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Friday, November 18, 2011

Baseball America’s Top 10 Prospects: Cincinnati Reds

Another year…and still no sign of Eski Viltz.

1. Devin Mesoraco, c
2. Billy Hamilton, ss
3. Yonder Alonso, 1b/of
4. Yasmani Grandal, c
5. Zack Cozart, ss
6. Daniel Corcino, rhp
7. Robert Stephenson, rhp
8. DiDi Gregorius, ss
9. Todd Frazier, 3b/1b/of
10. Brad Boxberger, rhp

By contrast, Cincinnati has more big league-ready position prospects than it has open spots in the lineup. Devin Mesoraco is ready to take over as the team’s primary catcher with Ramon Hernandez departing via free agency, but Yonder Alonso may still be on the outside looking in despite posting a .943 OPS in 88 late-season at-bats. His best position is first base, currently occupied by 2010 National League MVP Joey Votto, and Alonso has yet to prove he could handle left field or third base.

Repoz Posted: November 18, 2011 at 01:15 PM | 18 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: minor leagues, prospect reports, reds, scouting

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1. Meramec Posted: November 18, 2011 at 03:03 PM (#3996381)

I presume their ability to kick was taken into account in these rankings?

2. There are no words... (Met Fan Charlie) Posted: November 18, 2011 at 03:58 PM (#3996422)

Ohmygod, #8 HAS to make the bigs with a name like that...

3. Steve Parris, Je t'aime Posted: November 18, 2011 at 05:05 PM (#3996501)

Sick burn, [1].

Hamilton is ranked very highly for a guy who just finished low A with a 700 OPS. But BA loves the high ceiling guys and Hamilton stole 103 bases and plays a good SS.

Zack Cozart is another guy who will probably start this year. He had a good cup of coffee before injuring his non-throwing elbow (which required TJ).

4. zonk Posted: November 18, 2011 at 05:19 PM (#3996520)

Ohmygod, #8 HAS to make the bigs with a name like that...

There's always a career in GWAR if this baseball thing doesn't work out.

BTW - trying Alonso at 3B... is that even legal? Having seen him play a bit of LF, I have to say -- he looks like a wonderful DH for someone.

5. The District Attorney Posted: November 18, 2011 at 05:28 PM (#3996531)

"Devin Mesoraco", "Yonder Alonso", "Yasmani Grandal" and "Brad Boxberger" are all great names.

And at least given that he stole 103 bases, "Billy Hamilton" is an amazing name.

6. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: November 18, 2011 at 05:31 PM (#3996536)

Hamilton is really exciting. I think that's a pretty good system, although they'll graduate a lot of those guys in the next eighteen months.

7. danup Posted: November 18, 2011 at 05:46 PM (#3996556)

I love so much that there's a guy who stole 100 bases in the minors and his name is Billy Hamilton.

8. PhillyBooster Posted: November 18, 2011 at 06:08 PM (#3996592)

I'm pretty sure DiDi Gregorius was Danny's ex-girlfriend in Grease, who tries to steal him away from Sandy during the big school dance.

She looked like she had solid defense, a good eye, and could easily catch up to a curveball.

9. cardinal Posted: November 18, 2011 at 06:14 PM (#3996602)

There's always a career in GWAR if this baseball thing doesn't work out.

There's a newfangled-stat joke in there somewhere but darned if I can come up with it.

10. Johnny Sycophant-Laden Fora Posted: November 18, 2011 at 06:32 PM (#3996624)

Todd Frazier is still a prospect? I dumped him from my roto farm club YEARS ago...
He'll turn 26 in a couple of months...

How does he beat out Sappelt?
Neftali Soto?
Henry Rodriguez?

Hell I have no idea how/why BA once had him in their overall top 50...

11. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: November 18, 2011 at 07:28 PM (#3996665)

Ohmygod, #8 HAS to make the bigs with a name like that...

I was going to say, that is a hell of a name. He was born in Amsterdam, and apparently his father Didi, originally from Curacao, and his brother Johnny are both pitchers in Dutch Honkbal Hoofdklasse.

12. TerpNats Posted: November 18, 2011 at 08:57 PM (#3996748)

It's too bad Tony Curtis didn't live to see Yonder Alonso make the majors.

13. Voros McCracken, Human Shield Posted: November 18, 2011 at 09:40 PM (#3996772)

TDA and danup,

Is it too match to ask for Hamilton to have a nickname of "Sliding Billy?"

14. Johnny Sycophant-Laden Fora Posted: November 18, 2011 at 09:54 PM (#3996785)

Hamilton is ranked very highly for a guy who just finished low A with a 700 OPS.

To be fair the Midwest is very pitcher friendly, league was .250/.323/.370

He has a 3B teammate named Vidal who at 21 did just about enough there to be vaguely interesting...

Unless Hamilton is a real good SS I think #2 is a reach, and since the Reds seem to be considering moving him to 2B already I just don't know

15. CC is on irrevocable waivers Posted: November 18, 2011 at 10:54 PM (#3996830)

No Ronald Torreyes?

Yes, he's small and his tools are limited, but he just hit 356/398/457 in a full-season league at age 18 -- that's two full years younger than Hamilton, who hit 278/340/360 at the same level...

16. zachtoma Posted: November 19, 2011 at 04:17 AM (#3996995)

Hamilton stole 103 bases

!!!

17. Ok, Griffey's Dunn (Nothing Iffey About Griffey) Posted: November 19, 2011 at 12:43 PM (#3997117)

Billy has already become a bit of a legend among followers of the Reds system. For your viewing pleasure, one of Billys' in the park hr's:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?content_id=14238973

Notice, the ball doesn't even get to the wall. Less than 14 seconds from the time he swings until he slides through home.

18. Ok, Griffey's Dunn (Nothing Iffey About Griffey) Posted: November 19, 2011 at 12:58 PM (#3997118)

A few other tidbits about Sliding Billy:

Named the #2 Prospect in the league by BA, even with only a .700 OPS

Hit around .230 in the first half, over .300 in the second, and upped his walk rate.

From Redsof72 over at redszone.com, who I believe is a Dayton season ticket holder:

8/28: Tonight...eighth inning, 1-0 game, Dragons could use an insurance run, though Hayes is warming up and he is money in the bank.

One out, Hamilton draws a walk. West Michigan catcher is the kid from Arkansas, second round pick, was supposed to be the top defensive catcher in the draft. Tough guy to run on.

Pitcher throws over about four times, Billy dives back every time. First pitch, he stills second easily. Number 93 of the year. Second pitch, he holds. Third pitch, he steals third. Catcher doesn't even throw the ball. Now he's on third with one out. Infield comes in. Torreyes hit a hard grounder right at the second baseman, who is in on the edge of the grass to keep the runner from scoring. Billy runs on contact, second baseman fields the ball, cocks his arm to throw home....sees Billy, and just throws it to first to get Torreyes. Billy scores. Fans go nuts. Dragons go on to win 2-0.

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Friday, November 18, 2011

Baseball America’s Top 10 Prospects: Cincinnati Reds

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