Cincinnati Reds Top Prospect Report – Alex Blandino

How are the Cincinnati Reds’ top prospects doing during the 2017 season?

While the Cincinnati Reds have struggled to a 41-60 record, there is plenty of reason for hope in the future. The team is loaded with talented prospects across all of their minor-league teams, and many of those players started off with promising starts in their careers.

Let’s take a look at how one of the Reds’ top 30 prospects (per MLB Pipeline at the start of the season) performed  in the first half as we head into the second half.

Alex Blandino (INF)

2017 Stats (Double-A/Triple-A):

Pensacola: .259/.374/.462, 22 2B, 6 HR, 21 RBI, 32 BB, 49 K, 3 SB

Louisville: .263/.372/.450, 7 2B, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 13 BB, 18 K, 1 SB

Alex Blandino was drafted 29th overall the 2014 draft as a shortstop.  He came out of Stanford and was viewed as close to a complete project offensively. as could be  He finished his second minor league season in Double-A, but hasn’t been quite the same since.

Since that time his development has slowed down and he has moved to second base.  The issue for a developed hitter is present in his current stat line.  He is batting under .270 but has an OBP of over .370.

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Without power or speed it is difficult for the Reds to swallow that low batting average.  It is great that Blandino can get on base.  Unfortunately, his offensive profile is closer to that of a catcher than an everyday player.

If Alex Blandino continues to play the way he has, he will become a utility infielder for the Cincinnati Reds.

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Since reaching Louisville, Blandino has only played second and third.  Earlier this year he played shortstop in Pensacola.  Last year he played primarily at second baseman, but also played some short and third.

Last year, he had some issues offensively.  He had a low batting average, despite a .333 OBP in Pensacola.  He also had a sub-.400 slugging percentage.

In 2015 Blandino hit a combined .278 with an OBP of .364 between two levels of the minors.  He played primarily shortstop.

It appears that the change in defensive position slowed down his offensive progress.

Right now, Blandino is effectively the starting second baseman in Louisville.  With Dilson Herrera of the Jay Bruce deal out for the rest of the year with a shoulder injury, Blandino will have plenty of time to show what he has.  The Reds would be wise to take advantage of that time as well.

Next: Who's headed out the door?

In the future Blandino projects like a right handed version of Scooter Gennett.  For a first round pick the Reds had higher hopes.  Then again, Blandino doesn’t turn 25 until this off-season.

Check out the report on Taylor Trammell: Here.