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Donald Lutz sneaks into the top 20 after a really solid season on that stacked Dayton team in 2011. If you don't know his story by now, he was born in Germany and didn't start playing baseball until he was 15, got discovered in the European junior championships, and the Reds signed him from there. He'll likely take his .850 OPS to Bakersfield in 2012.
Just a recap of where we're at so far, with 7 spots to go:
1. Devin Mesoraco
2. Zack Cozart
3. Billy Hamilton
4. Daniel Corcino
5. Neftali Soto
6. Robert Stephenson
7. Yorman Rodriguez
8. Todd Frazier
9. Henry Rodriguez
10. Didi Gregorius
11. Tony Cingrani
12. J.C. Sulbaran
13. Denis Phipps
14. Kyle Lotzkar
15. David Vidal
16. Juan Duran
17. Tucker Barnhart
18. Donald Lutz
Same choices, vote now.
Junior Arias, 3B, 20, BA-UR, Sickels-#19
(Billings) .251/.320/.452/.772, 8 HR, 30 RBI
Pros: Toolsy. Will be a monster at the plate if he can get his mechanics together and figures out how to hit. Time is on his side.
Cons: Still really raw. Went up a rookie ball level and numbers didn't improve. Does not walk.
Tim Crabbe, RHP, 24, BA-UR, Sickels-#14
(Dayton) 3.65 ERA, 24.2 IP, 25 K, 7 BB, 1.17 WHIP
(Bakersfield) 3.41 ERA, 111.0 IP, 123 K, 46 BB, 1.29 WHIP
Pros: Two above average pitches, profiles as a solid reliever. Put up good numbers in the Cally League, which is a pitcher's nightmare.
Cons: Needs a 3rd pitch if he wants to be a starter. Kind of old for his level, so needs to go to AA and pitch well.
Amir Garrett, LHP, 19, BA-UR, Sickels-UR
No pro stats yet
Pros: Throws 96. Athletic doesn't even begin to describe him. Chapman-esque delivery.
Cons: Is a basketball player. Very, very raw talent. Needs secondary pitches.
Chris Manno, LHP, 23, BA-UR, Sickels-UR
(Hagerstown) 1.04 ERA, 43.1 IP, 69 K, 15 BB, 0.81 WHIP
(Bakersfield) 0.53 ERA, 17.0 IP, 31 K, 6 BB, 0.71 WHIP
Pros: Amazing numbers since being traded, especially for the league environment. Deceptive delivery, with major league bullpen potential.
Cons: Below average fastball velocity. Secondary pitches need work.
Gabriel Rosa, 3B, 18, BA-UR, Sickels-#17
(AZL Reds) .245/.314/.406/.719, 2 HR, 10 RBI
Pros: Good speed on the basepaths, and scouts love his plate approach.
Cons: Rookie debut wasn't spectacular, still a very raw talent.
Josh Smith, RHP, 24, BA-UR, Sickels-UR
(Dayton) 2.97 ERA, 142.1 IP, 166 K, 33 BB, 1.09 WHIP
Pros: Struck out a lot of hitters last year, was the ace for a playoff team.
Cons: According to most scouting reports, doesn't really project as anything other than a back-of-the-rotation starter at best. Low 90s fastball, and his out pitch is a breaking ball that could get exploited by better hitters at higher levels.
Ryan Wright, 2B, 22, BA-UR, Sickels-UR
(Billings) .298/.348/.522/.870, 7 HR, 32 RBI
(AZL Reds) .318/.375/.636/1.011, 1 HR, 5 RBI
Pros: Showed good power potential. Should advance fast through the system. Versatile in the field.
Cons: Could walk more. Attended a school that jch likes.