The Reds are off to a slow start and struggling at the plate. So this week we’ll scan the Reds farm system and take a look at a few players who are off to hot starts with the bat the first week of the season.
AAA Louisville Bats
Ruben Gotay is off to sizzling start with slash line of .389/.421 /.944 /1.365. Gotay is a 31 year old infielder the Reds picked up for infield depth who got his start with the Kansas City organization and has bounced around considerably over the last eight years. He’s been the starter at 3B so far for the Bats, but you have to wonder how much time he will continue to log there with Chris Nelson having just been resigned and added to the Bats roster. Gotay has amassed over 800 PA in the majors, .685 OPS, and is a lifetime .269/.374/.410/.784 hitter at the AAA level.
1B Mike Costanzo (.273 /.385 /.636 /1.021) and RF Felix Perez (.385 /.429 /.462 /.890) are also off to hot starts.
AA Pensacola Blue Yahoos
Juan Silverio is the starter at 3B for the Blue Yahoos and is also off to a good start at .357 /.471/.500 /.971. Silverio is a 23 year old IF who was obtained before last season from the White Sox organization and has seen some time at SS and 2B also. Silverio put up a line of .286/.304/.473/.777 last season in A+ Bakersfield.
SS Devin Lohman (.250 /.357 /.583 /.940) and LF Donald Lutz (.231 /.375 /.538 /.913) are also off to good starts at the plate.
High A Bakersfield Blaze
Blaze first baseman Marquez Smith is tearing it up thus far with a slash line of .409/.462 /.955 /1.416. Smith is a 29 year old IF who has been mostly a 3B in the minors. He began his career in the Cubs organization and spent two years with the Red Sox before coming to the Reds last season. He’s logged over 1500 PA at the AA and AAA levels and hit .277/.377/.486/.863 for the Reds last year split between A+ and AA.
CF Junior Arias (.409 /.480/.682 /1.162) and RF Kyle Waldrop (.522 /.577 /.565 /1.142) are also off to very fast starts at the dish.
Low A Dayton Dragons
Sebastian Elizalde is hitting .214/.450/.500/.950 while splitting time between LF and 1B for the Dragons.   Elizalde is 22 years old LH batter and this is his first season in the Reds organization after batting .301/.353/.450/.803 over the last four seasons as an OF in the Mexican League.
1B Daniel Mateo (.333/.417/.444/.861) and 3B Tanner Rahier (.294/.350/.471/.821) are also off to pretty good starts for the Dragons.