Three Cincinnati Reds Prospects Showcased in MLB Futures Game

By Matt Wilkes | Jul 12, 2015

As the Cincinnati Reds were wrapping up the first half by taking another drubbing at the hands of the Miami Marlins, three of their best prospects took the field for the MLB Futures Game on Sunday. Outfielder Kyle Waldrop and pitcher Amir Garrett suited up for the U.S. Team, who took home a 10-1 victory, while outfielder Yorman Rodriguez was a member of the World Team.

Waldrop started the game in right field and batted fifth for the U.S. Team, playing all nine innings. The 23-year-old went 1-for-4 at the plate, lining a single to right field and scoring in a five-run sixth inning for the U.S.

In Double-A Pensacola, Waldrop hit .277/.313/.395 with six homers and 33 runs batted in before being promoted to Triple-A Louisville, where he’s still in a period of adjusment. Through 15 games, he’s hitting just .204/.246/.241 in 57 plate appearances. It’s possible that we could see him in Cincinnati in September, as he’s on the 40-man roster and the organization will likely turn to their young players if they sell at the trade deadline.

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Also playing the entire game in right field was Rodriguez, who didn’t fare so well at the plate, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts while batting third for the World Team. In his second at-bat, the right fielder nearly left the yard twice, lining a ball down the left field line that just went foul and sending a ball to the right field warning track that was caught by Triple-A teammate Waldrop.

Rodriguez is hitting .272/.310/.432 with nine homers and 40 RBI in Triple-A Louisville, but hasn’t played in over a week as he’s been busy sitting on the bench with the Reds. He was optioned back to Louisville on Saturday after not playing at all in Cincinnati, but he might not be gone for too long, as he figures to return if Jay Bruce or Marlon Byrd are traded before the deadline.

Garrett also saw playing time, pitching the third inning for the U.S. and ultimately picking up the win. The lefty pounded the strike zone, throwing 10 of his 15 pitches for strikes. He set down the first two hitters he faced on a strikeout and a ground out, but then ran into trouble as he gave up three straight hits and an unearned run. A much worse line for Garrett was prevented by a laser throw from left fielder Michael Conforto to nail a runner at the plate.

Of all the pitchers in the Reds organization, Garrett’s season in High-A Daytona has been among the best. His 2.79 ERA ranks seventh in the Florida State League and his 89 strikeouts are fourth most. In Baseball America’s recent midseason prospect rankings, Garrett was bumped up all the way to No. 2 in the Reds organization after coming in at No. 7 before the 2015 campaign began. It’ll be a few years before we see him in Cincinnati, but the southpaw’s future is bright.

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