Christian Encarnacion-Strand

[JCM11]

I found an interesting post on twitter showing the top 10 MILB career slugging % since 2006. I think this was posted by a Giants fan trying to hype Brown who only has 50 PA beyond high A.

1. Kris Bryant - .649
2. Vaun Brown - .620
3. Paul Goldschmidt - .620
4. Kyle Schwarber - .619
5. Nelson Cruz - .613
6. Christian Encarnacion-Strand - .610
7. Juan Soto - .609
8. B Belt - .603
9. Howie Kendrick - .597
10. Chris Davis - .594

Not a bad list for our boy to be on. I don't know how anyone can look at that and not think he's going to mash in MLB.

[bah1286]

I have loved Votto as a Red. At this point I would rather see CES brought up and get that time. I worry it’s going to be a while because Votto will get first shot.

[Dave C]

I found an interesting post on twitter showing the top 10 MILB career slugging % since 2006. I think this was posted by a Giants fan trying to hype Brown who only has 50 PA beyond high A.

1. Kris Bryant - .649
2. Vaun Brown - .620
3. Paul Goldschmidt - .620
4. Kyle Schwarber - .619
5. Nelson Cruz - .613
6. Christian Encarnacion-Strand - .610
7. Juan Soto - .609
8. B Belt - .603
9. Howie Kendrick - .597
10. Chris Davis - .594

Not a bad list for our boy to be on. I don't know how anyone can look at that and not think he's going to mash in MLB.

As of tonight CES has a career ML slugging % of .623 and would be second on that list. .734 this year so far.

[Ky Fried Redleg]

For those of you who have always followed minor league baseball, what did CES look like before he was traded to the Reds? What he a big-time prospect or are you surprised by what he has shown since joining the Reds organization?

[Bourgeois Zee]

For those of you who have always followed minor league baseball, what did CES look like before he was traded to the Reds? What he a big-time prospect or are you surprised by what he has shown since joining the Reds organization?

He's hit since college, but there were questions about whether upper levels would discover holes in his swing. He's aggressive, and most experts believed his penchant for swinging at stuff outside the zone would result in declining batting averages as he moved up the ladder. His power has been at least a slight surprise to most of those guys, and his hit tool (and ability to hit good pitches well) is a massive surprise.

I insisted last season that he should have been a top 100 prospect. Others on the site dismissed it out of hand. National prognosticators did as well, for the most part. He is demolishing AAA.

Were he to stay in AAA until the All-Star break, I suspect he'd be inside everyone's top 25 list. If not, he should be.

[podgejeff_]

He's hit since college, but there were questions about whether upper levels would discover holes in his swing. He's aggressive, and most experts believed his penchant for swinging at stuff outside the zone would result in declining batting averages as he moved up the ladder. His power has been at least a slight surprise to most of those guys, and his hit tool (and ability to hit good pitches well) is a massive surprise.

I insisted last season that he should have been a top 100 prospect. Others on the site dismissed it out of hand. National prognosticators did as well, for the most part. He is demolishing AAA.

Were he to stay in AAA until the All-Star break, I suspect he'd be inside everyone's top 25 list. If not, he should be.

Go up and down the mlbpipeline list and you won't see many 3b/1b/dh guys. Defensive spectrum really matters on that list.

Looking at mlbpipeline, the only guy I could find that is clearly not outperforming CES is Jacob Berry at 67, and he has pedigree. Coby Mayo at 98 is comparable at a lower level.

It's the pedigree plus the lack of defensive options keeping him down as far as ratings. If he had one or the other he'd be a top 100 prospect easy.

You'd think that the Reds traded for him would make up for the pedigree somewhat, but if I had to guess he's somewhere in the top 125.

Luckily at the end of the day none of this matters.

[Redhook]

His prospect ranking reminds me of Pujols who wasn’t ranked very high as well….his highest was 39. Let’s hope he comes up and mashes immediately like Pujols did.

[mth123]

His prospect ranking reminds me of Pujols who wasn’t ranked very high as well….his highest was 39. Let’s hope he comes up and mashes immediately like Pujols did.

at this point, I just hope he comes up.

[Ron Madden]

CES isn't in today's starting lineup for Louisville.

Could it be he gets called up tomorrow?

[JCM11]

CES isn't in today's starting lineup for Louisville.

Could it be he gets called up tomorrow?

I hope so. I believe when CES is up that'll mean less DH time for Stephenson and more games behind the plate. They may be trying to trade someone before he's called up IDK. Senzel will likely be full time OF when he returns and I'd guess he takes Hopkins' spot. CES would seem to fit a lot where Newman and Stephenson have been playing 3B,1B,DH. IMO CES's bat is too good to leave in Louisville so they need to make a move either on the third catcher or possibly sending Barrero down. I think Friedl, Stewie, and Senzel can all handle CF so I don't see where Barrero fits in.

[Redhook]

at this point, I just hope he comes up.

It certainly boggles thy mind. As soon as he joins the Reds, there’s a very good chance he’ll be the best hitter on the team. Get him up, plug him in behind Elly and let them destroy the league for the next 10 years.

[Dave C]

I hope he's coming up but they give everyone a day off every two weeks down there. That's been fairly consistent.

[wolfboy]

As of today, his BB% is at 9.5%, a career high. His K% is at 22.1%, a career low. Very impressive.

[SoTxRedsFan]

For those of you who have always followed minor league baseball, what did CES look like before he was traded to the Reds? What he a big-time prospect or are you surprised by what he has shown since joining the Reds organization?

Word from some was that he was Seth Mejias Brean part 2.

[RedTeamGo!]

Word from some was that he was Seth Mejias Brean part 2.

1 person said that when we traded for him and I immediately pointed out it was a ridiculous comp