[medford]

I took a liking to Mallett when I saw him pitch for Dayton a couple of times. He falls into the late bloomer label, after transferring to a new school his senior year of HS, he failed to make the baseball team (perhaps politics, or "issues" don't know the story, just that he didn't make it), and while shining in summer ball he got an offer to a JUCO program.

A pretty tall kid w/ what appeared at the time to be a great changeup and so-so fastball. I'm sure the hope/belief was that he could keep the changeup, and develop the fastball to match his height and frame and turn into a solid reliever in the bigs. I think he got suspended for breaking the drug policy (not sure if it was PEDs or something illicit, or what) a couple of seasons ago. At this point, one has to think his chances of ever making the reds, or any other major league club is slim, but perhaps he gets a late season call up, or injury fill in and gives the big league club every reason to keep him around.