2020 Red Reporter Community Prospect Rankings: Tyler Callihan Is #9!

Things are starting to get more murky and a bit more weird here in this year’s CPR. Like I said from the get go the top of the order might be an argument but was pretty clear on what names should be there. Now, that we’ve gotten into the bottom part of the top ten variability starts to ramp up a notch. Tyler Callihan is a good prospect and one to be excited for. But, it’s also hard to get excited for a guy that just finished his first full year of pro ball. Luckily, for him and us, he grades out as a real good hitter and has time on his side. It will be exciting to see if he’ll get to gut it out in Dayton this year. The Reds have done similar things with high school draftees in the past, like Mike Siani.

Rece Hinds, 19, 3B

Highest 2019 Level: Rookie (Greeneville)

Eye-Poppingest Fact: walked twice

Most Worrisome Fact: has never once picked up a hit as a professional

Alias(es): ‘Spoon, 57

BB-Ref Page

If you thought there was very little to go on with Siani and even less with Callihan, allow me to introduce you to Rece Hinds. Hinds, 19, was the 49th overall draft pick last year when the Reds plucked him in the 2nd round, and the 6’4” power-blaster has the natural ability to obliterate baseballs that few his age, or older, possess.

Of course, we just haven’t had the chance to see any of it yet.

Hinds logged just 10 PA for the Greeneville Reds in 2019 before a leg muscle injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year. In that time he picked up nary a hit, walked twice, struck out thrice, and drove in a lone run. So, we’re not exactly ranking him anywhere based on what he’s done to date, but rather his natural tools.

He’s listed at 215 lb for now, but will likely continue to fill out, and his size certainly helps fuel his powerful swing, which at this juncture is his calling card. He’ll swing and miss plenty - who doesn’t these days - but the Reds were obviously high enough on him to sign him for some $1.8 million last summer, and there are ample tools there. Hopefully, we get to see them on display healthily in 2020, with some dingers as a Dayton Dragon in his near future.

Packy Naughton, 23, LHP

Highest 2019 Level: AA Chattanooga

Eye-Poppingest Fact: 2.0 BB/9 in A+ and AA across 157 innings. 7.5 K/9 and 0.6 HR/9

Most Worrisome Fact: 9.1 H/9. Does he have good enough stuff keep hitters honest?

Alias(es): Sweet Packy Malacky, Wacky Packy Tobbaccy, Naughton or Nice

I didn’t really know who to choose so I decided to throw one of my favorite prospects of 2019 into the mix. That guy is Packy Naughton. Packy had one of the more exciting and more prosperous seasons last year. Naughton was drafted out of the 9th round of the 2017 draft out of Virginia Tech, and ever since being drafted by the Reds has pitched pretty well. For the most part, he’s been a guy that’s controlled the walks, homers, while striking out a few guys. For him to get to AA at the age of 22 is pretty good for a guy with his stuff. You usually see them struggle at certain steps before they progress.

There really isn’t much to say about the guy outside that he is boring but good. He pitches anywhere from 87-94 MPH with good deception and movement. He does have an above average change up which could help Naughton stick as a reliever if he flames out as a starter. The problem is a slurvy kind of breaking ball that often doesn’t stick as a curveball or a slider because of poor mechanics. If he can refine some kind of third pitch it would go a long way to getting to the bigs. Right now he’s a #5 ceiling pitcher or a good middle inning reliever. That’s not bad, but he’s up on the list right now because of his real good 2019.

Lyon Richardson, 20, RHP

Highest 2019 Level: A (Dayton)

Eye-Poppingest Fact: 2.6 BB/9 and 8.5 K/9 in 112.2 innings in Dayton.

Most Worrisome Fact: 10.1 H/9, 1.411 WHIP

Alias(es): Lyonheart, Lyer Lyer, Lyon

BB-Ref Page

You know, I maybe should have put this guy up there a bit earlier. Looking at his number, he had a much better 2019 than I remembered. Also, it’s his birthday on January 18th! Happy Birthday, Mr. Richardson! He’ll be 20. Lyon Richardson was the 2nd round draft pick for the Reds in 2019. He’s a kid with a big fastball, grading out at 60, and hitting 97. He was actually shutdown in 2018 because his velocity dipped, was diagnosed with a sore elbow, and the Reds had every reason to be cautious. He mixes with that fastball a good slider and an emerging change up. Though he’s had some early control issues, scouts rate him with having average control going forward. For a 2nd round pick, you’d think there’d be a little more pomp with this guy but you don’t hear much about him.

Like I said, he quietly had a good season in 2019. He had a 4.15 ERA in 112.2 innings. If you look at the eye-poppingest fact you’ll see the best part. He limited the walks, while striking out some batter, which came out to the tune of a 3.21 K/BB ratio. My rule is anything over 3.00 is good. Anything over 4.00 is great. If you’re over 5.00? You’re at the top of my lists. All of that came at Dayton as a 19 year old which is pretty fantastic. He did get hit around a bit which led to a high WHIP, but I don’t care much due to the variability of that. He should get his start in Daytona, which is pretty cool.