While the Reds are in Philadelphia inventing new ways for their bullpen to blow up, we’ll check out the farm system and see if there’s anything down there to spark our interest and maybe give us some hope. Also remember the MLB Draft takes place next week and that the players selected there will go a long ways in stocking the rosters of the Rookie level Billings Mustangs and AZL Reds. Billings begins play on June 18th and the AZL Reds start on June 20th.
AAA Louisville Bats
The Reds needed to find a roster spot to promote Ivan DeJesus, (.303/.378/.384/.762 OPS), to the big league roster and they released Donald Lutz to make the room. Lutz had a .554 OPS and was on the DL in Louisville with an elbow injury.
Josh Satin was activated from the DL and is 3 for 5 with a 2B in his first two games back. Eugenio Suarez is still hot, .260/.353/.452/.805, but seems to have no place to play regularly in the big leagues with Cozart and Phillips both still getting the job done. Steve Selsky, .299/.353/.425/.778, should have gotten consideration for being Byrd’s replacement, but likely was not perceived as versatile enough for the big league bench that is regularly kept short handed by design.
AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos
C Lou Marson joined the Blue Wahoos from extended spring training and C Julio Morillo was assigned to the Billings roster. Both C Kyle Skipworth and C Yovan Gonzalez are on the DL in Pensacola.
OF/1B Kyle Waldrop, .283/.313/.462/.775, had to think he might have a shot at replacing Byrd as well since he was the best hitting OF already on the Reds 40 man roster. Starting pitchers Timothy Adleman (1.58) and Keyvious Sampson (1.91) both have sub 2 ERAs.
High A Daytona Tortugas
Alex Blandino looks to be the real deal. He’s hitting .321/.403/.444/.847 where the league OPS is .650. A promotion to AA should be in his near future. Phillip Ervin on the other hand is doing his best to prove that his 1.121 OPS in April was a fluke. He put up a .585 OPS in April and is 0 for 9 so far in June. Taylor Sparks has amassed 64 SO and only 3 HR to go along with his .585 OPS.
Barrett Astin (2.17) is surprisingly thus far the best starter on a very good pitching staff. Nick Travieso (3.46), who is just a bit below league average, is surprisingly the worst.
Low A Dayton Dragons
SP Mark Armstrong was placed on the DL with an elbow sprain and P Junior Morillo was added to the roster from extended spring training. The Dragon, like the Tortugas, have a very good starting rotation. Seth Varner’s 3.27 ERA is the worst in the rotation and it is still far better than the league average of 3.57.
C Garrett Boulware has a very good .277/.376/.436/.812 slash line and a team leading 4 HR while splitting catching duties with Jose Ortiz. OF Brian O’Grady, .238/.383/.354/.737, leads the team with 39 BB and 15 SB.