2015 Redszone Prospect Poll Results

[RedlegJake]

1. Jesse Winker, LF-L, 21 AA, 1st round suppl 2012 (last year #4)
2. Robert Stephenson, RHP, 22 AA, 1st round 2011 (last year #1)
3. Michael Lorenzen, RHP, 23 AA, 1st round suppl 2013 (last year #6)
4. Raisel Iglesias, RHP, 25 AFL, Intn'l FA (new to poll)
5. Nick Travieso, RHP, 21 A, 1st round 2012 (last year #8)
6. Amir Garrett, LHP, 23 A, 22nd round 2011 (last year #21)
7. Anthony DeSclafani, RHP, 25 AAA/ML, 22nd round 2008 Miami (newly acquired in Latos deal)
8. Nick Howard, RHP, 22 A, 1st round 2014 (new to poll)
9. Yorman Rodriguez CF, 22 A/ML, Intn'l FA 2008 (last year 5th)
10. Kyle Waldrop RF, 23 AA, 12th round 2010, (last year #20)
11. Alex Blandino 2B, 22 A, 1st round 2014 (new to poll)
12. Aristides Aquino, RF, 20 R, Int'l FA 2011 (last year #26)
13. Phil Ervin CF, 22 A, 1st round 2013, (last year #3)
14. Jon Moscot, RHP, 23 AA/AAA, 4th round 2012 (last year #11)
15. Sal Romano, RHP, 21 A, 23rd round 2011 (last year #40)
16. Jonathan Crawford, RHP, 23 A, 1st round 2013 by Detroit, (newly acquired in Simon trade)
17. Tucker Barnhart, C, 24 AAA/ML, 10th round 2009 (last year #13)
18. David Holmberg, LHP, 23 AAA/ML, 2nd round 2009 White Sox, acquired in Hanigan deal (last year #7)
19. Seth Mejias-Brean, 3B, 24 AA, 8th round 2012 (last year #9)
20. Junior Arias CF, 23 A+, Intn'l FA 2008, (last year #17)
21. Taylor Sparks, 3B, 22 R, 2nd round 2014 (new to poll)
22. Chad Wallach, C, 23 A+, 5th round 2013 Marlins, acquired in Latos trade (new to poll)
23. Gavin LaValley 3B, 20 R, 4th round 2014 (new to poll)
24. Tyler Mahle, 20 R, RHP, 7th round 2013, (#23 last year)
25. Wyatt Strahan, 21 R, RHP, 3rd round 2014 (new to poll)
26. Daniel Corcino, RHP, 24 AAA/ML, Intnl FA 2008, (last year #15)
27. Carlton Daal, SS, 21 A, Intnl FA 2012, (last year #56)
28. Juan Silva, RF, 24 A+, 8th round 2009, (last year #36)
29. Sebastian Elizalde, 23, LF A+, Intnl FA 2013 (Mexican Lg), (last year #55)
30. Dan Langfield, RHP, 24 A, 3rd round 2012, (last year #45)
31. Mark Armstrong, RHP, 20 AZL, 3rd round 2013, (last year #30)
32. Jeremy Kivel, RHP, 21 R, 10th round 2012 (last year #19)
33. Matt Magill, RHP, 25 AAA/ML, 31st round 2008 LA Dodgers, acquired in Heisey trade (new to poll)
34. Ty Boyles, RHP, 19 AZL, 11th round 2013, (last year #49)
35. Ismael Guillon, LHP, 23 +, Intnl FA 2008, (last year 22)
36. Jose Ortiz, C, 21 A, 17th round 2012, (last year #16)
37. Daniel Wright, RHP, 24 A+, 10th round 2013, (last year 86-93)
38. Tanner "Rocks" Rahier, 3B, 21 A, 2nd round 2012, (last year #34)
39. Chadwick Tromp, C, 20 A, Intnl FA 2012 (new to poll - no votes last year)
40. Keyvius Sampson, RHP, 24 AAA, 4th round 2009, (new to poll, claimed off Padres)
41. Juan Duran, RF, 23 AA, Intnl FA 2008, (last year #32)
42. Jose Siri, CF, 19 AZL, Intnl FA 2012, (last year #58)
43. Kevin Garcia, CF, 22 R, Intnl FA 2011, (last year #27)
44. Zack Weiss, RHP, 23 A, 6th round 2013, (last year 75-85 group)
45. Jacob Constante, LHP 21 AZL, Intnl FA 2013, (last year #24)
46. Jackson Stephens, RHP, 21 A, 18th round 2012, (last year #33)
47. Beau Amaral, CF, 24 AA, 7th round 2012, (last year in 86-93 ranking group)
48. Alejandro Chacin, RHP, 22 AA, Intnl FA 2009 (last year #41)
49. Argenis Aldazoro, 1B, 22 R, Intnl FA 2010, (new to poll, no votes last year)
50. Brian O'Grady, CF, 23 R, 8th round 2014, (new to poll)
51. Kevin Franklin, 3B, 20 R, 2nd round 2013, (last year #18)
52a Luis Gonzalez, Inf, 20 AZL, Intnl FA 2012, (last year #66)
52b Montrel Marshall, SS, 19 DNP, 12th round 2013, (new to poll)
52c Juan Perez, SS, 23 A+, 26th round 2011, (last year 86-93 group)
52d Steve Selsky, OF, 25 AAA, 33rd round 2011, (last year #57)
52e Cory Thompson, SS, 20 A, 5th round 2013, (last year #39)
52f Zack Vincej, SS, 23A+, 37th round 2012, (last year #61)
58a Narciso Crook, OF, 19 AZL, 23rd round 2013 (last year not ranked)
58b Ben Klimesh, RHP, 25 AA, 15th round 2012 (last year 94-120 group)
60 Ty Washington, 2B, 21 R, 43rd round 2011, (last year #74)
61a Gabriel Rosa, 3B, 21 A, 2d round 2011 (last year #31)
61b Layne Somsen, RHP, 26 A+, 22d round 2013 (last year #72)
63a Felix Perez, OF, 30 AAA, Intnl FA 2009, (last year did not rank)
63b El Hajj Muhammad, RHP, 23 A+, 49th 2010, (last year #65)
63c Carlos Gonzalez, OF, 25 AA, 21st round 2011, (last year did not rank)
63d Drew Cisco, RHP, 23 A+, 6th round 2010 (last year #29)
63e Brennan Bernardino, LHP, 23 R, 26th round 2014, (new to poll)

[VPI97]

I can't wait to see what Iglesias does this year.

[Benihana]

This should be one of the more interesting years on the farm in a long time, as I expect there should be some significant sorting out of all the pitchers that are currently bunched together.

Stephenson, Lorenzen, Iglesias, Travieso, Garrett, Howard and Crawford could now be argued in almost any order, but I'd expect by the end of this season, there should be a much clearer pecking order. Will be interesting to see how it all sorts itself out. DeSclafini too, but I expect he'll be pitching most of the year in Cincy rather than on the farm.

[RedlegJake]

I expect the farm to really move up in rankings this year. There has been a lot of talent the last couple years but it has all been the low levels, now many guys are getting close and a lot of R and A talent is being promoted. Very interesting year indeed. Not just pitching which Beni touched on but hitters, too. Will Franklin harness his enormous power? Will Ervin make a comeback? Is YRod ready because, really, he has to be by the end of this year. How about that LaValley kid? Will he continue to hit as he rises out of rookie ball? How well will Blandino handle his second pro season? How fast will Winker move? We are on the cusp of another surge of players making the Reds squad and there are plenty of good prospects who could fill their spots in the higher levels, too. Winker has rightfully been called the only impact hitting prospect the Reds have but that perception could change a bit this year - or - it could be confirmed...

[_Sir_Charles_]

Imo, the two most interesting stories for me will be Stephenson and Ervin. We've yet to see either guy put together a traditional top prospect type of year and either doing so will go a long way for the Reds.

[Will M]

I expect the farm to really move up in rankings this year. There has been a lot of talent the last couple years but it has all been the low levels, now many guys are getting close and a lot of R and A talent is being promoted. Very interesting year indeed. Not just pitching which Beni touched on but hitters, too. Will Franklin harness his enormous power? Will Ervin make a comeback? Is YRod ready because, really, he has to be by the end of this year. How about that LaValley kid? Will he continue to hit as he rises out of rookie ball? How well will Blandino handle his second pro season? How fast will Winker move? We are on the cusp of another surge of players making the Reds squad and there are plenty of good prospects who could fill their spots in the higher levels, too. Winker has rightfully been called the only impact hitting prospect the Reds have but that perception could change a bit this year - or - it could be confirmed...

Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs ranks the Reds as the 6th best minor league system.

[dougdirt]

Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs ranks the Reds as the 6th best minor league system.

I'm not entirely sure if that is true. It could have been that he thought it was 6th of the 16 he had done to that point (he named seven teams - all ones that he had covered thus far). Could be a coincidence that it worked out that way.

With that said, I think it's in that 8-12 range based on what teams in that range had in the past and what the Reds have now. Really, it just depends on exactly how much you believe in a few key guys.

[Will M]

I'm not entirely sure if that is true. It could have been that he thought it was 6th of the 16 he had done to that point (he named seven teams - all ones that he had covered thus far). Could be a coincidence that it worked out that way.

With that said, I think it's in that 8-12 range based on what teams in that range had in the past and what the Reds have now. Really, it just depends on exactly how much you believe in a few key guys.

thanks for the clarification. I remembered him saying 6th in a chat but 6th so far isn't as good as 6th overall.

[JMO]

IMHO, the Reds are going to be a Top 5 system in 2016. We have loads of talent coming up thru the ladder and it's going to be exciting to watch these players progress. IF Stephenson becomes a TOR SP and Winker becomes a middle of the order OBP machine, then we are sitting pretty. Not counting Iglesias, who I think well be great. YRod, Lutz, Ervin, Winker, Blandino, Waldrop, J Duran, Barnhart, lots of young hitters that are looking to advance. Another name to watch is Wallach, who I think will move fast, especially if the Reds move him to LF. He could become the jewel of the Latos trade.

[RedlegJake]

Another name to watch is Wallach, who I think will move fast, especially if the Reds move him to LF.

I don't know about LF. Moving him out there would devalue his bat quite a bit because he has shown little power. He converted to catcher his last year in college so I wouldn't be too hasty - takes a learning curve to be good behind the dish and he started late. As a catching prospect he has the most value.

[Benihana]

IMHO, the Reds are going to be a Top 5 system in 2016. We have loads of talent coming up thru the ladder and it's going to be exciting to watch these players progress. IF Stephenson becomes a TOR SP and Winker becomes a middle of the order OBP machine, then we are sitting pretty. Not counting Iglesias, who I think well be great. YRod, Lutz, Ervin, Winker, Blandino, Waldrop, J Duran, Barnhart, lots of young hitters that are looking to advance. Another name to watch is Wallach, who I think will move fast, especially if the Reds move him to LF. He could become the jewel of the Latos trade.

It's indeed very possible that yhe Reds could end 2015 with a Top 10 system in baseball, especially because of timing- if you look at the Reds top 15 prospects, they could end the year with only one or two of those guys graduating and losing their prospect status (Iglesias and DeSclafini seem the most likely; maybe Yorman too). Other highly rated systems will likely graduate more out of their top 15.

Plus as RJ said earlier, a lot will get sorted out this year: Can Yorman and Waldrop really hit enough to be quality big leaguers- or will they be backups at best? Will Stephenson and Ervin bounce back after disappointing campaigns last year? Can Lorenzen and Garrett continue their meteoric rises? Is Aquino for real?

All of these should get answered to some degree in 2015, and if the answers are mostly yes, the Reds should be a Top 10 system by the end of the year. Maybe even Top 5 with a lot of luck and a strong draft.

[TRF]

IMO the most interesting story is Corcino. Was once highly regarded, compared to Cueto. Made his MLB debut and is likely at least in the running for the 5th starters spot, though realistically, 4 and 5 are Cingrani and DeSclafani's to lose. He did show some flashes with the Reds last year.

All that makes him interesting to me.

[Kc61]

Financially, it seems like the Reds are heavily dependent on prospects coming up. No money for meaningful veteran additions.

Lately, the strength of the system has been at lower levels. Few MLB additions in the last two years, not much to begin 2015.

So Reds' farm must be under pressure to produce more MLB guys and I expect anyone who does well at AA and AAA to be real candidates to join the big club. Hope a couple of guys dominate, hard to know who will do so.

[RED VAN HOT]

Sickels has his preliminary grade distribution out for the Reds.

1 A-
1 B+
9 B-
11 C+
15 C

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/...rade-breakdown

[Edd Roush]

I hope Iglesias is not included in Sickels' rating given those scores. I assume he is down on Lorenzen having him as a B- as well.