Reds Re-Stock with Draft

Here’s a glimpse of who the Reds have taken thus far in rounds 2-10 in the 2012 First-Year Draft.

Round 2, #78 overall: Tanner Rahier, SS
(BA’s Jim Callis: 35th; MLB’s Johnathan Mayo: 37th)
One of the highest rated players that was still available when the day began, Rahier stayed on the radar due to one thing: he decided not to play for his high school team (Palm Desert, CA) and opted to play for his spring traveling team which uses wooden bats. Projects more as a third baseman than as a shortstop with a strong arm, decent hands, fairly good range. Aggressive at the plate and can turn on the fastball, but has troubles with breaking balls. Projecting for plus power isn’t a bad thing.

Round 3, #109 overall: Dan Langfield, RHP
(BA’s Callis: 60th; MLB’s May: not in top 100)

This Memphis product can do one thing rather well: strike out some guys…111 in 93.2 innings. Also has a tendency to walk a few, too (47). Command will be a focal point as he embarks on his Reds career. Projects more as a reliever as the starting role he had in Memphis. Wouldn’t be surprised to see the delivery altered some as well.

Round 4, #142: Jon Moscot, RHP
(BA’s Callis: 184th; MLB’s Mayo: not in top 100)
The sophomore eligible from Pepperdine showed a couple of things this past season. One, he improved his strikeout rate (48/71.2 IP for 2011; 91/106 IP for 2012). Two, he improved his walk rate (27 in 2011, 22 in 2012). Knocking his ERA from 4.27 to 2.97 isn’t a bad step either. In his 14 starts this past season, 5 resulted in a complete game.

Round 5, #172 overall: Mason Felt, LHP
(BA’s Callis: 309th)

In viewing a little video from MLB.com, you notice a couple of items regarding Felt. First, he’s not overpowering reaching high 80’s (89 was highest in video). It’s the breaking stuff that gets opposing hitters and his curve is mid 70’s and has a nice amount of break.

Round 6, #202 overall: Joseph Hudson, C
(BA’s Callis: 262nd)

Hudson exhibited vast improvement with his bat this past season. In his first two years at Notre Dame, Hudson only hit one home run in 250 plate appearances. For 2012, he cranked 6 homers in only 241 plate appearances. Needless to say, he found the power stroke. He also posted a career best batting average of .332 in comparison to his first two seasons where he hit .264 (FR) and .239 (SOPH). Hudson also has good discipline and patience in that his strikeouts (65 in 491 PA) aren’t much higher than his walks (45).

Round 7, #232 overall, Beau Amaral, OF
(BA’s Callis: 191st)

Last name sound familiar? For “older folk” like myself, it does. His father Rich was a member of the Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles during his 10 year MLB career. For Rich’s minor league career, he amassed over 300 steals. Beau has some wheels, but maybe not on par with his dad…yet. He has improved in that area in his three years at UCLA (yes, another Bruin). In his three years at Westwood, Amaral has 29 thefts, but 20 CS. Half of those CS came in his freshman year. Since then, he’s 20 for 30 in steals.

What’s aided Amaral is two years in the Cape Cod League.

Round 8, #262 overall: Seth Mejias-Brean, 3B

No, you find this University of Arizona product on the radar of Jim Callis or Johnathan Mayo except that Callis has him as the 16th best draft prospect within the state of Arizona. The 6-2, 210 pound junior can hit for average (career .326) and field his position (only 2 errors in last 30 games). For 2012, Mejas-Brean posted a gaudy .351 batting average while scoring 50 runs, driving in 52…in 55 games. Doesn’t have a lot of pop (only 2 HR in his three years in Tuscon).

Round 9, #292 overall: Daniel Pigott, OF

Another player that can run and hit for average. The senior out of Florida hit over .300 in three of his four years as a Gator. He also collected 32 steals in 48 attempts (prior to NCAA tourney). He leads the Gators in batting for the season.

A four year starter in Gainesville, Pigott recently help lead the Gators to the Super Regionals.

Round 10, #322 overall: Jeremy Kivel, RHP

Kivel has already signed with the University of Houston. In attending Spring HS in Texas (same HS as Josh Beckett), Kivel is another high school arm that can hit low to mid 90’s on the gun. According to his profile on PerfectGame.org, he’s hit 94…and that was last October.

He can’t be superstitious. He wears #13.

One area the Reds were said to be a little thin (if you believe them) is the outfield. In taking four outfielders in the first ten rounds, maybe there was a need after all.