I can’t claim patience as one of my greatest virtues. I don’t know about you, but I’m finding that even this early in the season I’m having to dig deep for some waiting on the young players with the Reds to start making some progress at making adjustments and performing at the big league level.
On the offensive side, 2B Jose Peraza is implanted near the top of the batting order with his .261 OBP that includes 2 BB in 88 PA. I’m not sure how the Reds are going to get it through to him that his BA and OBP will both increase if he’d use his great contact skill to only swing at pitches in the strike zone. OF Scott Schebler seems to be starting to show some signs of life as his bat has heated up on the road trip after a really rough start.
The Reds young pitchers are especially trying on my small reserve of patience. My pet peeve is pitchers who don’t throw strikes. So it’s been pretty rough watching Davis, Finnegan, Reed, and Stephenson thus far. Garrett and Peralta on the other hand are the bright spots thus far, and remind us of what is sure to come soon for some of the other talented arms who are struggling so bad now.
So while we continue watching the development of the guys fresh up from the farm, let’s check out how some of our next batch of young talented players are faring.
AAA Louisville Bats
International League hitters are hitting .248/.319/.381/.700.
SS/SS Juan Perez, .328/.418/.586/1.004, continues his impressive start at AAA this season. OF/1B Sebastian Elizalde has begun to cool off a bit .328/.410/.493/.903. OF Jesse Winker, .291/.379/.364/.742, continues to put up solid numbers at AAA. IF Tony Renda and IF Zach Vincej have both been placed on the DL.
International League pitchers have a 3.80 ERA.
RH SP Sal Romano (1.58 ERA) left last night’s game early while warming up for the 6th inning. SP Rob Wooten (3.63 ERA) was put on the DL and the Bats signed 28 year old RH Asher Wojciechowski (4.45 ERA in 404 IP at AAA). Wojciechowski allowed 1 R, 0 ER in 4 IP in his first start with the Bats. It appears that LHP Nick Routt (1.69 ERA, 5 G, 2 GS) may be getting stretched out to join the Bat’s rotation. RH RP Evan Mitchell has yet to allow an earned run (1 R, 0 ER in 13 IP) coming out of the bullpen. RH RP Kyle McMyne has a 0.63 ERA in 14.1 IP. RH RP Louis Coleman (2.70 ERA) and RH RP Kevin Shackelford (3.38 ERA) are pitching well out of the bullpen also.
AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Southern League hitters are hitting .228/.309/.341/.650.
1B Angelo Gumbs,.370/.452/.556/1.007 is off to a great start over his first 31 PA. CF Brian O’Grady (.234/.390/.489/.879) is off to a great start this season at AA. OF Gabriel Guerrero, .307/.325/.413/.738, is off to a good start. C Devin Mesoraco is hitting a very weak .170/.291/.255/.546 in his rehab assignment. OF Aristides Aquino is struggling, .188/.232/.297/.529, in his first exposure to AA.
Southern League pitchers have a 3.14 ERA.
RH SP Tyler Mahle (0.68 ERA) tossed a perfect game last week. RH SP Luis Castillo (2.22 ERA), is off to a great start. RH SP Austin Ross (0.86 ERA), is having an excellent start to his season. SP Keury Mella (4.12 ERA) had a strong start his last time out. RH RP Jimmy Herget, (1.00 ERA) has recorded 7 S and has 17 SO in 9 IP. RH RP Ariel Hernandez (1.13 ERA with 14 SO in 8 IP) will rejoin the Blue Wahoos deep bullpen after a great outing for the Reds. Domingo Tapia (1.04 ERA), Ismael Guillon (1.42 ERA), and Jake Ehret (2.16 ERA) are all throwing very well out of the bullpen.
High A Daytona Tortugas
Florida State League hitters are hitting .253/.321/.366/.687.
1B Gavin LaValley, .284/.316/.541/.857, leads the Tortugas at the plate. OF Daniel Sweet, .302/.403/.358/.762, is hitting well also. 2B Shed Long, .258/.320/.439/.759, has begun to heat up at the plate. SS Alfredo Rodriguez (.553 OPS), 3B Nick Senzel (.668 OPS), and C Chris Okey (.518 OPS) all continue to struggle in the early going.
Florida State League pitchers have a 3.54 ERA.
Starting pitchers Jonathon Crawford, (1.45 ERA), Ty Boyles (1.93 ERA), Jose Lopez (2.25 ERA), and Wendolyn Bautista (3.24 ERA) are all off to great starts on the mound. SP Vladimir Gutierrez (6.28 ERA) has allowed 20 H over 14.1 IP despite 16 SO and 4 BB. RH RP Ty Rainey (0.90 ERA) has allowed just 1 R and 2 H over 10 IP while recording 20 SO and 0 BB.
Low A Dayton Dragons
Midwest League hitters are hitting .241/.314/.373/.687.
C Tyler Stephenson, .288/.391/.458/.849, is leading the team at the plate. CF T.J. Friedl, .284/.364/.478/.841, is still hitting well. OF Michael Beltre, .281/.379/.439/.817, is off to a good start. 1B/OF Avain Rachal, .216/.383/.405/.788, continues to hit well. OF Jose Siri, .254/.310/.397/.707, has begun to heat up at the plate. OF Taylor Trammell, .224/.312/.313/.625, is off to a slow start.
Midwest League pitchers have a 3.74 ERA.
LH SP Wennington Romero (3.00 ERA) leads the starting rotation. RH SP Tony Santillan (4.00 ERA) has 12 BB in 18 IP. LH SP Scott Moss (4.05 ERA) has 33 SO and 7 BB over 20 IP. RP Joel Kuhnel (1.13 ERA) has recorded 3 saves. RP Aaron Fossas has not been scored on over 15 IP of relief.
Good stuff Tom. I know it’s not as important as player development by a long shot, but I do think developing an expectation of winning can be good for a player’s attitude and success. How are the Reds affiliates doing in the W-L column and standings?
I think we’ll see steady improvement from Taylor Trammell throughout the year similar to what he did in Billings last year. He’s a 19 year old in full season ball largely facing guys several years older than him in his first spring as a professional. He’s already showing a solid walk rate, and he has consistently hit, he just hasn’t put up many (if any) multi-hit games. He’s stealing bases and playing good OF defense in all 3 spots. I expect May to be a little better, than once we get into June/July I think he’ll start showing why he was such a high pick. The tools are all there, and the bat speed is very good.
Excellent work. There does not appear to be a Bryce Harper or Mike Trout phenom among the Reds minor leaguers but hopefully a few of these guys will develop into solid major leaguers. All prospects are suspects until they prove they have what it takes. I am disappointed the Reds do not seem to have acquired much in the way of superior talent for moving Cueto, Leake, Frazier, Chapman, Bruce, Phillips. Except for Frazier all of them are doing pretty well for their new teams.