB, .248/.282/.362/.644
Caguas (PR): 1 G, 3 AB, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, .667/.667/1.333/2.000

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:

Dayton (A): 22 GS, 5-5, 5.24 ERA, 92.2 IP, 100 K, 51 BB, 1.56 WHIP