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| Click here for the Reds HHSL Home Page | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| For the best simulated baseball league known to man, click here! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reds come up big at Draft | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| As you have read in past issues of the Reds Journal, the Cincinnati Reds have put all possible effort into building up their major league team through their minor leagues. The Amateur draft was held recently, and here's how the Reds made out in their draft. The Reds feel that they may have gotten as many as seven full-time starters out of this draft, as well as a few fringe type players. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1. Rob Hess, 1B | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Reds drafted what amounts to probably the most polished hitter they've ever drafted in Hess. A right handed hitter, Hess hits for average and power, not surprisingly, given the early pick, 7th overall. Hess is not solely a hitter however. While possesing a weak arm, Hess has enough range to put him in the Gold Glove range once he reaches the majors, which should be in 3-4 years. ETA 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2. Bill Akin, Jr. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Akin played 1B for the Enumclaw HS baseball team, but according to our sources he will be converted to 3B, for which he posseses all of the tools.....decent range, a strong and accurate arm, and steady glove. However, home plate is where Jr. will be best. A switch hitter with power, Akin hits for average as well, and shows a good eye. All in all a nice pick at 8 overall. Those Akin boys sure have the genetics...ETA 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3. Guy Bates, RHP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bates was actually acquired post draft from KC for Korey Hanson, another 2008 draftee, where he was picked 35th overall with the Royals' compensation pick. A relief specialist, Bates does everything well, giving up few hits, few walks, and striking out more than the average number. Bates addresses a weakness in Cincinnati's lower levels. ETA...2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4. Jimmie Guerra, OF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guerra has a powerful bat from the left side. Not a great fielder because of his lack of range and below average arm, Guerra more than makes up for that with perfect glovework, which may facilitate a move for him to 1B. Guerra is 22, and probably will not spend much time at Billings before being promoted to AA Chattanooga, due to his advanced age and excellent hitting skills. ETA...2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5. Reynaldo Lazano, OF/C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lazano's ticket has been punched for Billings, and it has already been decided that his future is behind the plate. Already a good defensive OF, Lazano's solid left handed bat makes defensive attributes very desirable in the catcher spot. Lazano hits right handers and lefties almost equally, at about a .300 clip, and he shows some pop as well. ETA...2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6. Ray Townsend, OF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Townsend is an 18 year old with a sweet doubles generating stroke. Townsend is very similar to Lazano, and was picked only a few spots behind him. The main difference between Lazano and Townsend is that Townsend will never play C due to throwing with his left arm. Townsend projects to a slightly better set of power numbers as well, with a lot more doubles and a few more homers than Lazano. ETA....2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7. Rhett Jarvis, LHP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jarvis was the first pitcher taken this year (first pick in the third round), and one of only two drafted. Jarvis' future will probably be in the bullpen, but Jarvis will pitch from the rotation for now. A bit of a surprise that he was left at that point of the draft, Jarvis actually has a very bright ML future, throwing four solid ML pitches, and he has a good slugging % against. ETA....2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8. Barton Weber. 3B | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weber is a 22 year old 3B, who like Lazano will be converted to catcher. He has an outstanding arm and should make the conversion easily. Weber has nice power numbers, but a low batting average. The silver lining to Weber is the astronomical amount of walks he receives. He should reach base in the area of a .370 OBP. ETA....2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9. Anthony Silva. SS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Silva's future is probably as a reserve IF/Utility guy. He has the defensive skills wo play all of the infield positions well, together with a high average bat. Silva doesn't draw many walks or hit many homers, but all good teams have guys like him around. ETA....2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other draft tidbits | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Reds' overall focus of this draft was to find some hitting. After drafting pitching heavily last year, the Reds really needed to get a big bat or two on board, while not letting good pitching go by too easily. The Reds were fortunate to land Akin and Hess with the 7th and 8th overall picks, as there was a large dropoff in offensive player quality following those selections on the Reds' board. The Reds would have loved to have gotten some quality pitching after that part of the draft, but most of the better quality guys went by as the Reds could only watch, having a large gap between their first and second round picks. In what the Reds considered to be an average draft class, they got what they came after, some potent bats to go with the pitching they already have on board. Next year's draft is not going to be quite the same for the Reds, having traded away all three of their own picks for players from the Kansas City Royals. In an effort to keep the draft picks coming, the Reds have purchased a #3 from the Yanks, and also traded away Chin Tsao and Frank Fahey for Minnesota's #1 pick next year. |
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