Cincinnati Reds 2018 awards: Minor League Player of the Year

As our end of the year awards wrap up, we take a look at the Cincinnati Reds Minor League Player of the Year. With several candidates to choose from it was not an easy selection, but we’re going with outfield prospect Taylor Trammell.

The Cincinnati Reds has several minor leaguers with successful seasons last year. Shed Long, Tony Santillan, and before his injury, Nick Senzel. But, Taylor Trammell has a phenomenal 2018 season and he showed the Reds that they have a potential All-Star on his way to the big leagues.

Trammell, the Reds No. 3 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, played at Advanced-A Daytona all season. In hindsight, the Reds could’ve challenged Trammell more and probably bumped him to Double-A Pensacola. Expect Trammell to start off the 2019 season with the Chattanooga Lookouts, Cincinnati’s new Double-A affiliate.

Trammell played in 110 games last season and hit .277. The left-hander smacked 8 home runs, 41 RBIs, and had an on-base percentage of .375. He also stole 25 bases. While Trammell’s average has dipped as he’s progressed through the minors, his OBP continues to climb.

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Trammell was named to the MLB Futures Game and participated with fellow Reds’ prospect, Hunter Greene. Trammell took home MVP honors in the game after hitting a home run and a triple in the game. Trammell’s three-bagger was nearly a round-tripper and the youngster was a bit embarrassed that he didn’t hustle harder around the bases and score an inside-the-parker.

Trammell not only shows promise at the dish, but he’s very good defensively as well. He currently plays centerfield, but would be an asset at any outfield position. He does not have a plus-arm, but his speed allows him to track down balls that other outfielders would not have a play on. He’s not Billy Hamilton, but few are even in Hamilton’s stratosphere defensively.

If Trammell can continue to cut down on his strikeouts and increase his walks, which he did in 2018, Trammell could be the perfect candidate for a leadoff hitter or at the very least hit in the No. 2 hole. Trammell will have to continue to work on his plate discipline next season.

Trammell was a two-sport athlete in high school but chose baseball over football and the Reds rewarded his decision with the 35th overall selection in the 2016 MLB Draft. Trammell is still at least a year, perhaps two, away from making his leap to play in the Major Leagues. But thus far, he’s been all the Cincinnati Reds could hope for and a whole lot more.