Who is Redszone's #10 prospect?

[HokieRed]

Took what's probably the conservative choice here, Sappelt, though I like the upside of a number of guys more (and more than some people we've got in the 7-9 range). Continue to be really intrigued by Lotzkar, as I have been since we picked him, but it's still just to hard to project his durability. Personally I hope he is in our top 3 for next year, because if he is, we're going to have something.

[RedsManRick]

I wanted to go Boxberger but his control (or lack thereof) scares me. Joseph may not be terribly high ceiling, but he's been utterly dominant.

[lollipopcurve]

Gregorius. He's an athletic SS with an excellent arm. Young for his league, and a pretty big frame that may allow him to gain some power in time. Puts the bat on the ball enough, and walks enough. I like his ceiling, and even if he doesn't become a big league starter, I think he becomes a utility guy with a LH bat -- a major leaguer one way or the other. Underrated guy on this board, IMO.

[mth123]

Joseph. Impact lefty for the late innings. At this point all the choices are flawed. Joseph seems the most likely to be successful in an impact role.

[medford]

I went w/ Sappalt here. As someone mentioned, I think I like the upside of some of the youngesters better, but Sappalt seems like the safer choice, closer to the bigs and seems like a certain thing at this point to make the show, while the youngsters still have more hurdles to clear.

[JaxRed]

I debated between Guillion and Lotzkar, and went Lotzkar. When he's on he's almost unhittable. I'm a ceiling guy.

I won't be voting Boxberger for a while. If someone fails big time at their latest level, that worries me.

[lollipopcurve]

I won't be voting Boxberger for a while. If someone fails big time at their latest level, that worries me.

Agreed. Bearish on BB.

[mace]

Originally Posted by lollipopcurve

Agreed. Bearish on BB.

With you there. I mean, Junior Martinez throws hard, too. Valiquette. And let's not forget Pedro Viola.

[*BaseClogger*]

Originally Posted by mace

With you there. I mean, Junior Martinez throws hard, too. Valiquette. And let's not forget Pedro Viola.

Those guys all have major control issues though (Martinez being a non-prospect) and don't have the possibility of developing into a starting pitcher. Boxberger had good control in 60 innings in high A before moving to relief at AA in his first professional season.

You gotta rank starting pitching prospects above non-dominant relievers, IMO--especially those who can throw 98 mph out of the bullpen...

[757690]

At this stage of voting, there really are no more guys with a high ceiling and a low floor. All the high ceiling guys are very high risks. So I went with the guy with the highest (edit: thanks doug) floor, Valaika. He has the best odds of being a league average major league player between whose left, imo.

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by 757690

At this stage of voting, there really are no more guys with a high ceiling and a low floor. All the high ceiling guys are very high risks. So I went with the guy with the lowest floor, Valaika. He has the best odds of being a league average major league player between whose left, imo.

I would say Dave Sappelt fits that best actually, not Valaika (assuming you meant highest floor instead of lowest floor).

[757690]

Originally Posted by dougdirt

I would say Dave Sappelt fits that best actually, not Valaika (assuming you meant highest floor instead of lowest floor).

Thanks, fixed that. lol

I was picking Valaika over Sappelt just because Valaika has been in the majors and succeeded, even if it was for just a month. Sappelt has only had about a month in AAA, so he may never even see the majors. I know that's not the definition of a players floor, just how I see it.

But I'm not an expert on the Reds minor league players, so you're probably right.

[Scrap Irony]

Sappelt can play CF well enough to stick there and has stick enough to go 270/340/420/760 right now. If he can play plus-plus D in LF (which may be hard to do, as his arm is questionable), Sappelt may have some value.

And that's his floor.

If Sappelt figured something out last season (and his numbers seem to idicate just that), he'd be an exceptionally solid leadoff hitter, providing a 300+/370+/430+/800+ line with plus defense. (Think a poor man's Carl Crawford mixed with Ryan Freel.)

That's ridiculous value for the 10th best prospect in a system. And, behind him, you've got ten or fifteen really high ceiling guys who very well could bust out big time in the lower system and another five in the upper system who provide depth.

Cincinnati's minor league pipeline is continually undervalued by minor league experts and should continue to provide cheap, replacement level and better production to help the team. (This is, IMO, one of the top reasons the Reds are a superior team to the Cardinals.)

[redsfan1995]

Went with Valaika since he's been in the majors and has done well I see him as the starting second baseman in the future because I can see BP leaving via free agency or trade

[Danny Serafini]

It is interesting how little attention a guy who just two years ago was named the organization's Minor League Player of the Year (Valaika) is getting in these polls.