July 28, 201511 yr Author 4) Tyler Stephenson-C Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50 With scouts bemoaning the lack of catching depth in the Draft class of 2015, Stephenson's emergence was a pleasant surprise. He became the consensus best backstop available, even being mentioned as a potential No. 1 pick, and was the first catcher taken, No. 11 overall by the Reds, who gave him a bonus that matched full pick value of just over $3.1 million. Stephenson is quite advanced for a high schooler. His strong hands and arm translate into quality receiving and throwing skills, and he has surprising agility for a 6-foot-4, 210-pounder. Stephenson's combination of strength, bat speed and loft in his right-handed swing translate into huge raw power. There are some concerns about his ability to make contact against pro-level pitching, however, because his swing can get long. His frame and skills remind scouts of Matt Wieters and the Reds can only hope he develops into the same kind of big league catcher in the future.
July 28, 201511 yr Author 7) Blake Trahan-SS Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 30 | Run: 65 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50 Louisiana was a good place to go looking for college shortstops in the 2015 Draft, with LSU's Alex Bregman going No. 2 overall to the Astros and Trahan, the Louisiana-Lafayette product, going to the Reds in the third round, beating alum Jonathan Lucroy by 17 spots as the highest-drafted position player ever from the school. Though he played third and second base in deference to Bregman on the U.S. collegiate national team last summer, Trahan is capable of sticking at shortstop in pro ball. He has range to both sides, reliable hands and a strong arm. He tends to flip sidearm throws to first base, however, costing him some zip and accuracy. Trahan has well above-average speed but sometimes gets too power-conscious, which leads to swing and misses and harmless flyouts. He'll need to improve his pitch recognition and learn to tone down his approach to take better advantage of his quickness.
July 28, 201511 yr Author 8) Cody Reed-LHP Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 50 Reed went from throwing in the mid-80s in high school to reaching the mid-90s after two years at Northwest Mississippi CC, earning him a second-round selection and $1,198,500 bonus in the 2013 Draft. Even after going 3-10, 5.62 in his first two pro seasons, he undeniably had one of the highest ceilings among Royals pitching prospects and he had begun taking significant steps toward reaching it in 2015 when the Reds acquired him as part of a three-player package for Johnny Cueto at the Trade Deadline. Reed works with a 90-94 mph fastball that peaks at 96 and has some sinking and cutting action. He has greatly improved his changeup this season, and at times it's his second-best offering. Reed always had the athleticism to repeat his delivery but struggled to do so before 2015. Now he's more aggressive and filling the strike zone with ease, showing the potential to become a mid-rotation starter with three solid-or-better pitches.
July 28, 201511 yr Author 9) Antonio Santillan-RHP Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 50 The most electric arm in the state of Texas for the 2015 Draft, Santillan didn't show a ton of feel for harnessing his stuff until late in the season. It was enough for the Reds to take him in the second round and sign him away from Texas Tech with a bonus slightly above pick value. Santillan has a strong 6-foot-3, 240-pound frame and a very quick arm, and when he keeps his mechanics under control he looks like a future ace. Santillan can work at 93-95 mph fastball and hit 98, with some late life when he keeps it down in the zone. His curveball can be a true 12-to-6 hammer and reach the mid-80s. The problem is that Santillan can't hold his delivery together, often flying open and overthrowing. That causes his fastball to straighten out and his curve to lose its shape, and prevents him from keeping either pitch near the strike zone. He has yet to show much aptitude for throwing a changeup.
July 28, 201511 yr Author 15) Tanner Rainey-RHP Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45 After two years as a little-used two-way player at Southeastern Louisiana, Rainey transferred to West Alabama. He went undrafted as a junior first baseman/closer, and was one of the first seniors taken in 2015 when the Reds signed him for more than $400,000 below pick value at the start of Competitive Balance Round B. Rainey ranked among the NCAA Division II leaders in home runs and slugging percentage, but his future is on the mound. He was working at 93-95 mph and reaching 97 with his fastball. His 82-86 slider gives him a second plus pitch at times, though it can get slurvy. Rainey has a physical, durable frame that allows him to maintain his velocity even when he pitches on consecutive days. He has a decent delivery that he repeats well, allowing him to throw strikes. He'll probably be a late-inning reliever in pro ball, though he flashes an average changeup in bullpen sessions and could get a look as a starter, especially given the Reds' penchant for developing college relievers into rotation members.
July 28, 201511 yr Author 20) John Lamb-LHP Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Cutter: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45 Lamb has dealt with more adversity than most prospects, beginning with fracturing his elbow in an auto accident as a high school senior and dropping to the fifth round of the 2008 Draft. He recovered to develop into one of the game's top lefty pitching prospects, only to blow out his elbow in 2011. He hasn't fully reclaimed the stuff he had prior to Tommy John surgery, but he has reinvented himself and was thriving in his third try at Triple-A when he was dealt to Cincinnati as part of a three-player package for Johnny Cueto at the Trade Deadline. Though Lamb still can hit 96 mph on occasion, he has lost a couple of ticks off his fastball and usually works from 89-93. His changeup isn't the weapon it once was, so he has come up with a low-80s cutter to keep right-handers at bay. He also has a soft curveball that wasn't much of a factor before he got hurt. After battling his control and command in his first two Triple-A stints, Lamb has thrown more strikes and was doing a better job of keeping the ball down in the zone in 2015. He won't be the frontline starter he once projected to be, but he could help the Reds in the near future.
July 28, 201511 yr Author 24) Ian Kahaloa-RHP Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45 A year ago, Kodi Medeiros was a high school pitcher from Hawaii who ended up going in the first round of the Draft. Kahaloa didn't do quite as well, but the Reds liked him to select and sign him in the fifth round of the 2015 Draft. Early in the spring Kahaloa opened eyes by firing fastballs up to 96-97 mph. He's shown the ability to sit in the 93-94 mph range with good movement, though his overall stuff has been a bit inconsistent. He flashes a solid slider at times, and like with many young pitchers, his changeup is a work in progress, though he shows some feel for it. He's generally around the plate, though his overall command needs to be refined. Kahaloa isn't the biggest guy in the world, but he's strong and athletic, leaving little concern about durability.
July 28, 201511 yr Author Winker moved ahead of Stephenson as the Reds #1 prospect. Winker is more of a sure thing. He reminds me some of a young Joey Votto. While he started out slow and his power numbers are low he still sports a nice OBP. Stephenson still has some big concerns with his control but his arm is elite, I think he will work his way thru the control issues.
July 29, 201511 yr I'd be anxious to see where the Reds system ranks after the trades are completed and with the recent draft. They have 3 top 100 guys now which is very nice. With 30 teams 3 in the top 100 should be about average shouldn't it?
July 29, 201511 yr Author Final line for Stephenson tonight... 8IP, 3H, 1BB, 10K, 0ER He moves to 4-0 in AAA with a 2.40 ERA. Hasn't allowed a run in his last 2 starts spanning 14 innings.
July 29, 201511 yr Author With 30 teams 3 in the top 100 should be about average shouldn't it? Without looking I'd say it's about average but certainly better than 2. It's especially nice when the guy you took as a raw pitcher and 2 sport athlete late in the draft pans out and develops into a top 100 guy. After looking just inside the division the Cubs have 5, Pirates have 5, Brewers have 2 and the Cardianls have 3. Top 100 guys don't determine the overall ranking of a farm system but it's nice to have guys that are evaluated that highly. Bleacher report after updating their rankings following the draft had the Reds system at 13 ahead of the Brewers and Cardinals but behind the Cubs and Pirates in the division. With the emergence of Garrett as a top 100 guy and the acquisition of Lamb and Reed who still qualify as prospects I'd say the Reds have moved up quite a bit. Depending on who else they acquire if any I'd say they finish with a system inside the top 10.
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