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Thread: Prospect Profile: David "Homer" Bailey

  1. #46
    Moderator Gallen5862's Avatar
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    Re: Prospect Profile: David "Homer" Bailey

    http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/a...pbp&pid=456701
    Homer Bailey PStatus: Active

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Chattanooga LookoutsMLB Parent Club: Cincinnati
    Stats
    ERA:
    1.16
    W-L:
    6-0
    SV:
    0
    SO:
    69 Bookmark PlayerFull Name: David D. Bailey
    Born: 05/03/1986
    Birthplace: La Grange, TX
    Height: 6' 4"
    Weight: 205
    Bats: R
    Throws: R


    2006
    Team League W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB SO GO/AO AVG
    SAR FSL 3 5 3.31 13 13 0 0 0 70.2 49 35 26 6 22 79 0.96 .189
    CHA SOU 6 0 1.16 11 11 0 0 0 62.0 45 9 8 1 24 69 1.27 .208
    Minors 9 5 2.31 24 24 0 0 0 132.2 94 44 34 7 46 148 1.09 .198

    Last 10 Games: (Current team only)
    Date OPP W L ERA SV IP H ER BB SO
    Jun 27 @HUN 1 0 0.00 0 6.0 0 0 2 6
    Jul 02 JAX 1 0 0.00 0 5.0 2 0 2 9
    Jul 15 BIR 1 0 2.57 0 7.0 7 2 0 3
    Jul 21 @JAX 0 0 1.35 0 6.2 3 1 2 6
    Jul 27 WTN 0 0 0.00 0 6.0 5 0 2 8
    Aug 01 @HUN 0 0 5.40 0 5.0 8 3 2 4
    Aug 08 JAX 0 0 0.00 0 5.2 1 0 5 5
    Aug 13 TEN 1 0 0.00 0 5.0 4 0 3 11
    Aug 18 @MON 0 0 3.86 0 4.2 6 2 3 6
    Aug 23 @BIR 1 0 0.00 0 5.0 4 0 3 4
    Totals 5 0 1.29 0 56.0 40 8 24 62


    Splits: (Current team only)
    Entire Season W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB SO GO/AO AVG
    Starter 6 0 1.16 11 11 0 0 0 62.0 45 9 8 1 24 69 1.27 .208
    vs Left 1.07 25.1 14 4 3 1 8 29 1.10 .175
    vs Right 1.23 36.2 31 5 5 0 16 40 1.41 .228
    Home Games 4 0 0.52 6 6 0 0 0 34.2 24 3 2 0 12 43 1.12 .194
    Away Games 2 0 1.98 5 5 0 0 0 27.1 21 6 6 1 12 26 1.45 .228
    Day Games 2 0 0.00 2 2 0 0 0 10.0 6 0 0 0 5 20 1.00 .158
    Night Games 4 0 1.38 9 9 0 0 0 52.0 39 9 8 1 19 49 1.30 .219
    On Grass 6 0 1.16 11 11 0 0 0 62.0 45 9 8 1 24 69 1.27 .208
    June 2 0 0.00 2 2 0 0 0 12.0 5 0 0 0 2 13 1.50 .132
    July 2 0 1.09 4 4 0 0 0 24.2 17 3 3 0 6 26 1.05 .193
    August 2 0 1.78 5 5 0 0 0 25.1 23 6 5 1 16 30 1.44 .256
    Pre All-Star 3 0 0.00 3 3 0 0 0 17.0 7 0 0 0 4 22 1.36 .123
    Post All-Star 3 0 1.60 8 8 0 0 0 45.0 38 9 8 1 20 47 1.24 .239
    Bases Empty 0.00 32.1 29 0 0 0 14 40 1.04 .225
    Runners On 2.43 29.2 16 9 8 1 10 29 1.57 .184
    Scoring Position 3.12 17.1 7 7 6 0 9 16 1.36 .140
    Season Totals 6 0 1.16 11 11 0 0 0 62.0 45 9 8 1 24 69 1.27 .208

    2005 Season:
    Team League W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB SO GO/AO AVG
    DAY MID 8 4 4.43 28 21 0 0 0 103.2 89 64 51 5 62 125 1.06 .232
    Minors 8 4 4.43 28 21 0 0 0 103.2 89 64 51 5 62 125 1.06 .232


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  3. #47
    Moderator Gallen5862's Avatar
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    Re: Prospect Profile: David "Homer" Bailey

    Thanks to newfever for his post on the BA minor league team.
    http://www.baseballamerica.com/today...es/262497.html
    SP Homer Bailey • Reds
    The Reds sure have a lot of players on this list, don't they? The 20-year-old Bailey pitched better after a promotion to the Southern League, but he was plenty good in the Florida State League, overmatching opponents with his effortless, lively fastball. You might be seeing our 2004 High School Player of the Year in the majors as soon as next year if he continues at this pace.
    Last edited by Gallen5862; 09-26-2006 at 05:23 PM.

  4. #48
    Moderator Gallen5862's Avatar
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    Re: Prospect Profile: David "Homer" Bailey

    Thanks to OBM for his post. http://www.redszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51812
    http://msn.foxsports.com/fantasy/story/6026704
    Reds prospect Homer Bailey is the most major league-ready prospect for next season. (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)

    Homer Bailey, RHP, Cincinnati – Bailey will be the most hyped player on this list heading into next season. He has the highest long-term ceiling of anyone in the game, and he's also one of the league's closest pitchers to breaking into the majors. With a combination of talent, polish and opportunity, his fantasy stock will do nothing but climb after drafts this off-season.

    A first round selection out of a Texas high school in 2004, Bailey was seen as having a dominant arsenal prior to the draft. His control needed work, but it was hardly a negative for such a young player. The right-hander threw just 12 1/3 innings after signing in 2004, so his first test came at Single-A Dayton the following season. Although he didn't finish with spectacular end results, he showed flashes of brilliance and generally acquitted himself nicely at the level, posting a 125/63 K/BB ratio and a 4.43 ERA in 103 2/3 innings of work. The walks were certainly high, but he was only 19, so it was hardly a reason to complain.

    Assigned to High-A Sarasota to begin the 2006 campaign, Bailey showed significant strides almost immediately upon debuting. His mid-90s fastball continued to show explosivenesses and his big breaking curveball proved too tough for minor league hitters, but improvement in his command and the use of his changeup were very encouraging signs. He made just 13 starts at the level, striking out 79 and walking 22 in 70 2/3 innings of work.

    The Reds didn't hesitate in promoting the youngster given how dominant he looked, and he responded to the challenge by continuing to excel at Double-A Chattanooga. He made 13 starts after arriving in the Southern League, striking out 77 and walking 28 while posting a 1.59 ERA in 68 innings of work. He also gave up just one homer at the level while recording a 1.43 GB/FB ratio. Despite his young age of 20, it became quite clear by September that he was ready to face more advanced hitters. The Reds were rumored to be considering calling up the right-hander, but he struggled mightily in his first start during September and they shut him down once Chattanooga's season was over.

    Bailey should head to Triple-A to begin the 2007 season, and he'll be the first pitcher called upon when the Reds need an injury replacement. If the club's major league pitchers have the good fortune to remain healthy, he wouldn't have any difficulty pushing one of the lesser names aside once he's ready. Since he's still young and his command is only average, a few speed bumps once debuting in the majors would hardly be shocking. However, his fastball-curveball combination is so promising, taking the league by storm also isn't out of the question. He's worth stashing away in deep redraft leagues this spring, and even mixed leaguers should watch for a midseason debut.

  5. #49
    Moderator Gallen5862's Avatar
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    Re: Prospect Profile: David "Homer" Bailey

    http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/NASAp...4/c1785419.jsp

    Bailey Reds' top Minor Leaguer of 2006
    01/24/2007 2:47 PM ET
    By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com

    CINCINNATI -- This news wouldn't really fall under the category of a surprise.
    As buzz about Reds top prospect Homer Bailey continues to build, the starting pitcher just added one more accolade to his resume. On Wednesday, the organization named Bailey winner of the Sheldon "Chief" Bender Award as the 2006 Minor League Player of the Year.

    The award is named after Bender, who spent 64 years in baseball. His last 39 years in the game were with the Reds' scouting and player development departments.

    The 20-year-old Bailey was 10-6 with a 2.47 ERA in 26 starts combined at Class A Sarasota and Double-A Chattanooga. The right-hander struck out 156 batters, compared to 50 walks.

    The seventh overall pick of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Bailey was an All-Star from both the Florida State and Southern Leagues last season and named as both leagues' top prospect. He was also selected to pitch in the MLB All-Star Futures Game.

    Bailey's adjustment from Class A to Double-A was impressive. He did not allow a run over his first three starts, covering 17 innings, and twice notched a season-high 11 strikeouts in a game. With the Lookouts, he went 7-1 with a 1.59 ERA in 13 starts as the clamoring intensified for Bailey to be promoted to the Majors.

    That didn't happen, as the Reds have been deliberate and cautious with Bailey's development. He will be in Major League camp as a non-roster player during Spring Training with an outside chance of joining the rotation as the fifth starter. However both general manager Wayne Krivsky and manager Jerry Narron have already indicated Bailey will likely begin 2007 at Triple-A Louisville.

    Other Reds prospects were also recognized on Wednesday. First baseman Joey Votto was named the organization's Hitter of the Year and pitcher Johnny Cueto the Pitcher of the Year.

    Playing for Chattanooga, Votto led the Southern League with a .319 average and was its Most Valuable Player. The 23-year-old had 22 homers and 77 RBIs and also led the league in hits (162), doubles (46), on-base percentage (.408), slugging percentage (.547), extra-base hits (70), total bases (278), runs scored (85) and walks (78).

    Cueto was 15-3 with a 3.00 ERA in 26 starts at Class A Dayton and Sarasota. The 21-year-old right-hander led all Reds Minor League pitchers in victories, and he was second behind Bailey in strikeouts with 143.

    This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

  6. #50
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    Re: Prospect Profile: David "Homer" Bailey

    Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds: The 20-year-old right-hander could be this year's Justin Verlander. He throws in the high 90s with a big curveball that could earn him a spot in the rotation and make him the greatest player named Homer (there have been 10) in big-league history.

    http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseb...tm?POE=SPOISVA

  7. #51
    Moderator Gallen5862's Avatar
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    Re: Prospect Profile: David "Homer" Bailey

    Thanks for the article OBM.

  8. #52
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    Re: Prospect Profile: David "Homer" Bailey

    Future may come early for ace Bailey
    By JON STYF

    jon.styf@heraldtribune.com

    SARASOTA -- Baseball legends like Johnny Bench can come and go from the Cincinnati Reds' spring training complex without hardly being noticed by fans looking for autographs.

    But whenever Homer Bailey strolls out to the parking lot, you hear the cries.

    "Homer, can you sign this?"

    In the short-term memory world of baseball, the 20-year-old is all the buzz around Reds camp this season, even though he's thrown just one bullpen session since pitchers reported and has never played above Double-A.

    "The only time I think about it (the attention) is when you guys ask me about it," Bailey said. "I kind of take it with a grain of salt."

    In camp, however, he's just one of the mass. He and his fellow pitchers have been spending their days working on their fielding hoping to avoid the fate of last year's Detroit Tigers, whose pitchers set a World Series record with an error in five straight games.

    Since starting his second pro season with a modest 3-5 record in the Florida State League as a Sarasota Red, interest in Bailey -- the No. 7 overall pick in the 2004 June Baseball Draft out of high school -- has skyrocketed.

    He joined the playoff race with the Double-A Chattanooga (Tenn.) Lookouts and immediately became their star, pitching six scoreless innings while hitting 98 mph on the radar gun with a fastball on his 96th pitch.

    "I was here (Sarasota) more to work than necessarily compete," Bailey said. "Once I got to Chattanooga, I just let go and tried to go out and win games. I had to go in and show them I could help."

    Immediately the buzz began for Bailey to become a late-season major-league call-up, especially after getting the win in July's nationally televised MLB Futures Game.

    The Reds, however, balked at throwing their top prospect and the organization's Minor League Player of the Year into that situation.

    This spring, though, they have taken the kid gloves off. The youngster has a shot at making the Opening Day roster as the team's fifth starter behind Bronson Arroyo, Aaron Harang, Eric Milton and Kyle Lohse.

    If not, he'll likely start the season at Triple-A Louisville.

    "If I'm up there, I want it to be because I earned it and did well," Bailey said. "I'm not overly impatient about it."

    The attention surrounding a pitching prospect like Bailey is heightened because the Reds haven't had anything comparable in recent memory. And with the success of rookie pitchers like Los Angeles' Jared Weaver, Minnesota's Francisco Liriano and Detroit's Justin Verlander last season, there is hope that Bailey could lead this year's class.

    But none of that seems to faze the laid-back pitcher who spends his offseason hunting and wears cowboy boots to work.

    "I don't think it concerns him," Reds manager Jerry Narron said. "I think he knows he's pretty good, and I think he knows he's got a chance to be pretty good. I think he's smart enough to know too that he's not going to come to the major-league level and just dominate from the beginning."

    One of the obstacles he'll have to clear this season is learning to use his offspeed pitches, a curveball and changeup that he didn't need much last year.

    Major-league hitters are used to fastballs, so Bailey will have to adapt, something he is confident he can do.

    "My game plan (last year) was to make them hit the fastball first because it's the toughest thing for them to hit," Bailey said. "Once they start sitting and looking for it, then I'll throw something offspeed."

    Narron is staying tight-lipped about his exact plans for Bailey this spring, admitting he'll get a chance but adding, "I know what I'm going to do, but I'm not going to tell you."

    Starting a game, especially at home, is still an uncertainty.

    "If he starts, I'm not going to tell (the media) until the day he probably starts," Narron said. "If we've got a spot where we might be able to work him in, yeah. But he's got other guys ahead of him in that respect.

    http://www.heraldtribune.com/app

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    Re: Prospect Profile: David "Homer" Bailey

    Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds: Think of Bailey as the heat-slinging Seaver to Hughes' command-and-guile Maddux. The Reds may have as much idea how to develop a young arm as they do a surface-to-air missile, but by all reports they seem to be taking every precaution with Bailey. He isn't permitted, for example, to carry his grocery bags to the car or apply his own deodorant. Better safe than sorry, no?

    Forgive this rare lapse into crusty-scout-speak, but Bailey's fastball simply explodes out of his hand; it's a bullet train with seams. His curveball not only knuckles batters' knees, but occasionally baits them into the type of seizures usually associated with epilepsy or religious rapture. Really.

    http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/10060889

  10. #54
    Sprinkles are for winners dougdirt's Avatar
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    Re: Prospect Profile: David "Homer" Bailey

    I really hope he was joking about the deoderant....

  11. #55
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    Re: Prospect Profile: David "Homer" Bailey

    I really hope he was joking about the deoderant
    I was thinking the same thing. I wonder who has that job? They should give it to Paul Wilson just for the sake of irony.

  12. #56
    Moderator Gallen5862's Avatar
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    Re: Prospect Profile: David "Homer" Bailey

    http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/conte...6/c1845835.jsp

    Notes: Bailey won't start season in Cincy
    03/16/2007 4:26 PM ET
    By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com

    SARASOTA, Fla. -- Homer Bailey knew his big-league audition this spring would eventually have an end date.
    It came on Friday morning.

    Bailey, the organization's top pitching prospect, was among seven players sent out by the Reds during the latest wave of roster cuts. He was reassigned to Minor League camp.

    "I had a pretty good feeling it was going to come, even before I showed up [to camp]," said Bailey, just after moving his belongings to a locker in the Minor League clubhouse.

    "It's a situation where he needs to get his innings and start getting ready for the season," Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky said.

    Bailey's numbers this spring weren't too pretty. In three games, including one start, he was 0-1 with a 19.64 ERA (eight earned runs over 3 2/3 innings). Although he had some smoother innings mixed in, such as his one scoreless inning of relief on Wednesday, Bailey sometimes lacked command of his mid-to-high-90s fastball.

    What few rough edges Bailey has left are expected to be smoothed out with more seasoning in the Minors. Bailey came to camp with a distant shot at landing the vacant fifth spot in the rotation, but he was expected to begin the season at Triple-A Louisville.

    "It's been a tremendous experience for him, getting a Major League start in an exhibition game to begin with," Reds manager Jerry Narron said. "I think he's had a couple of rough outings where he didn't command the baseball as well he would have liked to. It's all a learning experience. He's the type of guy, with the character and makeup he has, we'll believe he'll grow from it.

    "We're definitely not down on him. That's the last thing in the world we are."

    A 20-year-old right-hander and the club's first-round selection in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft (seventh overall), Bailey felt he got a lot out of being in his second big-league camp.

    "No doubt," Bailey said. "Anytime when you're up there, you get to learn and talk to the older guys and you take any advice you can."

    Other cuts: Another prominent prospect, first baseman Joey Votto, was also among the cuts and optioned to Louisville. Catchers Dan Conway and Ryan Hanigan and pitcher Michael Gosling were reassigned to Minor League camp.




    Two veteran relievers signed to Minor League deals, Brian Meadows and Kerry Ligtenberg, were released. Meadows had a 3.38 ERA in five appearances (two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings), while Ligtenberg had a 1.69 ERA in five games (one earned run in 5 1/3 innings). Neither would have accepted a Triple-A assignment.

    "By doing it with both of those guys, at least it gives them two weeks and maybe someone can [sign them]," Krivsky said. "We just felt like there were other people ahead of them. Let's do it earlier than later and be fair to them. They've both been around and we respect their status."

    Cincinnati now has 43 active players remaining in camp.

    Big day for Guardado: Friday morning marked a first and important step in reliever Eddie Guardado's rehabilitation from ligament replacement surgery on his left elbow.

    Guardado threw his first pitches off a mound in the bullpen since his September operation.

    "It was good to be out there," said Guardado, who had been limited to catch and long tossing since camp opened. "It was awesome. I was pumped up for today, boy."

    Guardado, who had been chomping at the bit to accelerate his rehab program, threw 15 pitches -- all fastballs -- during the session.

    "All I heard was, 'Slow down!' It's tough when you're out there," Guardado said. "It is very hard, but I know I have to be smart. When they tell me to slow down, it's just for my own good. I understand that. But everything is going good. I can't complain. I felt good. The ball was coming out of my hand pretty good."

    A date for Guardado's next bullpen session wasn't known, but he will begin the season on the disabled list. The 36-year-old closer has targeted a late June return to game action for the Reds. Recovery from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery normally takes 9-12 months.

    Rain reshuffling: With Friday's game against the Blue Jays wiped out by rain, scheduled starter Eric Milton will now work in a Minor League game on Saturday. Fifth starter candidate Matt Belisle was also due to pitch on Friday and will see action on the Minor League side, too.

    Coming up: After missing a couple of starts, Kyle Lohse is set to return from a strained right hamstring when he pitches for the Reds against the Red Sox on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. ET. Hitters Adam Dunn, Josh Hamilton and Brandon Phillips are also on the travel roster. Jonathan Papelbon is Boston's scheduled starter.


    This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs

  13. #57
    Moderator Gallen5862's Avatar
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    Re: Prospect Profile: David "Homer" Bailey

    Here is a update on Homer Bailey.
    http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/m...pbp&pid=456701
    Homer Bailey 22 | PStatus: Active

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Louisville BatsMLB Parent Club: Cincinnati Stats
    ERA:
    1.74
    W-L:
    1-0
    SV:
    0
    SO:
    8 Bookmark PlayerFull Name: David Dewitt Bailey
    Born: 05/03/1986
    Birthplace: La Grange, TX
    Height: 6' 4"
    Weight: 205
    Bats: R
    Throws: R


    2007 Season
    Team League W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB SO GO/AO AVG
    LOU INT 1 0 1.74 2 2 0 0 0 10.1 4 2 2 1 6 8 0.79 .118
    Minors 1 0 1.74 2 2 0 0 0 10.1 4 2 2 1 6 8 0.79 .118

    Last 10 Games: (Current team only)
    Date OPP W L ERA SV IP H ER BB SO
    Apr 08 TOL 1 0 1.69 0 5.1 1 1 3 4
    Apr 14 @NOR 0 0 1.80 0 5.0 3 1 3 4
    Totals 1 0 1.74 0 10.1 4 2 6 8


    Splits: (Current team only)
    Entire Season W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB SO GO/AO AVG
    Starter 1 0 1.74 2 2 0 0 0 10.1 4 2 2 1 6 8 0.79 .118
    vs Left 1.80 5.0 2 1 1 1 3 3 1.17 .133
    vs Right 1.69 5.1 2 1 1 0 3 5 0.50 .105
    Home Games 1 0 1.69 1 1 0 0 0 5.1 1 1 1 1 3 4 0.86 .063
    Away Games 0 0 1.80 1 1 0 0 0 5.0 3 1 1 0 3 4 0.71 .167
    Night Games 1 0 1.74 2 2 0 0 0 10.1 4 2 2 1 6 8 0.79 .118
    On Grass 1 0 1.74 2 2 0 0 0 10.1 4 2 2 1 6 8 0.79 .118
    April 1 0 1.74 2 2 0 0 0 10.1 4 2 2 1 6 8 0.79 .118
    Pre All-Star 1 0 1.74 2 2 0 0 0 10.1 4 2 2 1 6 8 0.79 .118
    Ahead in Count 2.45 3.2 1 1 1 1 6 2 0.50 .083
    Behind in Count 0.00 2.0 2 0 0 0 0 2 1.50 .222
    Bases Empty 1.29 7.0 3 1 1 1 4 6 0.50 .125
    Runners On 2.70 3.1 1 1 1 0 2 2 1.50 .100
    Scoring Position 4.50 2.0 1 1 1 0 1 2 0.25 .125
    Season Totals 1 0 1.74 2 2 0 0 0 10.1 4 2 2 1 6 8 0.79 .118

    2006 Season:
    Team League W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB SO GO/AO AVG
    SAR FSL 3 5 3.31 13 13 0 0 0 70.2 49 35 26 6 22 79 0.99 .189
    CHA SOU 7 1 1.59 13 13 0 0 0 68.0 50 13 12 1 28 77 1.43 .208
    Minors 10 6 2.47 26 26 0 0 0 138.2 99 48 38 7 50 156 1.18 .198

    Biography:
    In 2004 graduated from La Grange (TX) High School...in his prep career went 41-4, 0.98 with 536 strikeouts in 298.0 innings...led La Grange to Texas state baseball titles in 2001 and 2004...as a freshman outdueled Ryan Wagner in the championship game...also led La Grange to the state title as a senior, when he was named National High School Player of the Year by USA Today, Baseball America, Louisville Slugger and the National High School Coaches' Association...also in 2004 was the Tri-County and Texas' 3A Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player of the district and state tournaments...given name is David...is called Homer after his great-grandfather...was selected by the Reds in the first round (7th overall) of the June 2004 first-year player draft.

  14. #58
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    Re: Prospect Profile: David "Homer" Bailey

    http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/...=.jsp&c_id=cin
    Bailey to start Friday for Reds
    Pitching prospect will make Major League debut vs. Indians
    By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com

    Homer Bailey was 6-1 with a 2.31 ERA after 10 starts at Triple-A Louisville. (Getty Images)
    Reds Headlines

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    ST. LOUIS -- Over the past year, Reds top prospect Homer Bailey watched several of his contemporaries get their calls to the big leagues.
    Phillip Hughes and Chase Wright were promoted to the Yankees, Kevin Slowey went up to the Twins and Cole Hamels arrived last season with the Phillies.

    "These were guys who, one year ago, were in A ball," Bailey said. "When all those guys were getting called up, I was like, 'Hey, you forgot somebody over here.'"

    No chance.

    On Tuesday, after a few days of speculation, the Reds made it official. The organization's 2004 first-round Draft pick, Bailey will be called up to make his Major League debut on Friday in a start vs. the Indians at Great American Ball Park.

    Bailey was 6-1 with a 2.31 ERA, 24 walks and 51 strikeouts in 10 starts this season for Triple-A Louisville.

    "At first, you're kind of nervous and things," Bailey said of his emotions to reporters in Louisville. "But after a while, you feel, 'This is where I want to be.' This is what I've been working for and this is what I've been looking forward to. Now this is the time."

    Reds decision makers felt likewise about the timing for the 21-year-old right-hander.

    "Based on the opinions of the people that are around him every day and conversations we've had, we felt good about bringing him up here," Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky said from his office in Cincinnati.

    The last-place team in the National League Central with the league's worst record, the Reds hope to benefit from Bailey's arrival. But neither he, nor the club, viewed him as "the savior."

    "I don't know about all that stuff," Bailey said. "They're not playing to their potential so far this year. They know that. They know they're a better team than they've shown. The Reds themselves don't look for me to be a big season changer. In their minds, it's 'Let's get him up here just in case.'

    "Two years ago, the Astros made a big run at it after they were this far down. 'Let him make his adjustments now and if we're there later in the season, he's already got his feet wet and time underneath him to make these adjustments.'"

    Reds media relations director Rob Butcher said fans have already responded to the news. Butcher said late Tuesday afternoon "there was a significant spike in ticket sales" since the Bailey announcement was made in the morning.

    Bailey was last seen among Major Leaguers when he was at Spring Training as a Reds non-roster invite. It wasn't smooth sailing, as he allowed eight earned runs, six hits and three walks over 3 2/3 innings. He was dispatched to Louisville with instructions to mix up his pitches and not rely entirely on his 95-98 mph fastball. Krivsky's reports indicated that Bailey listened.

    "He's done a lot of things right," Krivsky said. "He's developed his curveball and changeup and has better command of his pitches. He's matured on the mound in terms of his presence and poise. Put it all together and the feeling was that's he's ready for the next step."

    Reds manager Jerry Narron has been seeking Bailey's big league promotion since last season.

    "I want to see guys be challenged, no question about that," Narron said. "It's definitely going to be a challenge for him. He's put up very good numbers in Triple-A. He has a chance to come to the Major Leagues and it's nice to see somebody come here that you feel like has earned his way here."

    A few Reds have played with Bailey at Louisville this season.

    "That guy is pretty good," said rookie reliever Marcus McBeth. "The most impressive thing about him is his composure. He's really composed for as young as he is. I actually learned from him when he's pitching, how to carry yourself on the mound and stuff like that."

    Reliever Todd Coffey, who was recalled on Tuesday, couldn't say for sure if Bailey was ready for his call to the Majors.

    "It depends on him," Coffey said. "If he comes out, stays within himself and doesn't try to do more than he can do, he'll be fine."

    In his previous start on Saturday, Bailey allowed four earned runs on seven hits and three walks over six innings with eight strikeouts in Louisville's 7-5 win at Durham.

    "It was the first time I've seen him throw in a game," said outfielder Josh Hamilton, who returned Tuesday from rehab assignment with the Bats. "He started off the first couple of innings slow. He came into the dugout and you could tell he was fired up. In the third, fourth and fifth innings, he had a little more intensity. He did really good throwing the ball and spotting it well, keeping hitters off balance."

    Bailey was chosen to make the start over Reds long reliever Victor Santos and Louisville lefty Phil Dumatrait. But there never seemed to be any doubt that the start wouldn't go to Bailey, and speculation ramped up since Saturday.

    "I didn't even know anything about it," said Bailey, who will be assigned uniform No. 34. "I was in my hotel room [in Durham, N.C.] checking my e-mail and looking at hunting stuff online. Dumatrait, my roommate, came in and told me 'Look online.'"

    Originally, it was anticipated that Bailey would be called up to start on Saturday vs. Cleveland. But the Reds decided to move Matt Belisle back an extra day so both pitchers could work on six days' rest.

    "We were coming back on the bus, coming back from Durham, and I had told everybody, 'Saturday, Saturday, Saturday," said Bailey, who expected to leave about 15 tickets for friends and family. "At about midnight [Louisville manager Rick Sweet] calls up and says, 'Oh yeah, it's been changed to Friday.' We were in the hills of West Virginia and the [cell phone] service was bouncing in and out. I was trying to tell them Friday and not Saturday."

    Since Cincinnati made Bailey the seventh overall Draft pick in 2004, he has been the club's most anticipated prospect in years. In each of the last three seasons has been rated by Baseball America as the top prospect in the organization.

    "Up to now, I think I've accomplished and learned so much in the game," Bailey said. "Now, it's only the beginning. Now I'm eager to learn and see what adjustments I need to make and what I'll figure out."

    Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

  15. #59
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    Re: Prospect Profile: David "Homer" Bailey

    http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/...=.jsp&c_id=cin

    Bailey victorious in big-league debut
    Rookie right-hander helped by a trio of home runs
    By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com

    CINCINNATI -- Was it the fifth inning or two outs in the ninth?
    With the electricity of "Homer-mania" flowing strong at Great American Ball Park on Friday during Homer Bailey's Major League debut for the Reds, it didn't matter.

    Needing one more out in the fifth to qualify for his first win, pressure was heaped all over the 21-year-old. The Indians' David Dellucci was up with the bases loaded as Cincinnati clung to a one-run lead. No matter what, this was going to be his final batter.

    "You just have to keep thinking, 'Just get this guy out any way you can,' " Bailey said.

    On a 1-2 pitch, his 114th of the evening, Bailey fired a 93-mph fastball that froze Dellucci for a called strike three. The crowd of 38,696 roared with approval, and Bailey walked off the field to high-fives from pumped-up teammates.

    The Reds rode that atmosphere the rest of the way for a 4-3 win over the Indians. After the final out, Bailey was greeted with a shaving-cream pie from ace Aaron Harang.

    "I think it was awesome," Bailey said of his reception in Cincinnati. "Especially after that last strikeout, when everything kind of shuts off and you can really hear it."

    For one night at least, the problems bearing down on a last-place club faded into the background.

    "Future and hope here," manager Jerry Narron said in summing up the outing. "Shoot, everyone's been wanting to see him. We have. It was pretty good."

    It was a performance three years in the making, ever since Cincinnati made Bailey the seventh overall pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft. After Bailey rose slowly but steadily through the Minors, the announcement of his final promotion from Triple-A Louisville came on Tuesday.

    "Days like this, you can ask anybody here, you never forget them," said Bailey, who allowed two earned runs and five hits in five innings with four walks (one intentional) and three strikeouts.

    Possibly charged up with adrenaline, Bailey's fastball reached 96 mph in the first inning. He took a little bit off when he struck out the first batter, Grady Sizemore, with an 89-mph high fastball.

    Following Travis Hafner's two-out single, Cleveland took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Victor Martinez's two-out RBI double to left-center field. After the ball got by left fielder Adam Dunn, the throw from center fielder Norris Hopper missed the cutoff man. That allowed Hafner to lumber home from first base.



    Complete coverage >

    Bailey used 29 pitches in the first inning, and he was at 91 after averting big damage in the fourth. Following a Dellucci sacrifice fly, Bailey hit Josh Barfield with a pitch. Then, with Mike Rouse batting, he was called for a balk. Rouse was intentionally walked, and Bailey escaped by getting pitcher Cliff Lee to routinely ground out.

    "I think he pitched effectively wild today," catcher David Ross said. "He made some pitches when he needed to and got out of some jams. The main thing for him was to go out there and get the first one under his belt and the bugs out of the way.

    "With his stuff, he'll be a dominant pitcher if he can get ahead of some guys. He's got great stuff. He's a fun guy to catch. He's enthusiastic. He's an aggressive pitcher."

    Of the 24 batters he faced, Bailey threw first-pitch strikes to 11.

    "Not too good" is how Bailey graded his performance. "I got behind a lot of hitters. We got that win. That's the most important thing."

    A first-inning solo homer by Brandon Phillips and Jeff Conine's two-run shot in the fourth gave Bailey a 3-2 lead to work with heading into the big fifth.

    In the fifth, Sizemore hit a leadoff single and Hafner drew a one-out walk as Bailey crossed 100 pitches. With two outs, Trot Nixon walked on four pitches, which brought pitching coach Dick Pole -- and not Narron's hook -- out for a visit.

    "It was his ballgame right there," Narron said. "I was not about to get him out. I thought he still had good stuff even though he had 100-plus pitches. He had a chance to get a win, and I thought he deserved that shot."

    The rookie didn't disappoint. Not a bad finish against the team that is second in the American League in runs scored.

    Ken Griffey Jr. made it a two-run game in the sixth when he launched a solo homer to right field. The long ball was Griffey's 14th this season and career homer No. 577.

    Maligned for its struggles all season, the Reds bullpen stepped up behind Bailey. Mike Stanton, Jon Coutlangus and Gary Majewski combined for three scoreless innings. David Weathers gave up Ryan Garko's ninth-inning solo homer but finished the final 1 1/3 innings for his 12th save.

    "It was fun. He was a little nervous," Griffey said of Bailey. "There was some anticipation of him being here. All in all, we as a team were able to come through for him. We were able to get behind him and do some things."

    On the field, as Bailey walked out to take batting practice a couple of hours before the game, more than a dozen reporters and photographers watched his every move.

    "There was a lot of pressure for him to come here and be something," Ross said. "You're held to a certain standard sometimes when you're a first-rounder. People put you on a pedestal, and you're just like anyone else trying to make it."

    If Bailey becomes a big-league success with the Reds, it will be significant for an organization that's had a lousy track record at developing its own pitchers. The last Cincinnati starter to reach the Majors as a first-round pick was C.J. Nitkowski, in 1994. Nitkowski was part of the trade to the Tigers for David Wells in 1995.

    The last homegrown Reds pitcher to win 20 games was Tom Browning, in 1985.

    "People have been hearing about Homer the last couple years," Narron said. "To see him pitch the way he did tonight, I can't say enough about it. It's outstanding for him, our ballclub and our entire organization."


    Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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