Let’s take a breather from the current product and check in with some notable 2014 Reds that aren’t with the organization anymore, including prospects that were seemingly part of the club’s future.
Players listed in alphabetical order.
Jonathan Broxton, RP, Milwaukee Brewers
Transaction: Traded to the Brewers on August 31 for Kevin Shackelford and Barrett Astin. Broxton was owed $9 million this year and has a $9 million mutual option for 2016 with a $2 million buyout.
Key 2015 numbers: 12.2 innings, 20 hits, 17 strikeouts, 2 walks, 4.01 FIP, 1.78 WHIP.
Rundown: Like many other Brewers, Broxton has struggled this season and is a potential trade candidate. The Reds made the right move shedding Broxton’s salary when they could last August, even if Shackelford — a 26-year-old righty pitching at Double-A — and Astin — a 23-year-old righty throwing for High-A Daytona — are nowhere close to the majors.
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Daniel Corcino, RP, Advanced Rookie Ogden (Dodgers)
Transactions: Claimed off waivers by the Dodgers in April. Designated by the Dodgers five days later, then outrighted to Double-A Tulsa.
Key 2015 numbers: 1.2 innings, 0 hits, 1 (earned) run, 5 walks, 3 strikeouts between Double-A Pensacola (Reds) and Double-A Tulsa (Dodgers).
Rundown: It was a bit shocking to see the Reds simply let Corcino — a former top prospect who was once ranked as the organization’s fourth-best farmhand by Baseball America — walk at age 24, but with their decision the Reds made it clear they had lost all faith in the right-hander. Corcino spent most of 2012-14 between Double-A and Triple-A, although he enjoyed a cup of coffee with Cincinnati last season. Corcino, who hasn’t pitched since April 21, is presently listed on the roster of the Ogden Raptors, the Dodgers’ Advanced Rookie affiliate in the Pioneer League. The Raptors begin their season on June 18.
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Ryan Dennick, RP, Double-A Tulsa (Dodgers)
Transactions: Claimed off waivers by the Dodgers in April, who promptly designated him. After he went unclaimed, the Dodgers outrighted Dennick to Double-A Tulsa.
Key 2015 numbers: 14.2 innings, 16 hits, 16 strikeouts, 2 walks, 1.23 WHIP between Triple-A Louisville and Double-A Tulsa.
Rundown: Dennick, 28, is a career minor leaguer who received a brief shot with the Reds last season, allowing seven hits and six earned runs in 4.2 innings.
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Jack Hannahan, INF/DH, LG Twins (South Korea)
Transactions: Granted free agency and signed in December with LG Twins of the KBO League in South Korea.
Key 2015 numbers: 19 plate appearances, 5 hits, 3 walks, 2 runs, 1 RBI.
Rundown: The 35-year-old Hannahan passed on potential minor-league deals with MLB teams to sign with the LG Twins after two injury-marred years with the Reds. Hannahan missed LG Twins’ first 30 games of the season because of injury.
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Chris Heisey, OF, Triple-A Oklahoma City (Dodgers)
Transaction: Traded to the Dodgers in December for minor-league pitcher Matt Magill.
Key 2015 numbers: 10 plate appearances, 1 hit, 2 runs, 5 walks, 2 strikeouts (MLB); 73 plate appearances, .246/.356/.607 slash, 16 runs, 7 home runs, .963 OPS (AAA).
Rundown: After another short stint in Los Angeles, Heisey was optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City Monday night. The Dodgers still have Yasiel Puig and Carl Crawford on the disabled list, but still have four very capable outfielders in Joc Pederson, Andre Ethier, Scott Van Slyke, and Alex Guerrero sucking up most of the playing time, so even a banged-up Los Angeles outfield is a tough one for Heisey to crack. As for the Reds, Magill underwent Tommy John surgery on Friday.
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Mat Latos, SP, Miami Marlins
Transaction: Traded to Marlins in December for starter Anthony DeSclafani and minor-league catcher Chad Wallach.
Key 2015 numbers: 34.1 innings, 37 hits, 28 strikeouts, 14 walks, 3.49 FIP, 1.49 WHIP.
Rundown: Latos, 27, had a really tough Marlins debut after burning bridges with the Reds, recording just two outs and allowing seven earned runs on six hits and two walks on April 7. Since his nightmare start with Miami, Latos has steadily increased his inning load, with his last start — seven innings, seven hits, one (earned run), no walks, and five strikeouts — being his best start of the season. Latos’ walk rate has jumped considerably so far in Miami, but he should benefit from a regressed BABIP in the coming months. Latos’ average fastball velocity (90.6 mph) is the lowest of his career, however.
On the Reds’ end, though Latos will likely outperform DeSclafani in 2015, having Disco — who seems capable of being a solid No. 4 or No. 5 starter — under team control through 2020 will be worth it considering Latos’ impending free agency and his injury history. Wallach, 23, is slashing .284/.281/.383 with an OPS of .664 at High-A Daytona.
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Ben Lively, SP, Double-A Reading (Phillies)
Transaction: Traded to Phillies in December for outfielder Marlon Byrd.
Key numbers: 28.1 innings, 29 hits, 26 strikeouts, 9 walks, 4.46 FIP, 1.34 WHIP.
Rundown: Lively, named the Eastern League’s Pitcher of the Week earlier this month, is off to a strong start for Philadelphia’s Double-A affiliate. Per MLB.com, Lively is the No. 7 prospect in the organization. It’s worth noting that while Lively’s walk rate is down this season, his strikeout rate and home run rate have increased.
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Ryan Ludwick, OF, Free Agent
Transaction: Reds exercised $4.5 million contract buyout in late October.
Key 2015 numbers: None.
Rundown: Ludwick agreed to a minor league deal with the Rangers in February. He was released by Texas on March 29 after hitting .200 in 30 spring at-bats.
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Logan Ondrusek, RP, Tokyo Yakult Swallows (Japan)
Transactions: Granted free agency, and eventually signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Japan’s Central League for a reported $1.2 million in January.
Key 2015 numbers: 16.1 innings, 13 hits, 16 strikeouts, 5 walks, 2.20 ERA.
Rundown: After five seasons with the Reds, Ondrusek decided to pitch in Japan this year, and so far the results have been promising. Cincinnati non-tendered Ondrusek — who was drafted by the Reds in the 13th round of the 2005 draft — last offseason following a year in which the big right-hander posted a 3.91 FIP and 1.61 WHIP in 41 innings.
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Curtis Partch, RP, Triple-A Sacramento (Giants)
Transactions: Granted free agency in December, and signed with the Giants shortly thereafter.
Key 2015 numbers: 19.1 innings, 17 hits, 27 strikeouts, 5 walks, 2.34 FIP, 1.14 WHIP.
Rundown: Partch spent most of 2013 and 2014 with Triple-A Louisville, but 2007 Reds draftee logged 30.1 innings with the Cincinnati over those same two seasons, with 23.1 of those major-league innings coming in 2013. During his time in the majors, Partch walked 24 batters.
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Ramon Santiago, INF, Triple-A Buffalo (Blue Jays)
Transactions: Santiago elected free agency in late October and signed with the Blue Jays in January.
Key 2015 numbers: None.
Rundown: Santiago, a prime candidate for bench duty with the Blue Jays entering spring training, broke his collarbone on March 15. The Blue Jays released him on March 30, then re-signed him to a minor league deal on April 6. He’s presently on Triple-A Buffalo’s disabled list and is expected to be out at least through the early part of June. Santiago hit .417 in 12 at-bats during spring training.
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Alfredo Simon, SP, Detroit Tigers
Transaction: Traded to Tigers in December for minor-league infielder Eugenio Suarez and minor-league pitcher Jonathon Crawford.
Key 2015 numbers: 44.1 innings, 42 hits, 29 strikeouts, 11 walks, 3.53 FIP, 1.20 WHIP.
Rundown: Aside from one disastrous start (4.1 innings, 9 hits, 6 earned runs) vs. the Royals, the 34-year-old Simon has been a sturdy addition to a Tiger rotation whose depth took a hit with the voids left by Max Scherzer (free agency) and Justin Verlander (injury). Simon’s strikeout, walk and home run rates are mostly stable from 2014. Don’t go calling this trade a victory for Detroit just yet, as Simon’s ground ball-to-fly ball ratio and fastball velocity are both down.
As for the Reds’ return, Suarez is slashing .238/.344/.410 in 123 plate appearances at Triple-A Louisville. And for Crawford, Doug Gray reported in late April that the right-hander was throwing in extended spring training out at the Reds facility in Goodyear, Arizona, after being out with an undisclosed injury in spring training. Officially, Crawford is listed on the Dayton Dragons’ disabled list, but when he’s ready to pitch outside of Goodyear, it’s safe to assume Crawford won’t head to Dayton since he pitched relatively well in the Midwest League in 2014.
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Neftali Soto, INF/DH, Triple-A Charlotte (White Sox)
Transactions: Granted free agency in November and signed with the White Sox.
Key 2015 numbers: 134 plate appearances, .273/.331/.372 slash, 15 runs, 2 home runs, .803 OPS.
Rundown: Soto, 26, logged 44 combined plate appearances for the Reds in 2013 and 2014, slashing .071/.091/.095. Soto was a third-round pick of the Reds in 2007, but it looks like his destiny is to be a Quad-A player.