2015 CPR: Michael Lorenzen Edges Out Raisel Iglesias for #3

Not quite enough hell was raised by the Raisel Iglesias contingent, as Michael Lorenzen slides into the #3 spot in this year's rankings with 42% of the vote, to Iglesias' 39%, a margin of just six votes. There's no denying Lorenzen's excellent 2014, in which he made mincemeat of the Southern League, posting a 3.13 ERA despite striking out just over 6 per 9 over 120 innings. That was along with low but not crazy low BABIP of .285. I feel pretty confident we'll see him in a wishbone-C at some point this season. Potentially before September if he continues to pitch well.

Alriiiiiight, one new name today that may cause some dissension in the ranks. Oh, and I filled in a few nicknames from last season as well.

Anthony DeSclafani, SP, 24

Highest 2014 Level: MLB (Miami Marlins)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: 1.4 BB/9 in the MLB with a 5.2 K/BB ratio
Most Worrisome Fact: 6.27 ERA in 33 innings with Miami.
Alias(es): Dino Spumoni, Tony Spaghetti 2.0, Disco, Gwen Sclafani

Anthony DeSclafani was the headliner in the deal for Mat Latos.  He was a 6th round pick out of the University of Florida by the Toronto Blue Jays.  He's pretty use to trades after being traded from Toronto in the Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle trade.  DeSclafani throws a low to mid 90's fastball with a plus slider and a workable changeup.  He has also been working on bring back his curveball.  DeSclafani is an aggressive pitcher who tries to control the strike zone and generate ground balls.  I posted his MLB numbers above because that seems to be what people focused on the most.  His MLB peripherals were good, but his results were not.  He showed the same ability to strikeout batters and keep walks low in AA and AAA last year.  I like to believe that his MLB numbers could have been a lot better.  DeSclafani will challenge for a spot in the Reds rotation, and if he fails will start in AAA.

Raisel Iglesias, SP/RP, 24

Highest 2014 Level: Arizona Fall League
Eye-Poppingest Fact: Gave up only 1 hit in 7 innings in the AZL
Most Worrisome Fact: Walked 3 batters in those 7 innings.
Alias(es): Racy Church, Tiny Dancer, Raise Hell [Eagle], Speed Raisel

Raisel Iglesias was signed by the Reds this summer for 7 years and $27 million dollars.  The eye poppingest and most worrisome facts are kind of a joke.  All we've seen Iglesias do is throw 7 innings in the Arizona Fall League.  They were 7 scoreless innings and he only gave up 1 hit.  If the Reds gave this much money to a guy you expect him to be good and that's why he going up on the voting list.  Iglesias can hit mid 90's out of the bullpen and has a good slurve/slider thing and has been working on a changeup.  He throws from a variety of different arm slots and is an athletic kid.  He is probably ready for AA right now.  Most scouts view Iglesias as a reliever, but the Reds have had luck turning relievers in to starters and that seems to be their plan for Iglesias.  Another draw back is his build.  He only measures in at 5'11 and 160 pounds, but scouts also believe he could fill out more.

Yorman Rodriguez, OF, 22

Highest 2014 Level: MLB (Cincinnati Reds)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: .331 OBP in AA Pensacola
Most Worrisome Fact: 117 K's in 502 PA's
Alias(es): Tool Shed, Our Man, Michaelangelo

Here he is again, your perennial 5 tool player.  The guy that has been on this list longer than anyone else.  Yorman had himself an up and down year.  He started off slow, found himself injured, but came on like gangbusters at the end.  His hot end to the season was rewarded with a September call up to the big league squad, even if Bryan Price never played him.  The slow start had me hating pretty hard of Yorman at the beginning, but he ended up putting up a better season at AA than the year before.  He rose his BB% to 9.4, lowered his K% to 23.3, and raised his ISO 10 points.  His K rate is still way too high, but he continues to improve on his walk ability.  Yorman has all the tools to succeed as we have talked about before, but it all depends on him putting it all together.  He'll have to do it soon because he has only one option year left with the Reds.  Here is a fun fact.  Yorman is 22.  The Reds signed him when he was 16.  If he were a normal American player he'd just be finishing up his college career.

Phillip Ervin, OF, 22

Highest 2014 Level: A (Dayton)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: 30 steals with 5 caught stealing.
Most Worrisome Fact: 7 home runs in 561 PA's
Alias(es): Uncle Phil, Magic, Phil-pieces, The Slammer from Samford, Phlervin

Phillip Ervin was a 2013 first round pick out of Samford University.  He was the first ever first round pick from the university.  Ervin has all the tools to be a top prospect.  He has outstanding bat speed, good power, speed, and looks to be able to stick in CF.  What he's had problems with is injuries, and it looks like injuries derailed his 2014 season.  At the start of the season it is discovered that Ervin had double secret wrist surgery in the off season.  Apparently, it was some pretty serious stuff and his offense suffered for it.  He stuck it out and played the entire year, but we were hoping for more out of a 21/22 year old first round pick in single A.  He hit .237/.305/.376 in 2014, but his BB% (8.2%) and K% (19.6) weren't the worst things in the world.  He did steal 30 bases, and reports made it sound like his defense in center was good.  I'll assume he starts the season in A+ Daytona and hopefully can put the 2014 season in the rear view mirror.

Nick Travieso, SP, 20

Highest 2014 Level: A (Dayton)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: 3.03 ERA in 142 innings
Most Worrisome Fact: 3.93 FIP
Alias(es): Naughty Nick, Krampus

Nick Travieso was a bit of a surprise pick when the Reds selected him 14th overall in the 2012 draft.  His first full season in 2013 where he threw 81 innings of 4.63 ERA ball had people questioning the selection.  2014 saw Travieso break out in a big way in his second year in Dayton.  He increased his innings to 142, dropped his ERA to 3.03, lowered his walk rate and increased his K rate.  He finished off the season strong, posting a 1.22 ERA in his final 9 starts, holding the opposition to a.164/.280/.232 line.  Travieso should start the 2015 season in Daytona.

Aristides Aquino, OF, 20

Highest 2014 Level: Rookie (Billings)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: .285 ISO in 307 AB
Most Worrisome Fact: 4.9% walk-rate
Alias(es): Aristides a Little Bit Taller, Aristides a Baller; Skee-Lo; Heiress Titties

I'm a fan. Guys like this might be my favorite type of prospect to follow. Tantalizingly gifted, raw, flashes of brilliance, lots of refining needed. This 6'4/190 Dominican power-speed threat put together a really nice 2014 season in Billings: .292/.347/.577 with 16 HR and 21 SB in a mere 71 games, facing mostly college pitchers. Fangraphs' Kiley McDaniel hears from a Reds exec that Aquino is the "most advanced Latin hitter the organization has had in a long time." There are potential contact issues, evidenced by a 21.5% K-rate, and a puny 4.9% walk-rate is far from ideal, although his solid defensive track record suggests he'll likely end up a RF. Scouts are raving about him, and with another big season he could have some serious helium in future top 100ish lists. He'll start in Dayton.