The midway point of the minor league season is upon us, at least for the full-season teams. That means it’s the perfect time to look back and see who should be on a fake Cincinnati Reds minor league All-Star team.
Catcher: Hendrik Clementina
There isn’t much up for debate at the catcher position. Hendrik Clementina is hitting .316/.389/.582 for the Dayton Dragons with 23 extra-base hits in 180 plate appearances. Honorable mention: Tyler Stephenson
First Base: Ibandel Isabel
There are certainly some flaws in the game for Ibandel Isabel – he’s struck out 55 times in 42 games with the Daytona Tortugas this season. But man, he’s still absolutely raking because when he makes contact he’s making serious contact. He’s hitting .264/.347/.622 with 16 home runs – easily leading the pitcher friendly Florida State League. Honorable mention: Steve Selsky
Second Base: Nick Senzel
While he missed much of May with vertigo, Nick Senzel has been tearing the cover off of the ball since returning. He’s hitting .302/.372/.478 for Louisville in 180 plate appearances this season. That’s also come with eight steals in nine attempts. Honorable mention: Dilson Herrera, Shed Long
Third Base: Mitch Nay
Mitch Nay got out to a torrid start in April, and he’s slowed down a bit since then, but the infielders is still hitting an above-average .272/.336/.425 for the Daytona Tortugas. He’s got 23 extra-base hits and 20 walks in 62 games played. Honorable mention: DJ Peterson
Shortstop: Jeter Downs
A recent slump has put the numbers of Jeter Downs on a downward trend lately, but he’s hitting .258/.326/.420 on the season with the Dayton Dragons. He’s hit 15 doubles, two triples and eight home runs on the year, and gone 18-for-22 in stolen base attempts in 66 games played. Honorable mention: Luis Gonzalez
Outfield: Taylor Trammell
One of the top prospects in the organization, Taylor Trammell has gone to Daytona this year and has not slowed down at all. In 59 games played he’s hitting .301/.402/.450 on the season with 16 extra-base hits and nine stolen bases.
Outfield: Stuart Fairchild
The Dayton Dragons outfielder has played in 67 games and is currently hitting .277/.377/.460. He’s doubled 12 times, tripled five times, and he’s hit seven home runs. He’s also gone 17-for-21 in stolen base attempts.
Outfield: TJ Friedl
TJ Friedl has racked up 268 plate appearances for the Daytona Tortugas with a .291/.403/.404 line on the season. He’s walked 38 times with just 42 strikeouts, and he’s stolen 11 bases on the year. Honorable mention: Michael Beltre, Gabby Guerrero, Narciso Crook
Starting Pitcher: Tony Santillan
The 21-year-old right hander has posted a 2.96 ERA for Daytona in 13 starts. He’s tossed 76.0 innings, allowed just five home runs, walked 19 batters, and he has 61 strikeouts.
Starting Pitcher: Keury Mella
With Double-A Pensacola, Keury Mella has made 14 starts with a 3.10 ERA. Over 72.2 innings he’s allowed just 58 hits, walked 26 batters, and he’s struck out 76 opposing hitters.
Starting Pitcher: Jose Lopez
After a tough start to the season, Jose Lopez has rebounded well in Louisville for the BAts. He’s made 12 starts this year and posted a 3.84 ERA. In 65.2 innings pitched he’s walked just 18 batters and he’s struck out 50 batters. Honorable mention: Robert Stephenson, Wennington Romero
Reliever: Seth Varner
The lefty has made four starts and nine relief appearances, so this is slightly cheating, but he’s pitched in long relief and he’s been outstanding this year. He’s thrown 48.1 innings with a 2.42 ERA, walking just nine batters and he’s struck out 46.
Reliever: Cory Thompson
The converted shortstop has been outstanding out of the Dayton bullpen in 2018. He’s posted a 1.83 ERA in 34.1 innings on the season. He’s walked four batters, and one of those walks was intentional. He’s also racked up 35 strikeouts, and all of them were also intentional. Honorable mention: Ryan Hendrix, Tanner Rainey, Kevin Canelon
Isn’t it time to move some of these players up to the next level?
Yes. The Reds usually wait until after the All-Star games to move most guys up. Tomorrow everyone will be back from the All-Star break and that’s when I would expect to see some movement. I don’t know how much we will see compared to previous years, but I think that we will see some.
I don’t know if he will or if he won’t. They probably pulled him so he could start the All-Star game last night.
Great stuff Doug. I do wish more of these guys were at Pensacola and Louisville, but I suppose the really gaudy numbers tend to show up in the mismatches in rookie and A ball. Has Santillan cooled off a little? I recall he had video game numbers earlier in the year. Still – is he a future rotation piece for the Reds?
Cody Reed has been better than Robert Stephenson in Louisville.
Trolling accomplished.