Reds Top Prospects June 2012 Edition

[Benihana]

Originally Posted by bellhead

Benihana,

Maybe in the future you could do a overall top 10, then a hitter/pitchers seperately???

Thanks dude btw

Top 10 Pitchers
1. Corcino
2. Lotzkar
3. Cingrani
4. Stephenson
5. Travieso
6. Sulbaran
7. Joseph
8. Langfield
9. Garrett
10. J.Johnson

Top 10 Position Players (excluding Rookie Leaguers Winker, Rahier and Rosa)
1. Hamilton
2. Lutz
3. H.Rodriguez
4. Gregorius
5. Vidal
6. Waldrop
7. LaMarre
8. Y.Rodriguez
9. Gelalich (he could rank anywhere after #3, and he could climb easily from here with a strong debut)
10. Soto

Rogers and Barnhart would be next on the lists, respectively.

[The DARK]

That position player drop-off after Hamilton is scary. Not that Lutz has been having a bad season at all, but good power performances in Bakersfield aren't supposed to mean much, and scouts are still skeptical of his swing. Hopefully somebody breaks out again soon.

[Benihana]

Originally Posted by The DARK

That position player drop-off after Hamilton is scary. Not that Lutz has been having a bad season at all, but good power performances in Bakersfield aren't supposed to mean much, and scouts are still skeptical of his swing. Hopefully somebody breaks out again soon.

Agreed. However, Winker, Rahier and Rosa are all on helium watch, and by this time next year could be 2-4 on this list.

[j_m_t_us]

I disagree on LaMarre being a 4th outfielder in the Majors. The guy is not a power hitter but does everything right as a leadoff hitter. Look at his stats! In the Southern league, he's No. 2 hits, No. 5 in runs, No. 6 in walks and No. 3in stolen bases and No. 8 in OBP. The guy also hasn't missed a game all year! I understand he's 1st in all the minors in outfield assists with 12 and is mentioned as a top 4 outfielder in all the minors! I think you might be underestimating him!

[Benihana]

Originally Posted by j_m_t_us

I disagree on LaMarre being a 4th outfielder in the Majors. The guy is not a power hitter but does everything right as a leadoff hitter. Look at his stats! In the Southern league, he's No. 2 hits, No. 5 in runs, No. 6 in walks and No. 3in stolen bases and No. 8 in OBP. The guy also hasn't missed a game all year! I understand he's 1st in all the minors in outfield assists with 12 and is mentioned as a top 4 outfielder in all the minors! I think you might be underestimating him!

Perhaps you're right and he could be the next Brett Gardner, which I think is his upside scenario. I'd be happy to be wrong here. However Gardner had better OBP numbers across the board in the minor leagues. Like I said, I see LaMarre as Chris Heisey with significantly less power.

[RedlegJake]

Originally Posted by Benihana

Perhaps you're right and he could be the next Brett Gardner, which I think is his upside scenario. I'd be happy to be wrong here. However Gardner had better OBP numbers across the board in the minor leagues. Like I said, I see LaMarre as Chris Heisey with significantly less power.

LaMarre would probably have a higher OBP than Chris, a bit more patient but less power. I think you're right Beni, I, too, see him as a decent 4th outfielder in the majors. Starter? Not so much except in emergencies. Gardner had much better minor league numbers. That doesn't mean I don't like LaMarre but a true major league outfielder, even a league average one is a pretty darn good hitter. I just don't see LaMarre reaching that level. 'Tweener - not enough power, not enough speed but enough of each to play a role someday.

[mace]

Originally Posted by Benihana

Top 10 Pitchers
1. Corcino
2. Lotzkar
3. Cingrani
4. Stephenson
5. Travieso
6. Sulbaran
7. Joseph
8. Langfield
9. Garrett
10. J.Johnson

Rogers and Barnhart would be next on the lists, respectively.

Honorable mention, at least (pitchers):

Yes, Rogers
Pearl
Villarreal
Partch (a month ago, I couldn't imagine saying that, but he has been tremendous as a reliever, save for one horrible outing)
Hayes (don't forget, he skipped a level, and is starting to catch up)
Chacin
Renken
Crabbe
Drew Cisco (provided he ever actually actually pitches)

Okay, Jordan Smith. Not sure why everyone has written him off. Two years ago, the Reds rushed him to the majors and he held his own. Looked very good at times. He has struggled since, with injuries contributing, but he's still 26 and has demonstrated that he can do the job. That said, I'm not sure why they don't convert him back to starting. He pitched well as a starter, and he obviously has the body for it. The organizational need certainly seems more acute among starters than relievers.

Meanwhile, I appreciate the potential of Amir Garrett, but for me, he's only a distant glimmer. Way too many questions. Will he opt for basketball? Even if not, will he play enough baseball over the next three years to stay relevant as a prospect? And lastly, is he any good? All we seem to know is that he has a great left arm. It's a good start, but not enough to get him ranked at this point, in my view.

[j_m_t_us]

Originally Posted by RedlegJake

LaMarre would probably have a higher OBP than Chris, a bit more patient but less power. I think you're right Beni, I, too, see him as a decent 4th outfielder in the majors. Starter? Not so much except in emergencies. Gardner had much better minor league numbers. That doesn't mean I don't like LaMarre but a true major league outfielder, even a league average one is a pretty darn good hitter. I just don't see LaMarre reaching that level. 'Tweener - not enough power, not enough speed but enough of each to play a role someday.

Maybe I'm missing something. You said not enough speed? He stole 55 bases last year in Bakersfield and Carolina is on pace to steal near 40 this year! He's one of the fastest guys in the Reds organization! Defensively, he is considered one of the best outfielders in the minors! You tell me how many center fielders in the Majors are power hitters?
The one thing he does have to work on is being more consistent and staying out of the little slumps he's had this year!

[Ohayou]

Originally Posted by dougdirt

Who else is speaking highly of him in terms of ranking him near the top 10 in the system?

I am not saying he is some organizational soldier or anything like a Miguel Rojas is. I am just saying that he is a 5th round pick who hasn't done anything to say he should have gone higher than that. There is a reason that the Reds took 4 guys before him last year alone and I doubt you would find hardly anyone in the Reds organization who were to rank him any higher than the 4 guys taken ahead of him last year (Stephenson - not a chance, Rosa - not a chance, Cingrani - not a chance, Kyle MdMcyne - I would listen to an argument on this one).

He was ranked 18th by Baseball America, I think, along with a few other scouting sites that have him between the 10-15 range.

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by Ohayou

He was ranked 18th by Baseball America, I think, along with a few other scouting sites that have him between the 10-15 range.

18th is a far cry from 10. I don't know what other scouting sites there are other than BP or Sickels. Sickels didn't even have Wright in his top 20. I don't recall where, if at all, he fell on the BP list.