http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/...=.jsp&c_id=cin
By Ryan McConnell / Special to MLB.com
When scouts talk about the Reds' top hitting prospects, Jesse Gutierrez can be an afterthought. With younger, more highly regarded farmhands like Joey Votto on the cusp of reaching the Majors, Gutierrez's solid production is often overlooked.
Still looking for his big break, the 28-year-old first baseman led Cincinnati's Winter League participants in home runs (12) and RBIs (39) while playing for the Mayos de Novojoa of the Mexican Pacific League.
In 66 games, he hit .260 with a .366 on-base percentage while committing only two errors at first base.
Gutierrez was arguably the Reds' top performer this offseason, but he wasn't the only one with a strong winter. Here's a look at how the other prospects performed:
Arizona Fall League
2B Drew Anderson -- Anderson hit .269 with two doubles, two triples and three RBIs in 67 at-bats for the Phoenix Desert Dogs. He committed one error in 21 games.
OF Cody Strait -- Strait was one of the Reds' top performers in the AFL for most of the season, earning Player of the Week honors from Oct. 16-22 after going 8-for-21 with a home run and seven RBIs for the Desert Dogs. The 23-year-old slumped down the stretch, going 3-for-24 to finish the season at .257. He stole 12 bases and was caught twice.
LHP Jonathan Coutlangus -- Coutlangus had a solid AFL campaign, going 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in 10 innings for the Desert Dogs. He struck out 12 and walked five.
LHP Phil Dumatrait -- The 25-year-old southpaw went 2-0 with a 5.59 ERA in 19 1/3 innings for the Desert Dogs, striking out 12 and walking 13.
RHP Calvin Medlock -- Medlock was 0-1 with a 4.30 ERA in 14 2/3 innings for the Desert Dogs. The 24-year-old walked one and held opposing hitters to a .250 average.
LHP Tyler Pelland -- Pelland went 0-1 with a 4.95 ERA in 20 innings for the Desert Dogs. He allowed 25 hits and 11 walks while striking out 15.
Venezuelan Winter League
SS Luis Bolivar -- Bolivar won Rookie of the Year honors after batting .294 with a .369 on-base percentage in 187 regular-season at-bats for the Aguilas del Zulia. He continued his hot hitting in the playoffs, batting .333 with two RBIs and six runs scored in 12 games.
INF Javier Colina -- Colina hit .204 with two home runs and 12 RBIs in 30 regular-season games with the Aguilas del Zulia. He had two hits, both doubles, in three postseason at-bats.
SS Alex Gonzalez -- Gonzalez batted .333 with a homer and two RBIs in 24 postseason at-bats for the Leones del Caracas. One of the Reds' offseason acquisitions, he hit .293 in 11 regular-season games.
INF Anderson Machado -- Machado hit .197 with three RBIs in 34 games for the Pastora de los Llanos.
RHP Carlos Bohorquez -- After posting a 1.31 ERA in 18 regular-season appearances for the Leones, Bohorquez went 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA in 4 2/3 postseason innings.
RHP Ruben Medina -- Medina allowed five runs over nine innings during the regular season for the Tiburones de La Guaira.
Dominican Winter League
3B Edwin Encarnacion -- Encarnacion played well in the regular season (.286, four home runs and 12 RBIs), but it was nothing compared to his playoff performance. He batted .330 with seven home runs and 21 RBIs in 94 at-bats and had a 5-for-5 effort to lift the Aguilas into the finals.
1B Joey Votto -- Votto hit .275 with a homer and nine RBIs during the regular season for the Leones del Escogido.
OF Chris Denorfia -- Denorfia batted .258 with 12 RBIs in 26 regular-season games for the Leones.
C Chad Moeller -- The Major League veteran hit just .069 in 10 games for the Estrellas de Oriente.
RHP Edward Valdez -- Valdez was 4-3 with a 2.67 ERA in 27 frames during the regular season. He surrendered five runs over 8 2/3 innings in the playoffs for the Aguilas Cibaenas.
RHP Johnny Cueto -- Cueto surrendered seven runs over 7 1/3 innings during the regular season for the Aguilas Cibaenas.
Mexican Pacific League
RHP Tom Shearn -- Shearn was 6-3 with a 2.76 ERA in 71 2/3 innings for the Mayos de Navojoa during the regular season.
OF Norris Hopper -- Hopper batted .296 with two homers and 18 RBIs in 32 regular-season games for the Mayos de Navojoa.
INF Juan Castro -- Castro batted .182 with three doubles and two runs scored in six regular-season games for the Caneros de los Mochis.
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Originally Posted by TeamSelig
