Bats Preview: Outfielders
*The article predicts the Louisville Bats’ outfielders for Opening Day based on the spring training information provided to us by the Cincinnati Reds’ beat writers through manager Bryan Price.
Left Field
Patrick Kivlehan will likely begin the 2017 season as the Louisville Bats’ starting left fielder after the Cincinnati Reds claimed him off waivers from the San Diego Padres with just three games remaining in 2016. Kivlehan jumped from organization to organization last year, as he was traded twice and then released before the Reds decided to take a flyer on him.
Despite all the turmoil, Kivlehan still had a fairly productive year, slashing a combined .254/.302/.416 with 12 home runs and 49 RBI in 100 games for three different Triple-A teams (Round Rock, Tacoma, El Paso). He’ll look to provide some much-needed thump to a lineup that hit the fewest home runs of any International League club in 2016.
Center Field
When the Bats are unable to employ a designated hitter in their lineup, Hernan Iribarren will more than likely be seen in center field if he doesn’t make the big league club out of spring training. Iribarren maneuvered all over the field last year (played every position except catcher), but spent the most time in center field, where he made 24 appearances. The 32-year-old utility man was named Louisville’s co-MVP along with Jermaine Curtis after leading the International League with a .327 batting average.
When the Bats’ lineup features a designated hitter, Iribarren is expected to serve as the DH and either Beau Amaral or Phillip Ervin will take over in center. Amaral went on a fast track to Triple-A Louisville after starting the year in Rookie Ball. He logged a .389/.465/.500 slash line in 11 games with the Billings Mustangs before being promoted to Double-A.
Between Pensacola and Louisville, the left-handed hitting Amaral took a step back at the plate. He particularly struggled when facing southpaws, as he combined to hit .214 against left-handers as opposed to .253 versus right-handers. While his bat was unsteady at times in 2016, Amaral’s glove was rock solid, committing only one error in 153 chances.
Ervin had been ranked as high as No. 3 (2013) on Baseball America’s annual top Reds prospects list, but has dropped all the way down to No. 18 entering 2017. He did, however, have a promising 2016 campaign at Double-A Pensacola, flashing that rare combination of power and speed in which the Reds fawned over when they drafted him in the first round four years ago. Ervin recorded career-highs in home runs (13) and stolen bases (36) — the most steals of any Reds’ farmhand and the fourth highest total in the Southern League.
Right Field
With Scott Schebler likely penciled in as the Opening Day right fielder in Cincinnati, Jesse Winker is expected to start the season in Louisville, as it wouldn’t make much sense to hinder the development of one of the organization’s top prospects by having him ride the pine in the big leagues.
In his first taste of Triple-A action last year, Winker hit over .300 and finished second in the International League in on-base percentage at .397. The 23-year-old had the same amount of walks (59) as he did strikeouts, displaying an incredibly advanced hitting approach at such a young age.
For the most part, Winker’s numbers were in line with his career averages, except in the power department. After launching double-digit homers in each of the past three seasons, Winker managed to hit only five in 2016. Fans shouldn’t place too much stock into that total, though, as a lingering wrist injury contributed to the lack in power.
Winker isn’t projected to put up gaudy home run totals year in and year out, but if he can generate a little more loft with his swing, some of those career-high 22 doubles in 2016 will soon translate into home runs, increasing his chances of supplanting Schebler as the everyday right fielder for the Reds.
