Three Reds in Baseball America Top 100
Credit: Dayton DragonsBaseball America released their top 100 prospect list last night on MLB Network and as expected some Reds were on that list. There were really no surprises as right-handed pitcher Robert Stephenson and outfielder Jesse Winker made the list. The name I was hoping to see did end up making it and that is right-handed pitcher Raisel Iglesias.
My piece this morning talks about Raisel Iglesias so if you want analysis on the Cuban signee, you can read that here as he ranked #58 on their top 100, the third Reds player on the list. As for Robert Stephenson Baseball America tabs him as having the best fastball and curveball in the system and is #23 on their top 100.
One strong statement J.J. Cooper makes is this:
A member of an excellent 2011 high school pitching class that included Jose Fernandez, Dylan Bundy, Archie Bradley, Daniel Norris, and Henry Owens, Stephenson has arguably the best pure arm strength of that group though he has moved more slowly up the ladder than some of his peers.
Stephenson isn’t the perfect pitcher, no one is, and his flaws showed in 2014. He was still shoving at 99 mph at times, but his numbers didn’t reflect that. He led the Southern League in strikeouts (140) and second in opponent average (.224), but his main flaw was that he led the league in home runs allowed (18) and walks allowed (74) which led to the second worst ERA in the league (4.74).
Cooper goes on to say that their is nothing wrong that experience can’t fix and I agree 100 percent. He is still young and was a high school draftee. He has plenty of time to develop and become a better pitcher. He will most likely spend the first part of the season at Pensacola, but we could see him in Louisville quickly if things go as planned.
Jesse Winker came in at #47 on the list of 100. BA calls him “the best pure hitter to come through the [Reds] system since Jay Bruce.” Winker has the ability to take walks, 54 last season, and hit for power. He hit 15 home runs combined over two levels last season and had 20 two-baggers.
The main thing Baseball America had to say about Winker is his advanced approach at the plate and understanding the strike zone. In my mind he is another Joey Votto type hitter, which I love, but some do not. He can hit home runs but his swing is more geared toward the gap-to-gap doubles that I love to see. BA projects him as an above-average hitter with average power. Put that with the ability to take walks and know the zone and you have an excellent offensive player.
The Reds match up pretty well when it comes to top prospects. The Reds don’t have a ton of top tier prospects like the Cubs and Twins, but the Reds are middle of the pack system wise. They are 16th for the second straight season and ahead of the Atlanta Braves (29), Cleveland Indians (23), Milwaukee Brewers (21) and Tampa Bay Rays (17).
