2020 Red Reporter Community Prospect Rankings: Lyon Richardson Is #10!

The 2020 offseason will be known for the epic battle between Packy Naughton and Lyon Richardson for who should be the #10 prospect in the organization. By the tiniest of margins, you decided that man should be Lyon Richardson. The gap of votes for this decision was just four votes. Four. If you think voting doesn’t matter, you’re wrong! Democracy in action! Now, we move to the teens.

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.

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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.

Jameson Hannah, 22, OF

Highest 2019 Level: A+ Daytona

Eye-Poppingest Fact: .339 OBP. Good Defense.

Most Worrisome Fact: No Power. None

Alias(es): Irish Whiskey, Hannah Barbera,

Jameson Hannah came to the Reds in return for the titan that was Tanner Roark. Actually, if you think about it Hannah is a pretty good return. I think he was a Top 10 prospect in the A’s organization and slots just about right there for the Reds. Hannah is one of those high floor, slow ceilings guys. He’s stable but not anything super exciting. He gets on base. He play solid defense. He can get the bat on the ball. He slashed .274/.339/.369 for 2019 playing exclusively at A+. Though, he did only steal eight bases and was caught eight times.

Scouts also aren’t that low on him right now. Even though he hasn’t hit well, he grades out with a 45 power grade. He also has a supposed 55 grade hit tool. All of these should make Hannah a more intriguing player going forward. As of right now he looks like a 4th OF candidate but one that should stick in CF because of his athleticism. Maybe, just maybe, he’ll make some kind of gigantic leap in AA.