Cincinnati Reds youth are benefiting from the winter leagues

The Cincinnati Reds and the youth movement

The Cincinnati Reds are almost out of the Dark Ages. The team has gone through numerous losing seasons. But, they have helped themselves out by hitting on their draft picks and grooming the talent. With that said, the team looks like they’re turning things around. So, all the Reds need to do now is finish the rebuild and be conscious of their money.

Furthermore, this club has nowhere to go but up. They have had four losing seasons in a row, which accounted for 372 losses. But, that is a part of growing and adapting to a sport. The young guys will have to adjust to the league, not the other way around. The pitching staff is stocked with young arms. Road bumps are a part of the process.

This team as is probably won’t become the 2016 Cubs next year, but don’t count it out down the line. The franchise has worked hard on establishing a steady player development system that will sustain the team for the long haul. The front office has found something that works and has run with it. They can now focus on how to complement their homegrown talent when the time comes.

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The Cincinnati Reds winter league play

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A lot of professional baseball players hit the winter leagues. The time is utilized to hone their craft and stay and shape, while possibly improving their stock. With that said, the Reds have plenty of players there. The pitching side of the ball is lacking at the moment, but there are some key offensive contributors.  The first is breakout prospect, Jose Siri.

The outfielder came out of nowhere in most people’s eyes. After he hit a measly .145 in A-ball, the Reds sent him to rookie ball where he batted .320. That was a precursor for what was to come, as Siri hit .293 with 24 home runs and 76 RBIs at Dayton in 2017.

His stock has definitely risen after that and being on the top 100 prospects is a real jump. Siri uses his front leg as a timing mechanism to transition his power towards the ball. He is hitting .292 in 48 at bats in the Dominican Winter League.

Players wanting a second chance

Second up is second baseman Jose Peraza. The infielder hit .259 with 5 homers and 37 RBIs in 2017. Peraza also stole 23 bags to attain his above-average speed. The right-handed hitter has a .316 batting average in 38 games in the winter league. The second baseman makes a lot of contact, it’s just a matter of getting it past someone. He is able to be a threat on the base paths which make him a double-edged sword. Peraza just needs to get on base consistently.

Last but not least is outfield prospect Gabriel Guerrero. Also, he doesn’t rank in the Reds top 30 prospects yet. But, his recent success in the winter leagues could be a sign. In 134 at-bats, Guerrero is hitting .299 with 4 homers and 25 RBIs. He needs to be more patient at the plate, but overall the guy can hit the ball hard and has a powerful swing.

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Overall impact

The Reds have plenty of youth. What needs to happen now is for the kids to mature and gel as a team. The club has taken the right direction through the process, and now need to see players solidify their long-term place.