Your Top 10 prospects in the Reds system?

[Buckeye33]

I am quite bored today sitting here waiting to head into work. So I was curious as to what the posters of Redszone feel about the Reds minor league prospects.

I personally am not going to include this years draft class because I have no idea how good any of them really are.

My picks:

1. Ryan Wagner - Even after the disappointing early 2004 season I think Wagner has the arm and pitches to be a top level closer. ML ready in: 2005

2. Edwin Encarnacion - Hitting very well at AA for only being 21. Has 20-30 HR power potential and I wuld guess should be able to hit .280+ in the ML.
ML ready in: Late 2005

3. Dustin Moseley - 22 and putting up great #s in AA. Should be in AAA, but I digress. He seems to have the off speed pitches to go along with a spottable 90+ fastball. ML ready in: Late 2005

4. Thomas Pauly - Only in his 2nd pro year and pitching very well. 77/16 K/W ration in 64 IP..Yummy. Once Moseley moves to AAA, I look for Pauly to get the call up to AA before Gardner. ML ready in: 2006-7

5. Brandon Claussen - Much talked about, but has yet to fully get back to pre arm surgery level. Hopefully that can happen before next spring trainging. He's a lefty who Ks people. Hopefully in time he can get back to where he once was. Ml ready in: 2005

6. Tony Blanco - .306 .403 .588 in High A with 17 HR. To bad he doesn't play like 2B or C. He seems to be rebounding back to top lvl Red Sox prospect. Hopefully he can continue to produce at a high level. I would also like him to get his walk rate up more. ML ready in: 2006

7. Richie Gardner - I am basing this mostly on #s alone but those #s are very good. 81IP 75/13 K/W 2.21 ERA Not sure what he throws or his radar ratings, but those #s are pretty darn solid. ML ready in: 2007

8. Todd Coffey - This is a new one on the radar. Only 23 and putting up dominating #s at AA. It's hard to put a reliever on a Top 10 list, but he earns it. 1.67 ERA 32IP 40/2 K/W ratio. ML ready in: Late 2004, 2005

9. Tyler Pelland - This was one I couldn't really decide on, but his potential is as good as anyones in the system. Throws mid to high 90s and is a lefty. He struggled mightily in his attempt at A ball, but was still young for that lvl. Has gone back to Billings and hopefully will dominate and regain his confidence. ML ready in: 2007-8

10. Chris Gruler - Theres a reason he was drafted in the top 5. Hopefully the surgery has corrected his arm problems and he can begin to regain his velocity and start pitching his way to Cincinnati.

Honorable mention: Calvin Medlock, David Shafer, Chris Booker, Joey Votto, Chris Denorfia, William Bergolla, Matt Belisle, Steve Smitherman.

I did not take into account any of the current injured pitchers such as Dumatrait, Howington, Basham, and Hall, etc....

Let me know what you guys think of the Reds system.

[Aronchis]

1)Thomas Pauly: yummy power pitcher with haughty K numbers.
2)Edwin Encarncion: Good overall player
3)Dustin Moseley: maturing pitcher who is showing some pop
4)Rich Gardner: Pauly's sidekick
5)Brandon Claussen: Struggled in May, inconsistant in June, ready to shake this prospect label however
6)Tony Blanco: Injured to much, but having breakout year in Potomic
7)William Bergolla: raw, athletic type of player
8)Joey Votto: Well rounded player who may become the best player from the weak 2002 draft
9)Calvin Medlock: good "stuff" pitcher with improving velocity
10)Tyler Pelland: slow developing lefty with great arm but needs work on mechanics.

[TRF]

I'd take Gruler off the list for a year at least.

I really like Booker, and Coffey. They both deserve promotions to AAA

[Oxilon]

Aronchis, you don't think Ryan Wagner is one of our top prospects? I just find that interesting... (not criticizing you or anything)

[Aronchis]

Aronchis, you don't think Ryan Wagner is one of our top prospects? I just find that interesting... (not criticizing you or anything)

I don't consider him a prospect. Just a young player who went for a pit stop down in AAA.

[SYCMiniBus]

1.Encarnacion - Great bat and has range at 3B like most young players he can get lazy at times with his footwork which causes bad throws, easily correctable
2. Moseley- Dominating AA and has succeed at AAA before at 21 now at 22 he is projecting very nicely into a #2 or #3 starter.
3. Wagner - Worries me that he cannot locate his fastball, love his power arm in the back of the pen though.
4. Votto- Mashing in Low A and he is young for the level, he should progress very nicely.
5. Claussen - Struggling some but the high K numbers show that he should improve.
6. Gardner- Throwing great at High A and might earn a promotion soon. He struggled in the All Star game but that doesn't worry me at all.
7. Nelson - Got rocked at AAA but no doubting his stuff and what he can be. If he gains his comand back he could start in the Reds rotation in '05.
8. Bergolla - Far from a finished product and doesnt take too many walks but he is hitting well and he can fly. He is showing a slighty better BB rate this season potential top of the order guy.
9. Blanco- Power is unreal right now in High A and he could make the jump to AA soon, he can play multiple positions and has all the physical tools.
10. Pauly- Good K rate at High A and overall has pretty solid stuff accross the board. A college guy who is advanced could be a starter or even a power set up guy.
11. Gruler
12. Pelland
13. Denorfia
14. Belisle
15. Sardinha
16. Booker
17. Miguel Perez
18. Jim Paduch
19.Wily Jo Ronda
20. Kevin Howard
21. Smitherman
22. Hector Tiburico
23. Joe Valentine
24. Ranier Feliz
25. Calvin Medlock
I also didnt include this years draftees or the injured guys: Hall, Basham, Howington, and Aramboles.

[TRF]

isn't Aramboles pitching somewhere? Potomac? is he injured again?

[oregonred]

What about The Bong?

[SYCMiniBus]

Aramboles is injured again per the cannons website. Bong isnt a prospect in my mind too much service time, much like Felipe Lopez and Ray Olmedo. granted I have a little inconsistancy with Wagner but it is my list so i felt I could have a small bit of inconsistancy.

[M2]

A few caveats, I use the BA qualifier that to make the list you still must have major league rookie status. That means that Felipe Lopez doesn't count.

I give preference on level of advancement. If you've done something right at AA, that counts a lot more than terrorizing the Midwest League.

And I don't count rookie ballers (unless I have to) and guys who've yet to play. If you haven't showed up in at least low A and done something good, then you won't be getting any love from me.

1. Edwin Encarnacion - He's heads and shoulders above everyone else in the system. He's 21 with five tools and a great eye at the plate. He not only has the highest ceiling of anyone in the system, he's right now the best player in the system as well.

2. Ryan Wagner - He's been fine in AAA (I thought he pulled himself together in the majors before his demotion), but obviously he's not as automatic as we'd hoped. I still wish the Reds would consider turning him into a starter, but there's nothing wrong with being a power closer, which he should be.

3. Todd Coffey - What?! Coffey's been sick, off the charts sick, in AA this season: 1.67 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 11.14 K/9, 13.33 K/BB. If Ryan Wagner were doing that we'd be coated in drool. All I'm saying is that your drool glands should be just as active even if it's Todd Coffey doing it. He's been the organization's biggest revelation this season and they might just have a stud reliever on their hands.

4. Brandon Claussen - Bad season, but he's still a heartbeat away from the bigs and he does still possess a K pitch. I don't what he needs to do to make the final leap (aside from get batter out with greater frequency), but he'll probably be up in September and I'm sure he's going to get plenty of chances in 2005 as well.

5. Richie Gardner - Looky, a power pitcher. It's only his first year and he's still got a long way to go (about three years to be exact), but he's 100% of what the Reds need.

6. Thomas Pauly - Currently forms the Legion of Whiff tandem with Gardner in Potomac. He's been particularly hot of late. Another power arm worth genuine excitement. Caution: Excitement shouldn't be shown in the form of promoting pitchers until they're over their heads, causing them to try and throw pitches that they can't throw, which leads quickly to injury.

7. Dustin Moseley - He's having a fine season and I think he might be able to come to the majors in 2006 and help the club. The reason I rank him below Gardner and Pauly is they've got power potential that Dustin doesn't. IMO he's got Ryan Madson upside, but remember the Phillies took their time with Madson and tempered their expectations. Dustin's not going to get there in a single leap.

8. Joey Votto - He's got the eye of the hydra. The power's starting to show and it will continue to grow. In fact another step or two up the power scale and he will take off as a stratospheric hitting prospect. Could be 2005 or 2006, but rest assured, it's coming.

9. Calvin Medlock - A draft-and-follow out of HS who has ruled the Midwest League: 2.55 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 10.96 K/9, 5.21 K/BB. Good news is he's age appropriate for his level too. He's this year's Basham.

10. Chris Dickerson - Needs to develop more power and figure out how to use all that speed, but he's possibly the best defensive player in the system and he's shown an ability to hit for a decent average to go with a killer eye. Could be a high OB leadoff CF or he could develop into a more complete player. Unlike William Bergolla (no BB), he's showing the kind of game that can succeed at any level.

[oregonred]

Open question - If WMP is still considered a prospect. Would he be #1 on this list?

[M2]

Open question - If WMP is still considered a prospect. Would he be #1 on this list?

I'd slot him second behind Encarnacion.

[REDREAD]

Open question - If WMP is still considered a prospect. Would he be #1 on this list?

Yes, hands down (at least IMO). He was #1 for me before the season started, even ahead of Wagner. Wagner #2, and Encarcion #3.

[Puffy]

Yes, hands down (at least IMO). He was #1 for me before the season started, even ahead of Wagner. Wagner #2, and Encarcion #3.

I'm with Redread - if Pena were included he'd be #1. Then I'd have Encarnacion, Claussen, Wagner.

I believe Claussen has a higher ceiling and is a starting pitcher, Wagner only comes out ahead if he becomes a lights out closer (and I'm much less confident in this than I was last year)

[Ravenlord]

Open question - If WMP is still considered a prospect. Would he be #1 on this list?

i'm gonna modify that question...if WMP was still considered a prospect, would he be in the top 20 in the country?