John Sickels top 20 Reds prospects

www.minorleagueball.com

2007 Cincinnati Reds Prospects

1. Homer Bailey, RHP, Grade A (one of the top three pitching prospects in baseball)
   
2. Jay Bruce, OF, Grade A- (strong tools with developing skills)
   
3. Joey Votto, 1B, Grade B+ (breakthrough looks real to me)
   
4. Johnny Cueto, RHP, Grade B- (overlooked prospect with a live arm)
   
5. Drew Stubbs, OF, B- (outstanding tools but doubts about his bat are legit)
   
6. Travis Wood, LHP, B- (loss of velocity this year is not a good marker, but his numbers are good)
   
7. Sean Watson, RHP, C+ (results don't seem to match his tools)
   
8. Chris Valaika, INF, C+ (hit well in the Pioneer League, but he was a college guy)
   
9. Sam LeCure, RHP, C+ (possible fourth/fifth starter type)
   
10. Milton Loo, 3B, C+ (another tools guy with a bat but a long way away)
    
11. Paul Janish, SS, C (excellent glove, bat prevents him from being a better prospect)
    
12. Jon Coutlangus, LHP, C (useful bullpen spare part)
    
13. Calvin Medlock, RHP, C (useful bullpen spare part)
    
14. Brendan Harris, INF, C (useful infield spare part)
    
15. Tyler Pelland, LHP, C (good arm but more thrower than pitcher)
    
16. Chris Dickerson, OF, C (useful outfield spare part, good glove)
    
17. Brad Salmon, RHP, C (useful bullpen spare part)
    
18. David Shafer, RHP, C (useful bullpen spare part)
    
19. Daryl Thompson, RHP, C (live arm, recovering from shoulder trouble)
    
20. B.J. Szymanski, OF, C (status is slipping quickly due to contact problems)

Others of Note: Jamie Arneson, LHP; Danny Dorn, OF; Phil Dumatrait, LHP; Carlos Fisher, RHP; Jerry Gil, OF-INF; Josh Hamilton, OF; Norris Hopper, OF: Derek Lutz, RHP; Javon Moran, OF; Josh Ravin, RHP; Justin Reed, OF; Jordan Smith, RHP.

The Reds In One Sentence: This system has two future stars in Bailey and Bruce, two very good prospects in Votto and Cueto, then a bunch of questionmarks and spare parts.

Obviously this system is weak right now. The Grade C guys are all interchangeable on the list depending on what you want to emphasize. I know everyone is all gaga over Josh Hamilton being picked in the Rule 5 draft, and he will be in the book, but the guy has so much rust accumulated that I am skeptical about his ability to do much.

Josh Ravin needs to be ranked, 96 MPH FB and 2 other commandable pitches. Javon Moran has done nothing bit hit .330 since he got to the Reds, to have BJ Szymanski rated over him is an absolute joke.