FanSided

Cincinnati Reds protect top prospects from Rule 5 draft

By Zach Houle |
MIAMI, FL - JULY 09: A.J. Puk
MIAMI, FL - JULY 09: A.J. Puk

The Cincinnati Reds young talent

The Cincinnati Reds have improved in the pipeline. Furthermore, the team has beefed up the farm system to one of the best in the league. Also, they have done well in grooming the talent and obtaining them. The club is short on impact talent, but they do have good depth throughout. This team has set themselves up for a consistency in the near future.

With that said, holding onto the prospects is also important. The organization is paying attention to a minor leaguer’s season no matter how big or how small. That may decide if they stay on the 40-man roster or not. Every year there are close calls. It may depend on the depth in the system, as well as how old a player is. If there is a 26-year-old that is struggling at Double-A, he’ll probably be booted off the 40-man.

So, there are certain instances where things can happen. It all comes down to the demand in the system, as well as how many spots are still open. For the Reds, they protected a duo of their top 10 prospects that weren’t on before. Let’s look into their production and their possible role in the future.

Cincinnati Reds minor league breakout

Jose Siri is a 22-year-old outfield prospect. According to MLB.com, he profiles as a “power and speed plus ridiculous athleticism mixed with a good dose of free-swinging tendencies.” Siri has shown that, due to his .293 batting average and 24 homers. He also swiped 46 bags. Even though it is A-ball, that is still very intriguing.

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Also from MLB.com about his plus speed and defense: “He’s a plus runner who has already shown the ability to steal bases and cover a ton of ground in the outfield. He plays a good defensive center field and has the kind of arm — he had 16 assists in 82 games in 2016 — to profile well in right, where he has seen some time as well.”

Siri has shown that he can do it all, it’s just a matter of honing the skills. My only concern for him, like many young players, is his ability to strikeout. He has fanned at a 23.6% clip in 2017. He needs to cut down on those if he wants to be successful in the MLB. Having all the talent in the world is nice, but having discipline is just as important. Siri is a very intriguing player, who looks to build on his breakout year.

The Cincinnati Reds infield prospect

More from Reds Prospects

The Reds have a ton of depth. What comes with that is an urgency to stick out amongst your peers. Shed Long has done well in that department. The second baseman hit .312 at the plate in Advanced A-ball. But, he struggled to finish the season in Double-A with an underwhelming .227 batting average. That number doesn’t rightfully show Long’s ability at the plate. His BAPIP shows a better story, with the lefty averaging .271 instead.  He is close to ready for his big league debut.

Here is MLB.com’s response to his offensive production: “While he’s a smaller guy at 5-foot-8, he has some thump in his bat. While he does strike out some, he also works counts and draws walks.” Long had 46 of them in 2017. The second baseman doesn’t throw at-bats away while hitting at a decent clip.

They also compare Long to Texas Rangers’ top prospect Willie Calhoun. He is a left-handed hitter with pop and average defense. The infielder is on his way to the Major leagues and is showing the tools to become a nice piece.

The Cincinnati Reds endgame

The Reds have a plethora of talent, that’s for sure. Their duty now is to protect and groom the young guys on their way to Cincinnati. Over the past couple year, they have done well in doing that. As a rebuilding team, the franchise is trending upward.

Next: Cody Reed doesn't figure in rotation plans

In due time, this team should be able to contend with the best in the National League Central. Just be a little more patient, Reds fans.

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