Checking in on the Reds top prospects

April is nearing the end and that seems like a good time to take a look back at how the Cincinnati Reds Top 10 Prospects are performing early in the season.

Robert Stephenson | RHP | Pensacola Blue Wahoos

The season for the top prospect has been an improvement in the early going compared to last season. Well, sort of. His ERA is higher and his WHIP is the same, but it’s been just three starts and 16.2 innings. The right hander has lowered his walk rate and raised his strikeout rate. He’s also showing more confidence in his change up early in 2015.

Jesse Winker | OF | Pensacola Blue Wahoos

The Reds top position prospect has gotten off to a slow start of sorts. Winker is hitting just .237 and his power hasn’t quite shown up just yet. What we are seeing from Winker is the plate approach that’s gotten him to top prospect status, walking nine times with just 11 strikeouts. He’s suffering from a low batting average on balls in play, but his peripherals are strong and in line with his past seasons.

Michael Lorenzen | RHP | Louisville Bats

After being the last man cut in big league camp this spring, Lorenzen is off to a good start for Louisville, though he did run into troubles in his last start. Overall though he’s posted a 2.84 ERA in 19.0 innings with 12 strikeouts and just four walks.

Nick Travieso | RHP | Daytona Tortugas

The right hander has made four starts this season and the first three went very well, but he struggled some in his fourth start. He’s posted a 3.38 ERA in 24.0 innings for Daytona, helping the new affiliate to the lone winning record in the system.

Yorman Rodriguez | OF | Louisville Bats

Rodriguez is off to a slow start, hitting just .176 through 16 games for Louisville. Like Jesse Winker, he’s been bitten by a low batting average on balls in play (.216) early in the season. He hasn’t shown much power yet, hitting two doubles and a home run thus far.

Sal Romano | RHP | Daytona Tortugas

After a rough first start of the season, things were going well in start number two for Romano before things were cut short after he was hit in the calf by a comebacker. Since then he’s allowed just one run over 12.0 innings with nine strikeouts.

Amir Garrett | LHP | Daytona Tortugas

The left handed starter had his first start of the season cut short by rain, but he’s been dominant thus far in his 13.2 innings for Daytona where he’s had 18 strikeouts and just two walks so far.

Nick Howard | RHP | Daytona Tortugas

The most recent 1st round pick has had some struggles with control early on. In three starts he’s walked 13 batters with just seven strikeouts. He’s escaped the damage thus far, posting an ERA of 3.75 despite his high walk rate.

Raisel Iglesias | RHP | Louisville Bats

After making his debut with the Reds the opening week of the season, the team sent Iglesias to Louisville. He struggled some in his last start, giving up two home runs. He struck out as many big leaguers in his lone start as he’s struck out in two minor league starts.

Phillip Ervin | OF | Daytona Tortugas

There’s no one out to a better start on the offensive side of things in the system than Phillip Ervin. He’s hitting .338 through 18 games with 10 extra-base hits and five stolen bases.

Another Hot Start

While Phillip Ervin has gotten off to an incredible start at the plate, there’s a pitcher off to an even better start. Zack Weiss is having an April he may not forget, posting a 0.00 ERA in 7.2 hitless innings where he’s allowed only one walk to go with 15 strikeouts.