:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52836507/Stephenson_960_5cisdecj_am7goyhz.0.0.jpg)
After an injury-riddled season, Tyler Stephenson slides into the top-10 at the #9 spot. After a successful 2015 in Billings, wrist injuries and a concussion derailed his sophomore season in the minors. The former 11th overall pick slashed only .216/.278/.324 in Dayton last year and showed very little power. Thankfully, he is still young and will have plenty of chances to show why the Reds were so high on him coming out of high school.
This edition of the CPR will be a little different. If you didn’t know, the Reds made some moves today and were able to add three more prospects to the system. Since we are already 9 prospects deep into our rankings, the addition of Luis Castillo leaves us in sort of a pickle. We originally thought we’d just add him to the next round of votes, but that wouldn’t be fair because some of us might believe he is better than the 10th best prospect in the Reds’ system. Since we are the most accurate prospect ranking system of them all, and since they are the Community Prospect Rankings, we decided to let you guys decide where to slot Mr. Castillo. I will have a write-up below followed by a normal poll to determine where in the top-10 he belongs. So vote early, vote often, and don’t believe anything negative about our newly acquired prospects because it’s all fake news.
Luis Castillo, RHP, 24
Highest 2016 Level: AA (Jacksonville)
Eye-Poppingest Fact: Fastball that can reach triple digits, 4.12 BB/K in 2016, allowed just 14 home runs in 380 career innings.
Most Worrisome Fact: 24 years old and has barely pitched in AA, 7.0 K/9 in 2016.
Alias(es): "The Other Luis Castillo", "El Castillo", "Blanco Castillo"
Luis Castillo has had an interesting 6 months. He was traded at the deadline to the San Diego Padres in the Andrew Cashner deal but was sent back to Miami when Colin Rea, another prospect in the deal, was injured just days after the trade. After finishing the season in AA-Jacksonville, he was brought to the Reds in the 4-player deal that sent Dan Straily to the Marlins.
Castillo originally started his minor league career in the bullpen and then made the switch to the rotation in July 2015. His breakout season came in 2016 where he posted a 4.12 BB/K and 1.00 WHIP in 131.2 innings. He has a high power arm with a fastball that sits at 96-97 and has reached as high as 101. He also shows great control, posting a 1.7 BB/9 in 2016. To go along with his high-powered fastball he throws a curveball and is said to be working on a change-up. He should look to start the 2017 season in AA-Pensacola.
UP-TO-DATE COMMUNITY PROSPECT RANKINGS FOR 2017:
1. Nick Senzel
2. Jesse Winker
3. Cody Reed
4. Amir Garrett
6. Taylor Trammell
7. Aristides Aquino
8. Vladimir Gutierrez
9. Tyler Stephenson
10. ??????????????