2015 Community Prospect Rankings: Seth Mejias-Brean is Your #15 Prospect!

It was a very close race between Corcino, Moscot, and Mejias-Brean, but in the end Seth Mejias Band came out on top.  As we have said before, Mejias-Brean isn't the sexiest of prospects.  He is one of the safer ones, though.  Seth brings plus defense, an advanced approach, and decent pop to the plate.  There is a good chance he starts the season in AA, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him start the season at AAA Louisville.

Daniel Corcino, 24, SP

Highest 2014 Level: MLB (Cincinnati)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: 4.13 ERA in AA.
Most Worrisome Fact: 1.61 K/BB in AA.
Alias(es): 'Lil Cueto, Cuetinho

Daniel Corcino had one of those seasons that make you scratch your head.  His 2013 was abysmal, so the Reds had him go back down to AA for 2014.  He pitched decently well with a 4.13 ERA in 143.2 innings pitched.  His K/BB ratio was below two.  His walks were too high, and his strikes too low.  To be honest, he was probably surviving from a low BABIP.  He pitched a few innings at AAA, but then was a September call up to the Reds.  He would pitch 18.2 innings with a 4.34 ERA in 3 starts and 2 relief appearances.  His rate stats were basically the same in Cincinnati compared to Pensacola, albeit with a short sample size.  Corcino has all the tools to be a very good pitcher with a mid 90's fastball and a very promising slider, but it is all about putting it together.

Jon Moscot, 23, SP

Highest 2014 Level: AAA (Louisville)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: 3.13 ERA at Pensacola in 2014
Most Worrisome Fact: 6.5 K/9 in 2014
Alias(es): Gopper, Moscot-o d'Asti

With a wealth of right-handed starting pitching prospects in the organization, it's easy to forget about Jon Moscot.  The former 4th-round pick has climbed the organizational ladder all the way from rookie ball to AAA in just two and a half seasons.  This season saw his strikeouts drop to an all-time low of 6.5 K/9 in 2014 from 8.6 K/9 in 2013, which is worrisome, but he was also able to lower his walk rate to 2.7 BB/9 on the year.  Moscot doesn't have a huge arm, but his control is above average, and he commands 4 pitches.  He'll likely start the season in Louisville, with a chance of getting a call-up should the Reds need a starting pitcher at some point this season.

Tucker Barnhart, 24, C

Highest 2014 Level: AAA (Louisville)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: .341 career MiLB OBP
Most Worrisome Fact: SLG (.316) lower than his OBP (.319) in AAA
Alias(es): Friar Tucker, Tucker? I hardly knew her!, Marshall, Drive By Tucker

Tucker Barnhart got his first taste of Major League ball this season, filling in twice for an injured Devin Mesoraco and getting a couple starts in September after rosters expanded.  Two things seemed clear in the limited sample size Tucker spent with the Reds: his defense is major league ready, but the bat is not.  Barnhart had his worst season at the plate in 2014, slashing .246/.319/.316 (all career lows) in Louisville.  Prospects struggling in their first taste of AAA is nothing new, and nothing to worry about yet.  Barnhart doesn't have a ton of distance between his floor and his ceiling, which is why he'll never be a sexy prospect, but a slick fielding catcher that can get on base is a valuable thing.  Let's hope he can figure out how to get back on base his second go-'round in AAA.

Sal Romano, 21, SP

Highest 2014 Level: A (Dayton)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: 3.05 K/BB ratio
Most Worrisome Fact: 1.422 WHIP
Alias(es): Sweaty Sal, The Real Salvatore, Big Italy

Sal Romano was the taken in the 23rd round of the 2011 draft out of high school.  He repeated Single A Dayton in 2014 and put up some pretty good numbers.  He struck batters out at a decent clip (7.8 K/9) and kept batters off the bases via the walk (2.5 BB/9).  He was susceptible to giving up hits, if you would reference his WHIP, but I want to chalk it up to that bad Dayton defense.  Romano is a big kid, listed at 6'4 and 250 pounds.  His fastball sits in the low to mid 90's and he has a good curveball.  There is a lot to like about Sal, and good reason the Reds paid him over slot to skip out on attending the University of Tennessee.

Juan Silva, 24, OF

Highest 2014 Level: A+ (Bakersfield)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: 48 walks and 49 strikeouts in 307 PAs.  34 steals in 43 chances
Most Worrisome Fact: .127 ISO and injury problems
Alias(es): High Ho Silva

People may not expect to see Juan Silva on the list, yet.  However, he's always been a guy I've liked.  He plays good outfield defense, and has shown the ability and willingness to take a walk at every level.  He's drastically cut down on his strikeouts from early in his career, lowering his strikeout rate every single year.  The problem is he has shown very little power.  In the California League, which is notorious giving players a power boost, he only hit 4 home runs in 2014.  He's never had over 500 PAs in a season, and only 307 last year.  I don't know specifically what his injury was, but it seems like he barely played in the latter half of the season.  The Reds have had Silva take it slow, only making it to A+ after six seasons in the minors.  He's 24 coming in to this season and hopefully they will be more aggressive with him.  That all depends on Silva staying on the field.