2015 Community Prospect Rankings: Tucker Barnhart is Your #18 Prospect!

Tucker Barnhart, the best defensive catcher in the Reds system, was finally put on our list.  Tucker is the guy the Reds have relied upon whenever they need another catcher.  His defense is already good to go, and is a wonder to watch, but he still needs some development to work on his offensive game.  He's a player that a lot of teams would like to have waiting in the wings, and I'm sure we'll see him in Cincinnati this year.

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, Sloppy Sal, The Real Salvatore, Big Italy, Meatball

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.

Carlton Daal, 21, SS

Highest 2014 Level: A (Dayton)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: Nothing truly eye-popping yet, but his .334 OBP ain't too shabby.
Most Worrisome Fact: 39 errors in 95 games in 2014
Alias(es): Alfonso Ribiero, New York Daal, Amon Daal II

The system got a bit more middle infield depth with the addition of Eugenio Suarez this winter, but the SS position is still one of the weakest in the organization.  Daal started the season in Dayton, which would be his first taste of full-season ball, and slashed .296/.334/.351 in 95 games before being shut down with a wrist injury in late July.  Daal managed to swipe 13 bases, and by all accounts showed good range at SS, but he committed a boat load of errors.  Scouting reports previous to this season all had him as an above average defender, and the majority of his errors were of the throwing variety, which led many to believe his issues were more mental than physical.  As long as he doesn't have a lingering case of Steve Blass disease, he should be able to get the errors down.

Junior Arias, 23, OF

Highest 2014 Level: A+ (Bakersfield)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: Missed a lot of 2014 with injuries, but stole 60 bases across 2 levels in 2013
Most Worrisome Fact: Hates walks. HATES them.
Alias(es): Don't Call Me Jodi; ??

Junior Arias is another low-minors toolshed. A plus runner with a big arm and some power, Arias was briefly tried at 3B before moving to center field, where many scouts think he can stick. He lost most of 2014 to a broken leg, but stole 60 bases in 2013. Arias has never walked much (career-worst 2.2% BB-rate in 230 Hi-A PA in 2013), but he's got power, speed, and defense working in his favor. He's getting old for his level, so he needs to pick up the developmental pace a bit, but he's got some tools to succeed. I would guess he starts in High-A Daytona, and moves to Pensacola relatively quickly if he performs.

Jeremy Kivel, 21, SP

Highest 2014 Level: Rookie (Billings)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: 9.7 K/9
Most Worrisome Fact: 12.0 H/9, 4.6 BB/9, and a 1.844 WHIP
Alias(es): Evil Kivel, Kivel Dead, Jui-Jitsu Jeremy

Jeremy Kivel was a taken in the 10th round of the 2013 draft.  He was considered a risky pick because of college commitments, but with one with high upside.  Kivel has a live arm and a very athletic build, and there is a lot of talk about his MMA hobbies.  The Reds have been taking it slow with Kivel, having him play in Rookie ball the last two years.  2014 was an up and down year for Kivel, striking out almost 10 batters per nine innings, but allowing way too many to reach base.  He was very hittable and wasn't stingy with the walks.  Kivel still has a lot of potential which keeps him on our lists.  Kivel should start the season in Dayton, and if he performs well, I think he'll get a shot in Daytona.