2020 Red Reporter Community Prospect Rankings: Tony Santillan Is Your #6 Prospect!

While his 2019 wasn’t anything to write home about, Tony Santillan is a prospect that still has plenty of shine. You obviously think so because you didn’t sour on him near as much as I thought may be possible. If he can come back out in 2020 and show the control he found in 2018, I think Santillan could make a very fast rise in the Reds system. He has all the tools to make a significant impact, especially in the bullpen in the short and long term if the need is there. On to #7.

Tyler Callihan, 19, 2B/3B

Highest 2019 Level: Rookie (Billings)

Eye-Poppingest Fact: .172 ISO in 217 PAs in Greeneville. Good hit and power tool.

Most Worrisome Fact: 4.1 BB% and 21.2 K% in Greeneville. Maybe not the best defender.

Alias(es): Tyler Boy, Callihan Auto, Paint Chips

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Tyler Callihan was drafted by the Reds in last year’s draft in the third round out of Florida. At the time it was deemed a hard signing for the Reds because Callihan was well thought of and had a strong commitment to South Carolina. Instead, the Reds threw $1.5 mil at him to sign and were obviously lauded for doing so. Callihan is viewed by scouts as being a prospect that will be able to hit (55+ possible hit and power tool) with passable defense at 2B and 3B. Basically, he’ll find a place to play because the kid can hit. His only negative tool is that he isn’t very fast. Because of these facts, Callihan could be a fast riser on prospect lists with a good season. He’s not your typical high school draftee because there aren’t quite as many question marks about the kid.

In 2019, Callihan started the year in Greeneville where he got off to a slow start. He had a .250/.286/.422 slash line in 217 PAs. The bigger issues is Callihan didn’t show much of a propensity to take a walk with a walk rate less than 5%. But, it was also his first taste of pro ball and was facing a decent amount of college pitchers. Callihan did finish the year in Billings where he got a small sample size taste of success by hitting .400/.429/.650 in 21 plate appearances with a dinger and a triple. Obviously, the kid has decent power but will need to refine his approach going forward. Kudos for the Reds for continuing to be creative with the draft bonus pool and throw money around at high school kids with serious talent. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Callihan go to Dayton to start the year, but the Reds may be more cautious.

Stuart Fairchild, 23, CF

Highest 2019 level: AA Chattanooga

Eye-Poppingest Fact: Hit .285/.374/.484 in final 401 PA between A+/AA; backed that with .353/.405/.471 in Arizona Fall League play

Most Worrisome Fact: Turns 24 prior to Opening Day, so he’s been a bit old for every level; owner of just a .272 average in over 1200 MiLB PA to date

Alias(es): Stu Barnes, Beef Stu, Stubaccah, Fair Pole

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After drafting Hunter Greene 2nd overall in 2017, the Reds turned to Fairchild in the 2nd round that year, plucking him as a polished college bat out of Wake Forest. On the surface, you might think they did so to sign him for below-slot value after breaking the bank to sign Greene, but that’s not the case - he got the full ~$1.8 million signing bonus, largely because he’s always been viewed by most as a pretty damn talented two-way player.

2019 was his second full season as a pro, and things seemed to truly come together for Fairchild, even though he stumbled out of the gate a bit in his second stint in Daytona. 15 games into the year, he was hitting just .130/.203/.167 with 2 XBH to his name, but he’d been dealing with some hamstring issues that actually had him begin the year on the IL. Once he returned, though, things were massively different, and he went on to mash to the tune of .285/.374/.484 in final 401 PA split between Daytona and Chattanooga.

Keep in mind that both Daytona and Chattanooga are decidedly pitchers parks, and as a result his efforts as a Tortuga (130 wRC+) and as a Lookout (142 wRC+) look even better against the league averages. Stu is a high walk, low K bat who is plenty competent enough to play a solid CF, and has even swiped over 20 bags in a MiLB season already. That’s the kind of high-floor that makes his eventual big league debut quite likely, though he’s obviously not a super-upside sort of player. Still, that’s all the makings of a solid, attractive prospect, one who just might have a surprise up his sleeve when he reaches AAA and the super-streamlined ball. It’s no surprise that earned him an invite to big league camp in Goodyear this spring as a non-roster invitee.

Michael Siani, 20, CF

Highest 2019 Level: A (Dayton)

Eye-Poppingest Fact: .333 OBP and 45 steals with a 75% success rate.

Most Worrisome Fact: .086 ISO. Decently high BABIP with a low average.

Alias(es): Say It Aint So Siani, The Great Salami, Siani Eye Single

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Michael Siani was drafted in the 4th round of the 2018 draft where the Reds paid him a lot of money to not attend college. Coincidentally, the Reds were rumored to be interested in his brother in this draft but that did not manifest. So far, Siani has rewarded their Reds for opening up their pocket books by quietly having a pretty good year in Dayton. He didn’t hit for power, and doesn’t really profile as a power hitter. However, he got on base and played the incredibly sick defense scouts thought he could play. Dude has like legit 60 play grades across the defensive board including his 60 speed. There is thought that if he can make his bat play up he’s a future Gold Glove kind of guy.

The issue with Siani going forward will be hit bat. Scouts are a bit skeptical if he’ll be able to make enough contact and has enough power to keep him moving up. We’re not talking Billy Hamilton bad here, but Siani does have his limitations. Still, all reports indicate he’s a solid young man, very coachable, and a hard worker. It’s also super nice to see his plate discipline while being one of the youngest players to play a whole season in Single A ball. Expect Siani to start the season in Daytona.