El Nino Destructor has been voted the #8 prospect in the Reds system, and he's coming to a ball field near you to hit some pitches and eat some children. He'll tell you where you can stick your talk of BB/K ratios and defensive value. He says walking is for pansies, while real men jog around the bases.
Juan is possibly the most divisive prospect in the Reds system, and no matter what happens, someone will be able to smugly say "I told you so" (which, after all, is the whole point of internet blogs, right?) I, for one, hope I am proven wrong and that he can come up and mash his way into the starting lineup and be a solid contributor for the big club. I guess only time will tell, but in the meantime, he'll just keep devouring youngsters
Today, for the #9 vote, you get two more choices. A pitcher and hitter, each with significant upside but also with significant questions. Brad Boxberger has a great fastball and solid command. He was fantastic in Lynchburg as a starter but was absolutely terrible in Carolina as a reliever. Who is the real Boxy? Ryan LaMarre was the Reds 2nd round pick in 2010, and he has scouts divided. Some say he profiles as an above average CF, while others consider him a 'tweener', with not enough speed or arm for center, and not enough power for a corner. He'll be an interesting one to watch this season, because if the power develops, his ceiling is a solid hitting and elite defensive corner outfielder.
Bradley Boxberger, RHP
John Sickels Rank: 12
2010 RR CPR Rank: 12
Age: 22
Draft/Acquisition Details: 1st round (43rd overall) Reds, 2009
Highest Level Played: Carolina (AA)
2010 Statistics:
Lynchburg (A+): 14 G, 13 GS, 4-6, 3.19 ERA, 62 IP, 70 K, 20 BB, 1.24 WHIP
Carolina (AA): 22 G, 0 GS, 1-4, 8.49 ERA, 29.2 IP, 40 K, 22 BB, 1.92 WHIP
2010 RR CPR Rank: 12
Age: 22
Draft/Acquisition Details: 1st round (43rd overall) Reds, 2009
Highest Level Played: Carolina (AA)
Lynchburg (A+): 14 G, 13 GS, 4-6, 3.19 ERA, 62 IP, 70 K, 20 BB, 1.24 WHIP
Carolina (AA): 22 G, 0 GS, 1-4, 8.49 ERA, 29.2 IP, 40 K, 22 BB, 1.92 WHIP
Zack Cozart, SS
John Sickels Rank: 11
2010 RR CPR Rank: 9
Age: 25
Draft/Acquisition Details: Round 2 (Pick 79), 2007, Reds
Highest Level Played: AAA (Louisville)
2010 Statistics:
Louisville (AAA): 136 G, 553 AB, 17 HR, 67 RBI, 30 SB, .255/.310/.416/.726
Donnie Joseph, LHP
John Sickels Rank: 8
2010 RR CPR Rank: 21
Age: 23
Draft/Acquisition Details: 3rd round (88th overall), 2009, Reds
Highest Level Played: AA (Carolina)
2010 Statistics:
Dayton (A): 19 G, 6 SV, 0.78 ERA, 23 IP, 40 K, 7 BB, 0.87 WHIP
Lynchburg (A+): 31 G, 17 SV, 2.31 ERA, 35 IP, 56 K, 16 BB, 1.11 WHIP
Carolina (AA): 7 G, 1 SV, 5.14 ERA, 7 IP, 7 K, 2 BB, 1.29 WHIP
Ryan LaMarre, OF
John Sickels Rank: 17
2010 RR CPR Rank: n/a
Age: 22
Draft/Acquisition Details: 2nd round (62 overall), Reds, 2010
Highest Level Played: Lynchburg (A+)
2010 Statistics:
Dayton (A): 60 G, 227 AB, 5 HR, 29 RBI, 18 SB, .282/.370/.396/.767
Lynchburg (A+): 8 G, 27 AB, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 SB, .222/.276/.407/.683
Kyle Lotzkar, LHP
John Sickels Rank: 9
2010 RR CPR Rank: NA
Age: 21
Draft/Acquisition Details: 1st round (53rd overall), 2007, Reds
Highest Level Played: A (Dayton)
2010 Statistics:
AZL Reds (Rookie): 8 G, 6 GS, 3.33 ERA, 24 IP, 27 K, 12 BB, 1.32 WHIP
Billings (Rookie): 4 G, 4 GS, 0.45 ERA, 20 IP, 33 K, 2 BB, 0.50 WHIP
Dave Sappelt, OF
John Sickels Rank: 13
2010 RR CPR Rank: N/R
Age: 24
Draft/Acquisition Details: 9th round, Reds, 2008
Highest Level Played: AAA (Louisville)
2010 Statistics:
Lynchburg (A+): 19 G, 71 AB, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 6 SB, .282/.338/.352/.690
Carolina (AA): 89 G, 330 AB, 9 HR, 62 RBI, 15 SB, .361/.416/.548/.964
Louisville (AAA): 25 G, 108 AB, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 4 SB, .324/.365/.481/.847