Happ: An unheralded recruit from a Pittsburgh-area high school, Happ almost certainly will become the highest-drafted player in Cincinnati history. The Bearcats never have had a player taken in the top two rounds, not even when big leaguers Kevin Youkilis, Josh Harrison and Tony Campana came through the program in the 2000s.

 

Happ ranked as the top position prospect in the prestigious Cape Cod League in each of his two summers in college. A switch-hitter who's better from the left side of the plate, he has good balance and controls the strike zone well. Add in some deceptive strength, and he should hit for average and power.

 

Happ played mostly second base in 2013 and does have solid speed and arm strength, so a pro team could try him in the infield. But he lacks smooth infield actions, hasn't played regularly on the dirt since his freshman year and fits best on an outfield corner.

 

Whitley: Niskayuna (N.Y.) High has produced an NFL wide receiver (Andre Davis) but never a baseball Draft pick, but that will change in 2015. Whitley emerged as a potential first-rounder with a succession of strong performances late in the summer on the showcase circuit. He lived up to that billing by continuing to swing a good bat as spring came to the Northeast.

 

Whitley has an advanced approach at the plate for a high schooler from a cold-weather state, and his strength and bat speed could produce above-average right-handed power. His pure speed is his best tool, grading as a legitimate plus.

 

Whitley's wheels also give him plenty of range in center field, and he has a better arm than most players at that position. He has committed to Wake Forest.

2015 MLB Mock Draft: Breaking Down Top Prospects and Predictions | Bleacher Report

 

This mock on bleacher report has the Reds taking Daz Cameron. Keith Law doesn't even have Cameron as a 1st Rounder in his latest mock, not due to his ability but due to signability concerns.

^Thanks for the those. Interesting.

 

I like the unheralded guys.

Stephenson's line for tonight for Pensacola.

 

 

8 IP 1 H. 0 ER. 1 BB 7 K

Stephenson's line for tonight for Pensacola.

 

 

8 IP 1 H. 0 ER. 1 BB 7 K

 

Love this. That's 3 straight starts where he's been dominant. Only needed 87 pitches to get thru 8 innings and his run was unearned. The hit he gave up was the second batter of the game, the unearned run came in the first inning as well, after that he was in cruise control with 22 straight retired without a hit.

 

Over his last 19.2 innings he has given up just 2 earned runs, 6 hits, 7 walks and he has struck out 28.

Edited June 5, 201511 yr by nkufan23

Jesse Winker went 2-4 with a double. Has a 4 game hitting streak, has to start somewhere.

 

Suarez hit .360 with 3 HR's over the last week.

 

Gavin Lavalley hit .417 over the last week with only 3 K's. He's got more upside than anyone in the organization.

 

Tyler Mahle made two starts last week, allowing just one run over 12.1 innings pitch with one walk and he struck out 17 batters. At just 20 years old he's climbing up the Reds ranks, he's one to watch out for and just another arm to add to the already strong group of Reds pitching prospects.

Stephenson's line for tonight for Pensacola.

 

 

8 IP 1 H. 0 ER. 1 BB 7 K

 

In his last 6 starts, Stephenson is 3-1 with a 1.70 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, .140 OBA, & 41 K's....

Love this. That's 3 straight starts where he's been dominant. Only needed 87 pitches to get thru 8 innings and his run was unearned. The hit he gave up was the second batter of the game, the unearned run came in the first inning as well, after that he was in cruise control with 22 straight retired without a hit.

 

Over his last 19.2 innings he has given up just 2 earned runs, 6 hits, 7 walks and he has struck out 28.

 

His hits to innings pitched ratio is awesome. If he learns, and hopefully he finally is, to consistently throw strikes, he can be really dominant.

His hits to innings pitched ratio is awesome. If he learns, and hopefully he finally is, to consistently throw strikes, he can be really dominant.

 

That's really all it is with him. If he can duplicate his delivery and control his pitches he will be one of the dominant young pitchers in the game. He's got two elite pitches in his fastball and curveball. His change up has improved greatly as well.

 

Here's a little vid I found on YouTube of all 3 of his pitches.

[video=youtube_share;1eWugZX6GVU]

Jesse Winker went 3-5 with 2 Doubles last night. He has been a doubles machine as of late and it's a good sign that is power may be coming on. He has a 5 game hitting streak going and has hit safely in 9 of his last 10 for a .317 AVG.

 

Kyle Waldrop went 2-4 and hit HR #6 , he also walked in the game.

 

Junior Arias went 3-5 and added his 13th SB of the year. He has had a strong season so far.

 

Alex Blandino went 1-2 with 3 walks.

 

Gavin LaValley went 3-6 with 2 doubles, a triple, 2 runs and 3 RBI. He has hit safely in 9 straight. The Reds 4th Rounder from last season is so raw but bursting with potential. For those that aren't aware his senior season of High School he batted .539 with 19 homers and 75 RBIs. Over his career he batted .516 with 54 home runs and 202 RBIs in 121 games. He is 20 years old and plays 3B.

Winker has 4 doubles in his last 3 games. He had 5 all season long before this stretch.

Winker is starting to get 100% healthy. I like what he's been able to do down in the minors

Winker went 1-4 last night to extend his hitting streak. His lone hit happened to be a triple though, he has been piling on the extra base hits which is good to see.

 

Barrett Astin went 7 innings while giving up 2 runs and striking out 3. He was the main piece acquired in the Broxton trade with the Brewers. He was the Brewers 3rd Round pick in 2013. To date he has put up a really nice season. 56 IP, 2.22 ERA, 42 K's, only 14 walks and he's given up 0 HR's. At the very least he looks to be a nice potential bullpen option down the road it he can keep it up.

Junior Arias went 2-4 with a double, home run (3), 2 runs and 2 RBI. In 26 games has scored 18 runs, driven in 17, stole 13 bases and posted an OPS of .761.

 

Yorman Rodriguez went 2-4 with a double and a run. He's hitting .314 over his last ten games. I'd much rather watch him in LF than Skip right now.

In last night games Yorman Rodriguez went 3-4 with 3 RBI's. He's starting to find a groove batting .371 over his last 35 AB's.

 

Suarez went 3-3 with a double, triple, 3 runs and 3 RBI. He fell a HR short of the cycle.

 

Keyvius Sampson continued his impressive season thus far firing 6 innings with 6 K's and 1 run allowed. He now sports a 1.85 ERA in 8 starts on the season. The Reds might have found a gem when they claimed this kid off waivers from the Padres, he was their 9th ranked prospect.