Reds to Sell Sarasota Affiliate to Pirates
The Pirates are in the process of purchasing the Reds’ high Class A Sarasota affiliate and relocating it to their spring training complex in Bradenton for the 2010 season, a pair of sources confirmed on Wednesday. The Reds’ high A affiliate would play next year in Lynchburg, which has hosted the Pirates since 1995.
Baseball America correspondent, and Cincinnati Enquirer Reds beat writer, John Fay first reported the deal on his Reds Insider blog.
The two organizations would essentially swap player-development contracts in 2010, a provision that is in the PBA and simply requires all four teams to approve the deal. Such an approval would essentially come down to Lynchburg, since the Reds own the Sarasota affiliate. (The Red Sox and Astros pulled off a similar swap in 1999. Boston swapped its low Class A Battle Creek affiliate for the Astros’ affiliate in Augusta.)
The Reds reasoning for the sale seems to be simple. They will debut their new spring training complex in Goodyear, Ariz., in 2010, and thus no longer have a need for a team in the Florida State League. Whether they seek to relocate out West to the California League after their affiliation with Lynchburg expires after next season remains to be seen.
It would seem that the Reds best opportunities in the Cal League would be in Bakersfield (Rangers) and High Desert (Mariners), a pair of clubs looking to relocate to new homes since their local municipalities have declined to upgrade aging ballparks. Lake Elsinore (Padres), Lancaster (Astros) and Stockton (Athletics) are each locked into PDCs through the 2012 season. The Giants have an ownership stake in San Jose and the Angels and Rancho Cucamonga are a geographical match and have been affiliated since 2001, negating any possibility of the Reds moving there. That leaves Inland Empire (Dodgers), Modesto (Rockies) and Visalia (Diamondbacks) with PDCs expiring after the 2010 season.
Completion of the Sarasota sale is pending approval of the Florida State League, Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball. Both the National Association and the FSL have received the necessary paperwork.
Both sources are confident that the Pirates’ McKechnie Field in Bradenton will be up to Minor League Baseball standards, essentially noting that if it is good enough for spring training it will likely meet PBA facility standards. In addition, the Pirates recently installed lights at the ballpark. However, part of the approval process is to provide MILB an opportunity to inspect the ballpark, one source said.
Showing posts with label Minor Leagues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Minor Leagues. Show all posts
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Goodbye Sarasota, Hello Lynchburg...
Baseball America via John Fay breaking the news that the Reds are close to moving their high-A team to Lynchburg, breaking the final ties with Sarasota.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Off the Cuff Midseason Reds Top 25
Well, time for a quick and dirty update as to our top prospects. This one is much more off the cuff than what I do over the offseason and obviously incorporates only half of the 2009 season, but here are some initial thoughts about our system.
Obviously, Stewart and Roenicke are no longer eligible, guys like Dickerson and Fisher have graduated, and recent draftees like Mike Leake are included.
Anyway, off we go.
1. Yonder Alonso -- 1b
Hamate bone fracture or not, Yonder still resides on top of the heap. He is limited to 1b, where his bat will determine his success. Fortunately, Yonder has the hit tool necessary to be an impact player at the MLB level. In addition, he controls the strikezone very well, which gives him the added advantage of top notch OBPs.
On the season, Alonso has a line of .284/.357/.466, which isn't massively impressive, but when coupled with his upside makes him the top prospect in the system and one of the top prospects in all of baseball.
2. Travis Wood -- sp
Travis Wood has always intrigued me. He has clean mechanics and I love pitchers with top notch change-ups, but he lacked the effective breaking pitch needed to be successful at the professional level. Obviously, that all changed in 2009 when Wood scrapped his inconsistent curveball in favor of a cutter, which has unlocked his potential and made him one of the best pitchers in the minors this year.
The new arsenal has not only improved Wood's walk and strikeout rates, but has really limited hard contact when opposing hitters do put the ball in play. In 137.2 innings between double-A and triple-A Wood has a 1.44 ERA and a 116/46 K/BB ratio. Just as impressively is the fact that he has allowed only 4 homeruns despite a neutral GB/FB rate of 0.99. He's not limiting homeruns by keeping the ball on the ground, but rather it seems that opposing hitters just can't square the ball up. His cutter is really limiting hard contact against him.
In 2009, Wood's cutter seems to allow him to keep the ball off the barrell of the bat, while his changeup continues to rack up the strikeouts. The concerns about his size and lack of velocity still remain, but Wood's 2009 season has solidified his prospect status and catapulted him into the discussions for the 2010 MLB rotation.
3. Mike Leake -- sp
Leake has yet to throw a professional pitch, but his upside is considerable. Leake is polished and has a tremendous baseball IQ. While he's unlikely to be a true #1 starter, his polish and maturity makes him one of the lowest risk pitching prospect in the 2009 draft. And, given the Reds recent history in the draft, low risk isn't such a bad thing.
It'll be interesting to see how quickly he adjusts to the professional ranks. He should be signed before the August 17th deadline.
I think Reds fans will like Mike Leake.
4. Yorman Rodriguez -- of
Rodriguez is already flashing the overloaded tool set and the massive upside he was reported to possess. I always thought he had more polish than Juan Duran, but he's been even more polished than previously thought.
He made his debut in the Gulf Coast League, but was promoted up to rookie league Billings Mustangs. In the two stops, Yorman has a line of .270/.348/.377/.725 a 41/15 K/BB ratio and a 6/0 SB/CS mark. Given that he won't even turn 17 until August 15th, his performance is very impressive. Not many prospects that age could hold their own against such an advanced level of competition.
The sky is seemingly the limit for Yorman.
5. Todd Frazier -- inf/of
For me, the biggest concern on Frazier is how the Reds are handling him. He's a baseball player through and through. His tools play up because of his understanding of the game. However, his bat likely isn't strong enough to make him an above average leftfielder, which is where the Reds have been playing him. The Reds have yet to lock him into a defensive position, which is an odd way for an organization to handle a legitimate prospect. The way the Reds are developing makes it seem like they view him as a utility player, rather than a full-time starter.
The obvious thing to do was to develop Frazier as a third baseman, where his bat would be more valuable. However, the acquisition of Scott Rolen changes that, so it's unclear where Frazier will end up. Though, as of late, he has seen time at second base.
6. Drew Stubbs -- of
Stubbs continues to be Stubbs. He's flashing strong on base skills, speed, and defense, but is not hitting for a high average or power.
Stubbs can be a solid MLB centerfielder based on his plus defense, on base skills, and ability to steal bases. However, he's much less interesting and valuable as a prospect if he can't provide 20 homerun power or a high batting average.
On the season, Stubbs has a .280/.368/.379/.748 slash line for triple-A Louisville. Not bad, but not all that impressive either.
7. Neftali Soto -- inf
Soto has underwhelmed this year. The Reds sent him to high-A Sarasota, where his offensive numbers have suffered. This is not entirely unexpected, as Sarasota is a tough place to hit.
On the year, Soto is at .241/.278/.365/.643 with 10 homeruns and a 71/18 K/BB ratio in 386 At Bats. His walk rate still leaves much to be desired, but he doesn't have the massive strikeout rate that will preclude him from hitting for a high average as a climbs the ranks. He could be a high average and high power offensive player.
It's been a down year, but not one that should diminish his prospect status all that much. If he can rebound in 2010, then all is forgiven. Time is on his side.
8. Chris Heisey -- of
Heisey exploded in 2009, forcing everyone to pay attention. I had him pegged as a 4th outfielder type. A nice player, but the kind of player who was a "jack of all trades, but master of none" type. However, he eviscerated double-A pitching to a tune of .347/.426/.572/.998, which obviously earned him a promotion to triple-A.
He has slowed since the promotion, hitting .298/.326/.450/.777, but he has made enough noise to warrant consideration as a legitimate prospect. His ability to handle centerfield makes gives him an added boost in the prospect department, as his bat doesn't need to carry him.
It'll be interesting to see if his performance at double-A represented a new baseline of performance or was just an unsustainable hot streak.
9. Zack Cozart -- ss
Cozart has taken his offensive game to a new level in 2009. That step will go a long way towards making him a legitimate option as a starting shortstop at the major league level.
At double-A Cozart is hitting .270/.366/.420/.786 with 9 homers and a 68/47 K/BB ratio in 352 ABs. He'll never be an impact offensive player at the MLB level, but he could be something more than an automatic out. Defense will always be his calling card and it, if it's as good as they say, then he could be the future at shortstop for the organization.
10. J.C. Sulbaran -- sp
Sulbaran made a lot of noise before ever throwing a professional pitch. He flashed impressive skill in international competition, but his first professional season hasn't been all that noteworthy.
The Reds sent him to low-A Dayton where he has pitched 64.2 innings and posted a 4.87 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, and a 72/38 K/BB ratio. Obviously, the big problem here is the walk rate. A BB/9 up over 5.0 just isn't acceptable. In addition, he is giving up a lot of flyballs (GB/FB: 0.56) and homeruns (12), which isn't all that unexpected from a power pitcher. Still, cutting down on the longballs will be necessary in the future. However, the strikeout rate is stellar and bodes well for the future.
Sulbaran's performance in the international game created big time expectations, but he has suffered the same struggles that plague most young pitchers. Still, his stuff is impressive and his future is bright.
11. Juan Duran -- of
Duran joined Yorman Rodriguez in the Gulf Coast League, but hasn't performed as well as Yorman. That's not unexpected, as he has always struck me as the less polished of the two. In fact, Duran doesn't seem all that uncomfortable in his body after a massive growth spurt that saw him shoot up to 6-5. He has good athleticism and upside, but he'll likely take longer to reach it than Yorman.
On the season, Duran is hitting .180/.235/.270/.506 for the Gulf Coast League Reds. Not impressive, but he's so young that it doesn't mean all that much. Struggles were to be expected, but the future remains bright.
12. Devin Mesoraco -- c
Mesoraco continues to underwhelm, but I still think patience is advisable. Again, a combination of factors all indicated that Mesoraco would have a long development curve. As a high school catching prospect from a cold weather school who lost a season to Tommy John surgery, it was inevitable that he would be slow out of the gate.
This year, it would have been nice to see something more from Mesoraco on the offensive side, but instead he has a .222/.307/.376/.683 for high-A Sarasota. Again, that's a tough environment for hitters and I wouldn't be surprised to see a significant step forward in 2010. His overall production isn't great, but the peripherals aren't bad. His walk rate is good and his power isn't bad.
I'm willing to be patient on Mesoraco for another year, but 2010 is the time for him to really show something.
13. Chris Valaika -- inf
It's been a wasted year for Valaika. He suffered through injury and his production is awful. For triple-A Louisville, Valaika is hitting .197/.237/.299/.536. The 2009 season can't end fast enough for Chris.
14. Matt Maloney -- lhp
Maloney has been stellar in 2009...at least in the minors. For Louisville, Maloney has a 2.72 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 97/16 K/BB ratio. He didn't embarrass himself in the majors, as evidenced by his 14/5 K/BB ratio in 17.2 innings, but he was stung for 6 homeruns.
Maloney still looks like a serviceable backend of the rotation MLB starter, but he may never been a good fit in Great American Ballpark. If he stays in the Cincinnati organization, he may be nothing more than a 4A player. I'd like to see him get another shot. Time will tell.
15. Danny Dorn -- 1b/of
Like Valaika, Dorn's season has been a waste. Always a slow starter, Dorn seemed to have more trouble kicking it into gear in 2009 than in year's past. In his first taste of triple-A, Dorn has a .256/.323/.446/.769 slash line. Not all that impressive, but the Reds moving him around the field and bouncing him in and out of the lineup can't help. Still, I expect him to finish strong and bounce back in 2010.
16. Pedro Viola -- lhp
Live armed southpaw. Stellar strikeout rate, but too many walks hinder his performance. Still, he's the type who could flip the switch and become something special. Surprising, not necessarily in a bad way, to see the Reds use him in the bullpen all year after finishing strong in the rotation in 2008. Still, shortage of starting pitching could lead the Reds to try him in the rotation again.
17. Juan Francisco -- inf
Francisco has over 30 errors on the season at 3rd base. He's clearly not a viable option over there, which is very problematic. Frankly, he doesn't have the glove to handle any position other than the "offense first" positions. And, he doesn't have the offensive game to hold down the "offensive first" positions.
Still, Dusty seemed to take a shine to him in spring training. Be afraid, be very afraid.
18. Brad Boxberger -- sp
Yet to throw a pitch in anger, but an intriguing prospect.
19 Josh Fellhauer -- of
I like Fellhauer. He has a sweet line drive swing from the left side. His professional career will likely be driven by his ability to stick in center. He probably won't have the bat for a corner outfield spot. Still, he's off to a rocking start for Dayton, where he has a .309/.375/.545/.920 line on the season. He's a polished prospect from Cal State Fullerton, so his success at low-A isn't surprising, but it's encouraging nonetheless.
20. Alexis Oliveras -- of
Oliveras started out the year with the Billings Mustangs, but was bumped up the ladder to Dayon when Yorman Rodriguez was promoted to Billings.
At Billings, Oliveras had a .270/.326/.352/.678 line with 7 stolen bases. At Dayton, Oliveras has stepped it up a notch, posting a .333/.351/.611/.962.
Oliveras has a bit of electricity in his game. He has good speed and provides solid outfield defense, but he'll need to improve either his on base skills or his power to climb the prospect ladder.
21. Josh Ravin -- sp
Josh Ravin is a personal favorite and he was on the road to reestablishing his prospect status when an elbow strain shut him down at the end of June. Still, it was a positive step forward. Hopefully, he can get back and finish out the 2009 season strong.
22. Kyle Lotzkar -- sp
Lotzkar has the tools to be a successful pitcher, but he also has a healthy injury risk because of his mechanics. He suffered from a stress fracture in 2008 and reaggravated it, which will keep him out of the entire 2009 season. Best hope is that he comes back 100% for 2010 and never suffers a reoccurrence of the injury. I was concerned about his injury risk before and it's only heightened now.
23. Billy Hamilton -- inf/of
Hamilton was one of the best athletes in the 2009 draft class. However, great athleticism doesn't always translate into the specific skills necessary for success in professional baseball.
The Reds sent Hamilton to the Gulf Coast League where he has a line of .207/.275/.239/.514 on the season. On the plus side he has swiped 13 bases in 15 attempts.
If the athleticism translates, he could be special. Or, he could be another in a long line of great athletes who have been frustrated by baseball's refusal to bend to their will.
24. Matt Fairel -- lhp
A southpaw out of Florida State who has performed well in 2009. At both levels of A-ball, Fairel has posted a 2.94 ERA and a solid 115/42 K/BB ratio in 122.1 innings. He'll need to sustain his level of performance against more advanced competition to confirm his prospect status. It's not too unexpected for a college pitcher to perform well in A-ball, so his prospect status will be determined by his performance against more advanced competition.
25. Miguel Rojas -- ss
Rojas is a good glove infielder who is developing on the offensive side of the game. He's pushing Zach Cozart for best defensive shortstop in the system. Whether his bat will play is another question, but he is starting to make progress at the plate.
Obviously, Stewart and Roenicke are no longer eligible, guys like Dickerson and Fisher have graduated, and recent draftees like Mike Leake are included.
Anyway, off we go.
1. Yonder Alonso -- 1b
Hamate bone fracture or not, Yonder still resides on top of the heap. He is limited to 1b, where his bat will determine his success. Fortunately, Yonder has the hit tool necessary to be an impact player at the MLB level. In addition, he controls the strikezone very well, which gives him the added advantage of top notch OBPs.
On the season, Alonso has a line of .284/.357/.466, which isn't massively impressive, but when coupled with his upside makes him the top prospect in the system and one of the top prospects in all of baseball.
2. Travis Wood -- sp
Travis Wood has always intrigued me. He has clean mechanics and I love pitchers with top notch change-ups, but he lacked the effective breaking pitch needed to be successful at the professional level. Obviously, that all changed in 2009 when Wood scrapped his inconsistent curveball in favor of a cutter, which has unlocked his potential and made him one of the best pitchers in the minors this year.
The new arsenal has not only improved Wood's walk and strikeout rates, but has really limited hard contact when opposing hitters do put the ball in play. In 137.2 innings between double-A and triple-A Wood has a 1.44 ERA and a 116/46 K/BB ratio. Just as impressively is the fact that he has allowed only 4 homeruns despite a neutral GB/FB rate of 0.99. He's not limiting homeruns by keeping the ball on the ground, but rather it seems that opposing hitters just can't square the ball up. His cutter is really limiting hard contact against him.
In 2009, Wood's cutter seems to allow him to keep the ball off the barrell of the bat, while his changeup continues to rack up the strikeouts. The concerns about his size and lack of velocity still remain, but Wood's 2009 season has solidified his prospect status and catapulted him into the discussions for the 2010 MLB rotation.
3. Mike Leake -- sp
Leake has yet to throw a professional pitch, but his upside is considerable. Leake is polished and has a tremendous baseball IQ. While he's unlikely to be a true #1 starter, his polish and maturity makes him one of the lowest risk pitching prospect in the 2009 draft. And, given the Reds recent history in the draft, low risk isn't such a bad thing.
It'll be interesting to see how quickly he adjusts to the professional ranks. He should be signed before the August 17th deadline.
I think Reds fans will like Mike Leake.
4. Yorman Rodriguez -- of
Rodriguez is already flashing the overloaded tool set and the massive upside he was reported to possess. I always thought he had more polish than Juan Duran, but he's been even more polished than previously thought.
He made his debut in the Gulf Coast League, but was promoted up to rookie league Billings Mustangs. In the two stops, Yorman has a line of .270/.348/.377/.725 a 41/15 K/BB ratio and a 6/0 SB/CS mark. Given that he won't even turn 17 until August 15th, his performance is very impressive. Not many prospects that age could hold their own against such an advanced level of competition.
The sky is seemingly the limit for Yorman.
5. Todd Frazier -- inf/of
For me, the biggest concern on Frazier is how the Reds are handling him. He's a baseball player through and through. His tools play up because of his understanding of the game. However, his bat likely isn't strong enough to make him an above average leftfielder, which is where the Reds have been playing him. The Reds have yet to lock him into a defensive position, which is an odd way for an organization to handle a legitimate prospect. The way the Reds are developing makes it seem like they view him as a utility player, rather than a full-time starter.
The obvious thing to do was to develop Frazier as a third baseman, where his bat would be more valuable. However, the acquisition of Scott Rolen changes that, so it's unclear where Frazier will end up. Though, as of late, he has seen time at second base.
6. Drew Stubbs -- of
Stubbs continues to be Stubbs. He's flashing strong on base skills, speed, and defense, but is not hitting for a high average or power.
Stubbs can be a solid MLB centerfielder based on his plus defense, on base skills, and ability to steal bases. However, he's much less interesting and valuable as a prospect if he can't provide 20 homerun power or a high batting average.
On the season, Stubbs has a .280/.368/.379/.748 slash line for triple-A Louisville. Not bad, but not all that impressive either.
7. Neftali Soto -- inf
Soto has underwhelmed this year. The Reds sent him to high-A Sarasota, where his offensive numbers have suffered. This is not entirely unexpected, as Sarasota is a tough place to hit.
On the year, Soto is at .241/.278/.365/.643 with 10 homeruns and a 71/18 K/BB ratio in 386 At Bats. His walk rate still leaves much to be desired, but he doesn't have the massive strikeout rate that will preclude him from hitting for a high average as a climbs the ranks. He could be a high average and high power offensive player.
It's been a down year, but not one that should diminish his prospect status all that much. If he can rebound in 2010, then all is forgiven. Time is on his side.
8. Chris Heisey -- of
Heisey exploded in 2009, forcing everyone to pay attention. I had him pegged as a 4th outfielder type. A nice player, but the kind of player who was a "jack of all trades, but master of none" type. However, he eviscerated double-A pitching to a tune of .347/.426/.572/.998, which obviously earned him a promotion to triple-A.
He has slowed since the promotion, hitting .298/.326/.450/.777, but he has made enough noise to warrant consideration as a legitimate prospect. His ability to handle centerfield makes gives him an added boost in the prospect department, as his bat doesn't need to carry him.
It'll be interesting to see if his performance at double-A represented a new baseline of performance or was just an unsustainable hot streak.
9. Zack Cozart -- ss
Cozart has taken his offensive game to a new level in 2009. That step will go a long way towards making him a legitimate option as a starting shortstop at the major league level.
At double-A Cozart is hitting .270/.366/.420/.786 with 9 homers and a 68/47 K/BB ratio in 352 ABs. He'll never be an impact offensive player at the MLB level, but he could be something more than an automatic out. Defense will always be his calling card and it, if it's as good as they say, then he could be the future at shortstop for the organization.
10. J.C. Sulbaran -- sp
Sulbaran made a lot of noise before ever throwing a professional pitch. He flashed impressive skill in international competition, but his first professional season hasn't been all that noteworthy.
The Reds sent him to low-A Dayton where he has pitched 64.2 innings and posted a 4.87 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, and a 72/38 K/BB ratio. Obviously, the big problem here is the walk rate. A BB/9 up over 5.0 just isn't acceptable. In addition, he is giving up a lot of flyballs (GB/FB: 0.56) and homeruns (12), which isn't all that unexpected from a power pitcher. Still, cutting down on the longballs will be necessary in the future. However, the strikeout rate is stellar and bodes well for the future.
Sulbaran's performance in the international game created big time expectations, but he has suffered the same struggles that plague most young pitchers. Still, his stuff is impressive and his future is bright.
11. Juan Duran -- of
Duran joined Yorman Rodriguez in the Gulf Coast League, but hasn't performed as well as Yorman. That's not unexpected, as he has always struck me as the less polished of the two. In fact, Duran doesn't seem all that uncomfortable in his body after a massive growth spurt that saw him shoot up to 6-5. He has good athleticism and upside, but he'll likely take longer to reach it than Yorman.
On the season, Duran is hitting .180/.235/.270/.506 for the Gulf Coast League Reds. Not impressive, but he's so young that it doesn't mean all that much. Struggles were to be expected, but the future remains bright.
12. Devin Mesoraco -- c
Mesoraco continues to underwhelm, but I still think patience is advisable. Again, a combination of factors all indicated that Mesoraco would have a long development curve. As a high school catching prospect from a cold weather school who lost a season to Tommy John surgery, it was inevitable that he would be slow out of the gate.
This year, it would have been nice to see something more from Mesoraco on the offensive side, but instead he has a .222/.307/.376/.683 for high-A Sarasota. Again, that's a tough environment for hitters and I wouldn't be surprised to see a significant step forward in 2010. His overall production isn't great, but the peripherals aren't bad. His walk rate is good and his power isn't bad.
I'm willing to be patient on Mesoraco for another year, but 2010 is the time for him to really show something.
13. Chris Valaika -- inf
It's been a wasted year for Valaika. He suffered through injury and his production is awful. For triple-A Louisville, Valaika is hitting .197/.237/.299/.536. The 2009 season can't end fast enough for Chris.
14. Matt Maloney -- lhp
Maloney has been stellar in 2009...at least in the minors. For Louisville, Maloney has a 2.72 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 97/16 K/BB ratio. He didn't embarrass himself in the majors, as evidenced by his 14/5 K/BB ratio in 17.2 innings, but he was stung for 6 homeruns.
Maloney still looks like a serviceable backend of the rotation MLB starter, but he may never been a good fit in Great American Ballpark. If he stays in the Cincinnati organization, he may be nothing more than a 4A player. I'd like to see him get another shot. Time will tell.
15. Danny Dorn -- 1b/of
Like Valaika, Dorn's season has been a waste. Always a slow starter, Dorn seemed to have more trouble kicking it into gear in 2009 than in year's past. In his first taste of triple-A, Dorn has a .256/.323/.446/.769 slash line. Not all that impressive, but the Reds moving him around the field and bouncing him in and out of the lineup can't help. Still, I expect him to finish strong and bounce back in 2010.
16. Pedro Viola -- lhp
Live armed southpaw. Stellar strikeout rate, but too many walks hinder his performance. Still, he's the type who could flip the switch and become something special. Surprising, not necessarily in a bad way, to see the Reds use him in the bullpen all year after finishing strong in the rotation in 2008. Still, shortage of starting pitching could lead the Reds to try him in the rotation again.
17. Juan Francisco -- inf
Francisco has over 30 errors on the season at 3rd base. He's clearly not a viable option over there, which is very problematic. Frankly, he doesn't have the glove to handle any position other than the "offense first" positions. And, he doesn't have the offensive game to hold down the "offensive first" positions.
Still, Dusty seemed to take a shine to him in spring training. Be afraid, be very afraid.
18. Brad Boxberger -- sp
Yet to throw a pitch in anger, but an intriguing prospect.
19 Josh Fellhauer -- of
I like Fellhauer. He has a sweet line drive swing from the left side. His professional career will likely be driven by his ability to stick in center. He probably won't have the bat for a corner outfield spot. Still, he's off to a rocking start for Dayton, where he has a .309/.375/.545/.920 line on the season. He's a polished prospect from Cal State Fullerton, so his success at low-A isn't surprising, but it's encouraging nonetheless.
20. Alexis Oliveras -- of
Oliveras started out the year with the Billings Mustangs, but was bumped up the ladder to Dayon when Yorman Rodriguez was promoted to Billings.
At Billings, Oliveras had a .270/.326/.352/.678 line with 7 stolen bases. At Dayton, Oliveras has stepped it up a notch, posting a .333/.351/.611/.962.
Oliveras has a bit of electricity in his game. He has good speed and provides solid outfield defense, but he'll need to improve either his on base skills or his power to climb the prospect ladder.
21. Josh Ravin -- sp
Josh Ravin is a personal favorite and he was on the road to reestablishing his prospect status when an elbow strain shut him down at the end of June. Still, it was a positive step forward. Hopefully, he can get back and finish out the 2009 season strong.
22. Kyle Lotzkar -- sp
Lotzkar has the tools to be a successful pitcher, but he also has a healthy injury risk because of his mechanics. He suffered from a stress fracture in 2008 and reaggravated it, which will keep him out of the entire 2009 season. Best hope is that he comes back 100% for 2010 and never suffers a reoccurrence of the injury. I was concerned about his injury risk before and it's only heightened now.
23. Billy Hamilton -- inf/of
Hamilton was one of the best athletes in the 2009 draft class. However, great athleticism doesn't always translate into the specific skills necessary for success in professional baseball.
The Reds sent Hamilton to the Gulf Coast League where he has a line of .207/.275/.239/.514 on the season. On the plus side he has swiped 13 bases in 15 attempts.
If the athleticism translates, he could be special. Or, he could be another in a long line of great athletes who have been frustrated by baseball's refusal to bend to their will.
24. Matt Fairel -- lhp
A southpaw out of Florida State who has performed well in 2009. At both levels of A-ball, Fairel has posted a 2.94 ERA and a solid 115/42 K/BB ratio in 122.1 innings. He'll need to sustain his level of performance against more advanced competition to confirm his prospect status. It's not too unexpected for a college pitcher to perform well in A-ball, so his prospect status will be determined by his performance against more advanced competition.
25. Miguel Rojas -- ss
Rojas is a good glove infielder who is developing on the offensive side of the game. He's pushing Zach Cozart for best defensive shortstop in the system. Whether his bat will play is another question, but he is starting to make progress at the plate.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Ravin Starts Off 2009 on the Right Foot
Josh Ravin had a horrendous season in 2008. A season which caused his prospect status to drop precipitously, to the point where he is no longer even considered to be a prospect by some.
However, in what may be a sign that he has put his nightmare 2008 season behind him, Ravin went out and performed admirably in his debut performance for the Dayton Dragons. On April 10th, Ravin took the mound against the Great Lakes Loons. He pitched 6.0 strong innings in which he gave up 3 hits, issued only 1 walk, struck out 3 hitters, and gave up 0 runs. In addition to the impressive control, Ravin also flashed strong groundball tendencies, as evidenced by his 10/3 GB/FB ratio. The most obvious thing that jumps out about his performance is the lack of walks. His control is what has plagued him thus far in his professional career, so this is very positive outing for him.
In addition, Ravin managed this feat against a stellar opponent. The Great Lakes Loons are an affiliate of the Dodgers and their 2009 roster contains 11 of the top 30 Dodger prospects. And, as you can see from the game photo of Ravin, he still has strong mechanics. He exhibits good balance, strong arm and ball position, and a good stride and drive off the rubber. It's obviously just one start, but every journey begins with a single step. Let's hope Ravin has taken the first step on the road back to blue chip prospect status.
Here is how Marc Katz of the Dayton Daily News wrote it up.
However, in what may be a sign that he has put his nightmare 2008 season behind him, Ravin went out and performed admirably in his debut performance for the Dayton Dragons. On April 10th, Ravin took the mound against the Great Lakes Loons. He pitched 6.0 strong innings in which he gave up 3 hits, issued only 1 walk, struck out 3 hitters, and gave up 0 runs. In addition to the impressive control, Ravin also flashed strong groundball tendencies, as evidenced by his 10/3 GB/FB ratio. The most obvious thing that jumps out about his performance is the lack of walks. His control is what has plagued him thus far in his professional career, so this is very positive outing for him.
In addition, Ravin managed this feat against a stellar opponent. The Great Lakes Loons are an affiliate of the Dodgers and their 2009 roster contains 11 of the top 30 Dodger prospects. And, as you can see from the game photo of Ravin, he still has strong mechanics. He exhibits good balance, strong arm and ball position, and a good stride and drive off the rubber. It's obviously just one start, but every journey begins with a single step. Let's hope Ravin has taken the first step on the road back to blue chip prospect status.
Here is how Marc Katz of the Dayton Daily News wrote it up.
By Marc KatzDragons' Ravin drains Great Lakes
Pitches six scoreless innings, giving up three hits and a walk; gets help in four-run fifth.
Staff Writer 1:40 AM Saturday, April 11, 2009DAYTON — Worried they might lose their low Class A team in Midland, Mich., to another organization, the Dodgers stacked Great Lakes with a third of their best prospects and told the Loons to go out and win.
On opening night Thursday, April 9, they clobbered the Dragons.
One night later, Josh Ravin shut the Loons down with a few “deep breaths.”
Ravin, a self-described “disaster” last summer, went six scoreless innings, allowing three hits and a walk while his teammates backed him with a four-run fifth on the way to a 6-1 victory Friday at chilly Fifth Third Field.
When Devaris Gordon led off with a bloop single to left, then stole second, Ravin was in trouble at the top of the game. Only Ravin nailed Gordon at second, stabbing a hard grounder and catching the runner too far off the bag. Catcher Jordan Wideman recorded the second out on a steal attempt and Jaime Pedroza struck out.
Ravin was on his way.
“I took some deep breaths,” Ravin said. “You can’t let those things (bloop hits, etc.) bother you. Breathing like that slows the game down.”
Great Lakes spent two losing seasons with the Dodgers, who promised a more promising lineup if the Loons would re-sign for two more years. It happened, and 11 of the organization’s Top 30 prospects — even eight who played at a higher level last season — were shipped to Midland. Thursday, the Loons busted Dayton 14-3.
“It’s a different day,” Dragons manager Todd Benzinger said. “You make your mark against players better than you if you want to be a prospect, too.”
Four Dragons collected two hits, including center fielder Dave Sappelt for the second straight night.
The Dragons and Loons finish the series tonight with 2008’s National High School Player of the Year Ethan Martin making his pro debut for Great Lakes.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Reds September Callups
Today, the Reds finally made their September call-ups, ending the suspense. The Reds tapped Todd Coffey, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Salmon, Joey Votto, newly acquired Buck Coats, and Ryan Hanigan.
Unfortunately, it didn't take Todd Coffey long to go back to his early season ways, as he gave up
3 hits, 3 runs, a walk, and a home run without retiring a single hitter. If anyone knows how someone with his stuff gets hit so hard, please let me know, because I can't figure it out. He seems to be just what the Reds need, as he limits his walks, racks up the strikeouts, and gets a ton of groundballs. That said, he has given up a ton of runs this year and has been very susceptible to the long ball. Hopefully, he can get things straightened out for next year, because he could be a pivotal pitcher in the Reds bullpen in 2008.
I still think Kirk Saarloos was a nice addition early this year, as he was a nice risk/reward acquisition. For his career, he has a 2.16 GB/FB ratio, which is what the Reds need in Great American Ballpark. Unfortunately, he walks too many and strikeouts too few to be consistently successful. To say that he hasn't worked out would be an understatement, but it was certainly worth a roll of the dice, as it cost nothing to find out what he would bring to the table.
Brad Salmon was ranked as the 25th best prospect in the Reds system in 2007. He has 8 years of minor league experience under his belt and is 27 years old. Salmon features a 93-95 mph sinking fastball and a hard, inconsistent slider. Reports on Salmon were that he does a nice job keeping the ball down in the zone and gets a lot of ground balls. During his time in the majors, he has a 1.09 GB/FB ratio, so he isn't getting a lot of ground balls as of yet. He's intriguing, as his time in the minors likely gave him mental toughness that will serve him well in the majors. If he continues to build on his fairly impressive 2007 campaign, then he may well have a future in the Reds bullpen.
Joey Votto is the Reds 3rd ranked prospect and is coming off a very fine season at Louisville. Votto posted a line of .294/.381/.478/.859. Votto hit 22 homeruns, but only posted a .478 slugging average. That said, his on base skills are very strong and he should be a solid MLB player. The Reds need to get him some regular playing time in September, which is made more difficult by the Reds inability to trade Hatteberg, Dunn, or Griffey at the trade deadline. Still, he needs some MLB At Bats.
The Reds acquired Buck Coats from the Cubs for a player to be named later. Coats hit .308/.366/.439/.806 in AAA this year. He doesn't seem to be anything more than a 4th or 5th outfielder, but given Krivsky's track record with undervalued talent, it'll be interesting to see how well he fills that role.
Ryan Hanigan is a 27 year old organizational player who will act as the Reds 3rd catcher for the remainder of the season. He isn't considered a legitimate prospect, but it's nice to see him get a cup of coffee at the big league level. At least he'll have a story for the grandkids.
Sadly, anxious Reds fans will have to wait until next year to get a glimpse of uber-prospect Jay Bruce. Bruce won Baseball America's Minor League Player of the year for his performance in 2007, which saw him post a line of .319/.375/.587/.962 across three different levels. Unfortunately, a crowded Cincinnati outfield leaves him with no place to play, so he doesn't get the September call up.
Unfortunately, it didn't take Todd Coffey long to go back to his early season ways, as he gave up
3 hits, 3 runs, a walk, and a home run without retiring a single hitter. If anyone knows how someone with his stuff gets hit so hard, please let me know, because I can't figure it out. He seems to be just what the Reds need, as he limits his walks, racks up the strikeouts, and gets a ton of groundballs. That said, he has given up a ton of runs this year and has been very susceptible to the long ball. Hopefully, he can get things straightened out for next year, because he could be a pivotal pitcher in the Reds bullpen in 2008.
I still think Kirk Saarloos was a nice addition early this year, as he was a nice risk/reward acquisition. For his career, he has a 2.16 GB/FB ratio, which is what the Reds need in Great American Ballpark. Unfortunately, he walks too many and strikeouts too few to be consistently successful. To say that he hasn't worked out would be an understatement, but it was certainly worth a roll of the dice, as it cost nothing to find out what he would bring to the table.
Brad Salmon was ranked as the 25th best prospect in the Reds system in 2007. He has 8 years of minor league experience under his belt and is 27 years old. Salmon features a 93-95 mph sinking fastball and a hard, inconsistent slider. Reports on Salmon were that he does a nice job keeping the ball down in the zone and gets a lot of ground balls. During his time in the majors, he has a 1.09 GB/FB ratio, so he isn't getting a lot of ground balls as of yet. He's intriguing, as his time in the minors likely gave him mental toughness that will serve him well in the majors. If he continues to build on his fairly impressive 2007 campaign, then he may well have a future in the Reds bullpen.
Joey Votto is the Reds 3rd ranked prospect and is coming off a very fine season at Louisville. Votto posted a line of .294/.381/.478/.859. Votto hit 22 homeruns, but only posted a .478 slugging average. That said, his on base skills are very strong and he should be a solid MLB player. The Reds need to get him some regular playing time in September, which is made more difficult by the Reds inability to trade Hatteberg, Dunn, or Griffey at the trade deadline. Still, he needs some MLB At Bats.
The Reds acquired Buck Coats from the Cubs for a player to be named later. Coats hit .308/.366/.439/.806 in AAA this year. He doesn't seem to be anything more than a 4th or 5th outfielder, but given Krivsky's track record with undervalued talent, it'll be interesting to see how well he fills that role.
Ryan Hanigan is a 27 year old organizational player who will act as the Reds 3rd catcher for the remainder of the season. He isn't considered a legitimate prospect, but it's nice to see him get a cup of coffee at the big league level. At least he'll have a story for the grandkids.
Sadly, anxious Reds fans will have to wait until next year to get a glimpse of uber-prospect Jay Bruce. Bruce won Baseball America's Minor League Player of the year for his performance in 2007, which saw him post a line of .319/.375/.587/.962 across three different levels. Unfortunately, a crowded Cincinnati outfield leaves him with no place to play, so he doesn't get the September call up.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Down on the Farm: Juan Francisco's Big Day
Reds' prospect Juan Francisco had the best day of his young professional career on Sunday, as he went 3-4 with 3 homeruns and drove in 7 runs for Single A Dayton. The switch hitting Francisco hit two homers from the left side and one from the right side against the Lansing Lugnuts. On the season, Francisco is batting .268/.305/.461/.765 with 21 homeruns and 80 RBIs, which is very solid production out of the 20 year old from our Latin America academies.
Francisco is an intriguing prospect, to say the least, as he's a switch hitting third baseman with good offensive potential. As he matures and fills out, his power potential should increase from its already impressive level. Not only does Francisco have good raw numbers, but so far this season he has demonstrated the ability to rise to the occasion. The more crucial the situation, the better Francisco has performed this year, so his approach at the plate has had very successful results.
2007 Splits
Bases Empty: .256/.290/.441/.730
Runners On: .280/.318/.480/.798
Scoring Position: .343/.397/.606/1.003
Francisco is certainly opening some eyes and is one to be followed as he ascends the organizational ladder. The Reds overseas scouting efforts are beginning to bear fruit, as both Johnny Cueto and Juan Francisco were signed as international free agents. Adding these types of prospects in addition to prospects via the draft can have a substantial impact on the fortunes of a farm system. In fact, signing international prospects is vital to the building of a well stocked farm system. The efforts of the Reds' player development department finally appear to be heading in the right direction after years of ineptitude.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Dumi, Livingston, and Homegrown Pitching
After years of futility and a number of false starts, the Reds are finally beginning to build a productive farm system. The Reds have struggled for years to develop quality pitching, but slowly there is a trickle of talent beginning to reach the Majors.
The two blue chip pitching prospects in the Reds farm system, Homer Bailey and Johnny Cueto, have both seen substantial success in the minors. Homer reached the Majors earlier this season, but is down in the minors on a rehab assignment. Johnny Cueto has been dominant at just about every level this year and is poised to make his big league debut either in September or in 2008.
Cueto is also emblematic of another vitally important development for the Reds organization, as he is one of the first prospects to be signed out of Latin America by the Reds revitalized international scouting effort. Adding good international prospects to the farm system each year in addition to those out of the draft is vital for the development of a good farm system. The Reds are finally back to doing so.
The Big Red Machine benefited greatly from international scouting, as Tony Perez was signed by the Reds in 1960 as an amateur free agent, Dave Concepcion was signed as an amateur free agent by the Reds in 1967, as were a few other lesser lights like Manny Sarmiento. Unfortunately, that stream of talent would eventually be dammed up by a shortsighted owner.
Under former owner Marge Schott, the Reds scouting and player development budgets were slashed. Marge believed that she could save money in these areas and plow some of the savings into the Major League roster by doing so. In actuality, Marge wasn't saving money at all, rather she was simply shifting the cost of her actions onto the backs of future Reds' teams. The Reds' organization has had to carry that heavy burden around for the past decade or two.
The Reds enjoyed some short term success, but they mortgaged the future to do so. The cost effective flow of young talent dried up, leaving the Reds struggling to fill holes at the Major League level with expensive free agents (Eric Milton, anyone?). The true cost of Marge Schott's decision is impossible to calculate, but the Reds certainly paid a heavy, heavy price.
While Bailey and Cueto are on the cusp of making their impact at the Major League level, it is a good idea to see what the Reds have to fill the void until they are ready. Bobby Livingston and Phil Dumatrait were both acquired from other organizations, but both are being viewed as potential starting pitchers for the Reds. So, let's take a look and see what we can expect out of them.
Phil Dumatrait has control problems and average stuff. In AAA Louisville this year, he had a 70/48 K/BB ratio in 118.2 innings. Earlier in the year, it was even worse and at times it was almost a 1-to-1 ratio. His promotion to the majors and a more advanced level of competition has only exacerbated the problem. On the season, Dumatrait has a 8.74 ERA, a 2.56 WHIP, a 7.2 BB/9, a 5.6 K/9, and a 0.56 GB/FB ratio in the majors. Granted, it's only been 3 starts and 11.1 innings, but it isn't an encouraging start.
Another disturbing trend is Dumatrait's performance with runners on base. At AAA this year, Dumatrait had a 44/24 K/BB ratio in 60.0 innings pitched with no one on base. However, in 58.2 innings pitched with runners on base, Dumatrait had a 26/24 K/BB ratio. In 31.0 innings pitched with runners in scoring position, Dumatrait had a 12/17 K/BB ratio.
In short, the more crucial the situation, the worse his K/BB ratio. His HR/9 rate also worsens in crucial situations.
Phil Dumatrait 2007 AAA Performance
Situation:____K/9___BB/9 ___HR/9
Bases Empty: ___6.6 ____3.6_____0.6__
Runners On: ____4.0____3.7_____ 0.8__
Scoring Position:__3.5____4.9_____0.9__
That is not a positive trend and to expect much out of Dumatrait would be unwise. He's a flyball pitcher who walks too many, strikes out too few, and seems to pitch worse the more crucial the situation. At this point, it seems unlikely that Dumatrait is ready to be a successful major league baseball pitcher. So, our nation turns its lonely eyes to Bobby Livingston.
On the season, Bobby Livingston has a 4.70 ERA, a 1.45 WHIP, a 4.0 K/9, a 1.4 BB/9, and a 1.36 GB/FB ratio.
In 56.2 innings pitched at AAA with the bases empty, Livingston had a 38/8 K/BB ratio. In 47.2 innings pitched with Runners on Base, Livingston had a 25/9 K/BB ratio. In 26.2 innings pitched with runners in scoring position, Livingston had a 17/6 K/BB ratio.
In short, Bobby fared a bit worse as the situation got more crucial, but overall performed better than Dumatrait. Livingston also did a much better job avoiding the homerun in crucial situations.
Bobby Livingston 2007 AAA Performance
Situation:_____K/9 ___BB/9 ___HR/9
Bases Empty: ____6.0_____1.3_____0.6__
Runners On: _____4.7_____1.7_____0.6__
Scoring Position:___5.8____2.0_____0.7__
It is often said that Dumatrait has better stuff, but that Livingston is a craftier pitcher. Perhaps these numbers begin to bear that out, as Livingston was able to maintain his level of performance more successfully than Dumatrait.
At this point, even though he was roughed up today, Bobby Livingston seems to be a more viable option to fill the 5th spot in the rotation in 2008. Livingston walks few and gets a heavy percentage of groundballs, but needs to do a better job of missing bats. That said, his performance and his baseball I.Q. make him a better bet for success in the 5th slot in the rotation.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Cantu, Dickerson, and uber-prospect Jay Bruce
Well, so far, Jorge Cantu's performance is lending a lot credence to the idea that he just needed a change of scenery. At AAA Louisville thus far, Cantu is hitting .317/.364/.463/.827 in 41 ABs.
Whether or not he becomes a quality regular, it is hard to view the deal to acquire him as anything other than a win for the Reds. They gave up little of value to get him and Cantu should, at the very least, be a quality bat off the bench.
Chris Dickerson is an interesting prospect. He has great tools and strong on base skills, but he just isn't putting the bat on the ball often enough to be quality regular. At AAA Louisville, Dickerson is hitting .269/.371/.427/.798 with 19 steals in 24 tries. Dickerson is also a tremendous defensive centerfielder and could be the leadoff option that Cincinnati has lacked over the passed several seasons. Of course, he'll need to reduce his strikeouts to raise his batting average in order for this to happen. Still, even though he's a long shot to do so, it's still a good idea to keep an eye on Dickerson, as he may still surprise and make an impact at the Major League level.
Finally, Jay Bruce continues to crush every pitcher at every level. He is truly one of the top prospects in all of baseball. He is 20 years old, but is crushing AAA level pitching. Right now, he is posting a line of .312/.379/.624/1.002 at Louisville. Despite his age and level of experience, it seems Bruce is pushing hard for a chance to start in the 2008 Cincinnati outfield, despite the fact that it would create another logjam of talent. Bruce is one of the rare prospects who does not need much development time due to his extraordinary abilities.
While the outlook remains bleak for the Reds at the Major League level, there is still hope to be found, especially in the farm system.
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