Who is Redszone's #4 prospect?

[OnBaseMachine]

Neftali Soto was voted the Reds #3 prospect in a landslide. Let the voting begin for #4.

Redszone's Top Prospects:

Prospect #1 - Yonder Alonso
Prospect #2 - Todd Frazier
Prospect #3 - Neftali Soto

[REDblooded]

Gonna keep voting for the top glove until Drew Stubbs gets the nod.

I've seen him make enough adjustments and improvements with the bat to believe that he will have a succesful major league career.

[bubbachunk]

Stubbs based on tools and small accomplishment in advancing levels this year

[OnBaseMachine]

This one is tough for me, it come down to Drew Stubbs and Kyle Lotzkar. I've decided to go with Stubbs because I like the way he played better after getting out of the FSL, albeit a small sample size. He plays plus-plus defense at a premium position and has good on-base skills. Power development is the key for Stubbs - will he be a right handed version of Jacoby Ellsbury or will his power develop making him a Mike Cameron type player? Let's hope for the latter.

[TOBTTReds]

This one is tough for me, it come down to Drew Stubbs and Kyle Lotzkar. I've decided to go with Stubbs because I like the way he played better after getting out of the FSL, albeit a small sample size. He plays plus-plus defense at a premium position and has good on-base skills. Power development is the key for Stubbs - will he be a right handed version of Jacoby Ellsbury or will his power develop making him a Mike Cameron type player? Let's hope for the latter.

I think Lotzkar breaking his throwing elbow is really going to set him back...also because it happened from throwing the ball. It wasn't like a line drive back to him or anything. It is a "stuff" threatening injury.

[BRM]

I gotta go with Andy Phillips here.

[camisadelgolf]

I gotta go with Andy Phillips here.

wut

[BRM]

wut

Just a jab at OBM. He always claims that I am Andy Phillips.

[OnBaseMachine]

I think Lotzkar breaking his throwing elbow is really going to set him back...also because it happened from throwing the ball. It wasn't like a line drive back to him or anything. It is a "stuff" threatening injury.

According to Lotzkar himself, the injury wasn't as bad as it seems. He said it would only keep him out six weeks so that right there tells you it wasn't *too* serious.

[mth123]

The clear top tier is gone and now lots of guys who are bunched together. I'll go with Stubbs simply because his status as a top pick and his meeting all expectations defensively probably give him the most value.

I've been converted as far as Stubbs goes, but I think the Reds should look to deal him. CF talent is scarce this year and he may bring back something good at a need area. I really think that the Reds can adequately cover CF on the cheap for the next few years by platooning Dickerson with Freel now and Heisey down the road. The defense is almost as good and the platoon advantage might even give them an edge on offense. When those guys are getting too expensive or starting to fade, David Sappelt or more likely Yorman Rodriguez will be ready to go. Stubbs is expendable and valuable.

[OnBaseMachine]

It's looking like this is gonna be a blowout in Stubbs favor. The voting for prospect #5 will be interesting. I expect it to be pretty tight with Duran, Lotzkar, Valaika, and a couple others splitting the majority of the votes.

[fearofpopvol1]

I chose Stubbs as well, but I was tempted to go with Thompson. The reason being is next to Stubbs (and maybe even more so than Stubbs), I think Thompson has proven more in the upper minors that anyone else has. That doesn't mean he's a better prospect than Stubbs or many of the other options, but he has PROVEN more. For me, I don't rank any of the kids high unless they're tearing it up in the low minors (like Soto for example who I did rate as #3). Some of the other prospect options are performing well in the lower minors, but not many are tearing it up the way Soto has.

I tend to give a bigger benefit of the doubt to those players who have proven more at a higher level than those who haven't. I know some rate more on potential, but not I. With that said, Thompson dominated AA this year, looked good in AAA and I went to his Yankee Stadium debut where he pitched an absolute gem in a packed house against a great lineup. The way that kid battled out of a bases loaded jam with no outs against the heart of the Yankee lineup at a critical point in the game showed a lot to me. He was brilliant. He didn't get lucky either...the kid can pitch. Now, I don't know if his injury history is going to have a big impact on his career or not, but if healthy, I think Thompson could be a very good pitcher.

[gedred69]

Dorn. Followed closely by Valaika. I continue to favor guys who have a legitamate shot, very soon. Both excelled at AA this year, and if it hadn't been for a 4 week injury, Dorn would have played 1/2 the season at Louisville.

[Lockdwn11]

Kyle Lotzkar for me but it was a hard choice between Lotzkar and Stubbs

[Kc61]

Francisco hit .277 with 34 doubles and 23 homers at age 20-21 in a tough pitcher's league, High A ball. Even if he never walks again, that production should put him squarely in the competition for number 5. When you consider his great throwing arm, he probably should be the favorite for number 5.

It's possible that Duran should be number 5. It's also possible he should be number 1. I just don't know enough about him to make a judgment on him and it's hard to evaluate the relative standing of a guy who's still that young and hasn't reached the GCL as yet.

Stubbs should be number 4. If he can continue to hit as well as he did at AA and AAA, he probably should be higher given his defensive abilities.