Cincinnati Reds Mid-Season Top 15 Prospects

This is my Top 15 prospects for the Cincinnati Reds here at the halfway point. This list WILL include 2011 draft picks that I think will sign. Stats are as of August 3, 2011.

1. Devin Mesoraco, C - 363 AB, .300/.370/.485, 10 HR, 59 RBI, 38 BB, 75 K, 1 SB 1 CS (AAA)

Mesoraco

Clearly his 2010 campaign was not a fluke and it is just a matter of time before Mesoraco gets the opportunity to prove himself in Cincinnati.

2. Billy Hamilton, SS - 415 AB, .255/.317/.340, 2 HR, 39 RBI, 38 BB, 102 K, 75 SB 16 CS (A)

I have him higher than most people because I believe his bat will come around and his speed his game-changing, whether it will be at SS or in the OF.

3. Yasmani Grandal, C - 310 AB, .287/.384/.490, 13 HR, 56 RBI, 48 BB, 86 K, 0 SB 0 CS (A+/AA)

The Reds now possibly 2 of the top 5 catchers in the minors, and Grandal could be a great trade piece somewhere down the road.

4. Zack Cozart, SS - 323 AB, .310/.357/.467, 7 HR, 32 RBI, 23 BB, 51 K, 9 SB 2 CS (AAA)

Cozart is following up a fantastic 2010 with another good year earning a call up to the Majors where he flourished in a short stint before he got injured.

5. Yonder Alonso, 1B/OF - 358 AB, .296/.374/.486, 12 HR, 56 RBI, 46 BB, 60 K, 6 SB 5 CS (AAA)

I haven't always been a big fan of Alonso but he continues to hit consistently and now all he needs is an opportunity to play everyday. I don't see that opportunity coming with the Reds.

6. Yorman Rodriguez, OF - 280 AB, .254/.318/.393, 7 HR, 40 RBI, 25 BB, 84 K, 20 SB 8 CS (A)

A very high risk/high reward guy, Rodriguez has outstanding raw power to go with above-average speed on the bases.

7. Daniel Corcino, RHP - 9-5, 3.41 ERA, 105.2 IP, 96 H, 26 BB, 117 K, (A)

The Johnny Cueto look-a-like both in the mirror and on the mound, Corcino is having a breakout season showing 3 above-average or better pitches.

8. Robert Stephenson, RHP - 7-2, 1.33 ERA, 64 IP, 29 H, 23 BB, 132 K (HS)

A 2011 1st-rounder, Stephenson has a plus fastball and a curve that has the potential to be plus. He also threw back-to-back no-hitters to start the spring for his high school team.

9. Todd Frazier, UT - 315 AB, .260/.340/.467, 15 HR, 46 RBI, 34 BB, 82 K, 17 SB 4 CS (AAA)

Frazier has shown a rejuvenated power stroke this year and should be a helpful piece off the bench for the Reds in their playoff push. Still trying to find a defensive home however.

10. Brad Boxberger, RHP - 2-4, 2.16 ERA, 50 IP, 26 H, 20 BB, 76 K (AA/AAA)

Boxberger has turned it around after a terrible 2010 and is the best relief pitcher in the system. Potential for a call up in September.

11. Neftali Soto, 1B - 284 AB, .282/.337/.609, 24 HR, 60 RBI, 19 BB, 72 K, 0 SB 1 CS (AA)

Now that he has settled on 1B as his defensive home, Soto is unleashing his vicious power on AA pitchers with a .609 slugging percentage. If only Joey Votto played a different position.

12. J.C. Sulbaran, RHP - 8-2, 4.06 ERA, 106.1 IP, 101 H, 42 BB, 119 K (A+)

Another guy who is having a turnaround year, Sulbaran shows flashes of frontline potential with an outstanding strikeout rate.

13. Dave Sappelt, OF - 289 AB, .318/.379/.464, 7 HR, 29 RBI, 28 BB, 39 K, 3 SB 4 CS (AAA)

The 5'9" Sappelt has been proving doubters wrong his whole career and is putting together another fine season at Louisville. One of many on this list who could help the ML team in September.

14. Ronald Torreyes, 2B - 162 AB, .389/.431/.494, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 10 BB, 10 K, 9 SB 5 CS (A)

Another small guy, Torreyes has drawn Jose Altuve comps as a tiny Venezuelan 2B who can flat out hit.  He will always have doubters but Altuve has shown that Torreyes has the potential to be an impact player in the future.

15. Gabriel Rosa, OF - 41 AB, .171/.271/.317, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 5 BB, 11 K, 2 SB, 1 CS (RK)

Rosa was a 2011 2nd-round pick out of Puerto Rico who shows star potential with his power/speed tools. He will take a lot of seasoning in the minors before he sees Cincinnati however.

SLEEPER

Brodie Greene, SS - 408 AB, .294/.354/.439, 11 HR, 68 RBI, 36 BB, 62 K, 29 SB, 6 CS (A+)

I have always been a fan of the scrappy Greene ever since his days at Texas A&M. He is having a mini-breakout season showing above-average tools across the board including a solid glove at short. A very similar player to fellow Reds farmhand Zack Cozart.