With All-Star Game coming up next week, the trading deadline is right around the corner. It will be interesting to see if the Reds are able to make any moves and what the return from them will be. Hopefully they will bring some more good young talent our way to stock the farm. With that, let’s check out some of the action down on the farm.
AAA Louisville Bats
The Bats have a 42-44 record and are in 3rd place in the International League West.
The International League hitters are averaging .253/.320/.377/.697.
OF Scott Schebler (.294/.345/.520/.865) is the Reds best hitter at AAA and needs to be called up and given regular playing time in the big leagues for the remainder of the season. Hopefully the Reds can make some room for him soon in the OF. OF Steve Selsky (.294/.382/.464/.847) is making a pretty good argument for some big league playing time as well. 3B Jermaine Curtis (.283/.409/.425/.834) has been consistently good all season and will represent the Bats in the AAA All Star Game. OF Jesse Winker (.286/.381/.367/.748) is still on the DL with a wrist injury and began a rehab assignment with the AZL Reds yesterday. Winker went 1 for 3 with a HR in his first rehab appearance.
The International League average ERA is 3.61.
SP Robert Stephenson (3.89 ERA) gave up 2 solo HR and had 4 BB in 6.1 IP yesterday. He’s really not making a strong case for a call up to the big leagues having walked 46 batter in 88 IP. SP Amir Garrett (2.89 ERA) has allowed more BB (10) than H (8) in 18.2 IP at AAA. SP Jon Moscot (5.26 ERA) was placed on the DL with an elbow injury. SP Seth Varner (3.22 ERA at A+) was promoted to the Bats to take Moscot’s turn in the rotation. Unfortunately, Varner got tagged for 4 ER without recording at out in his first start at AAA. LH RP Wandy Peralta (2.67 ERA) has recorded 2 S in 30.1 IP of relief.
AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos
The Blue Wahoos have a 45-37 record and are in 1st place in the Southern League South. The Blue Wahoos are the First Half South Division Champions.
The Southern League hitters are averaging .252/.328/.369/.696.
OF Phil Ervin (.227/.338/.376/.714) has hit a cold spell as his numbers fall towards the league average mark. 2B Brandon Dixon (.249/.303/.441/.744) continues to slide back since his hot week last month. OF Sebastian Elizalde (.282/.324/.379/.703) has cooled off of late as well. 3B Taylor Sparks (.237/.310/.447/.757) is off to a good start in his first 42 PA since his promotion. OF Juan Duran (.222/.300/.333/.633) has 8 SO in his first 20 PA since his return. OF Beau Amaral (.280/.360/.420/.780) was sent on a rehab assignment to the Rookie level Billings Mustangs. 2B Alex Blandino (.193/.292/.303/.595) and 3B Eric Jagielo (.206/.305/.307/.612) are my two biggest disappointments thus far this season in the minors.
The Southern League average ERA is 3.75.
SP Jackson Stephens (3.28 ERA) continues to pitch very well at the AA level. SP Rookie Davis (3.14 ERA) has only 30 SO in 66 IP. SP Tyler Mahle (4.91 ERA) has 19 SO and 6 BB in 14.2 IP over his first 3 GS at AA. SP Sal Romano (4.86 ERA) and SP Nick Travieso (4.75 ERA) have both been disappointments at AA this season. Barrett Astin (3.04 ERA) has pitched well in 53.1 IP over 23 G with 5 GS. RP Alejandro Chacin (1.03 ERA) now has 15 S.
High A Daytona Tortugas
The Tortugas have a 43-36 record and are in 3rd place in the Florida State League North.
The Florida State League hitters are averaging .248/.318/.354/.672.
RF Aristides Aquino (.287/.347/.490/.837) has been on a tear of late. 1B Gavin LaValley (.276/.333/.504/.837) is on a hot streak as well and has found the power stroke he was missing last season at Dayton. OF/1B Brian O’Grady (.249/.381/.444/.826) leads the club with 40 BB. 2B Ty Washington (.282/.333/.455/.788) has put himself up among the team leaders in hitting as well. SS Blake Trahan (.246/.317/.345/.662) is hitting at right about league average.
The Florida State League average ERA is 3.47.
SP Keury Mella (3.31 ERA) should be slated for a promotion to AA soon. SP Wendolyn Bautista (1.74) is pitching very well in his first four starts at Daytona. RP Jimmy Herget (1.27 ERA) is doing a great job as the closer and now has 15 S. RP Ariel Hernandez (1.69 ERA) is off to a great start in his first 10.2 IP since being promoted to Daytona.
Low A Dayton Dragons
The Dragons have a 24-58 record and are in 8th place in the Midwest League Eastern.
The Midwest League hitters are averaging .246/.316/.349/.665.
3B Nick Senzel (.333/.333/.556/.889) is off to a very good start in his first 18 PA since his promotion to A ball. 2B Shed Long (.282/.373/.480/.852) is more than ready for a promotion up to the next level. 1B James Vasquez (.239/.314/.390/.703) has fallen on hard times recently. C Chris Okey (.091/.091/.182/.273) is off to a slow start in A ball after just 12 PA.  C Tyler Stephenson (.196/.267/.272/.539) has been placed on a rehab assignment with the AZL Reds. Stephenson went 1 for 2 with 2 BB in his first rehab appearance.
The Midwest League average ERA is 3.51.
SP Austin Orewiler (3.22 ERA) continues to lead the Dragons rotation. SP Jose Lopez (3.32 ERA) has been pitching very well also. SP Jacob Constante (4.64 ERA), SP Ty Boyles (4.95 ERA), and SP Tanner Rainey (5.89 ERA) all continue to struggle in the Dragons rotation. RP Juan Martinez (1.60 ERA), Jesus Reyes (1.99 ERA), and Manuel Aybar (2.51 ERA) are the leaders in the bullpen.
Rookie Billings Mustangs
The Mustangs have a 11-7 record and are in 1st place in the Pioneer League North.
The Pioneer League hitters are averaging .294/.365/.443/.808.
OF Daniel Sweet (.367/.525/.600/1.125) leads the Mustangs in hitting. OF Jose Siri (.393/.422/.672/1.094) is off to a very hot start. 3B Colby Wright (.276/.455/.414/.868), SS Hector Vargas (.346/.340/.519/.859), and OF Miles Gordon (.273/.433/.409/.842) are off to a good starts this season.
The Pioneer League average ERA is 5.40.
SP Andrew Jordan (2.55 ERA) and SP Antonio Santillan (3.63 ERA) are leading the Mustangs rotation. Santillan has an amazing 32 SO in 17.1 IP. RP Patrick Riehl (2.03 ERA) and RP Zac Correll (2.13 ERA) head up the bullpen.
Rookie AZL Reds
The Reds have a 5-7 record and are in 3rd place in the AZL Central.
The AZL hitters are averaging .255/.338/.369/.706.
C Derik Capitillo (.450/.500/.600/1.100) leads the club in hitting. 1B Morgan Lofstrom (.346/.414/.538/.952) has hit the clubs only HR thus far this season. OF Michael Beltre (.333/.404/.524/.928) is off to a hot start. OF Daniel Jimenez (.353/.405/.412/.817) is off to a very good start.
The AZL average ERA is 4.47.
SP Ian Kahaloa (0.00 ERA), SP Wennington Romero (1.80 ERA), and SP Matt Blandino (2.57 ERA) lead the rotation. RP Darren Shred (0.00 ERA) and RP Connor Bennett (3.38 ERA) are off to good starts in the bullpen.