21. Tyler Pelland - LHP - Louisville
Pelland started the season in Chattanooga, where he pitched at last year. He would begin the year as a starting pitcher, but after about a month, he was moved to the bullpen. In 35 games with Chattanooga he allowed 63 hits and 32 walks in 66 innings while striking out 71 batters. He was then promoted to Louisville where he made 19 more appearances and he thrived out of the bullpen. He posted a 3.04 ERA in 23.2 innings where he allowed 17 hits, 7 walks and he struck out 27 batters (who hit just .213 against him). A transition to the bullpen allows the lefty to rear back and put a little more on his mid 90s fastball and he could realistically help the Reds very soon out of the bullpen.

   
22. Sam Lecure - RHP - Chattanooga
Lecure missed part of the season with an oblique strain, which limited him to just 115 innings this past season after throwing 140 last year. Playing the entire season (minus 1 rehab start) for the Lookouts, Lecure had his ups and downs as he went 7-5 with a 4.17 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 110 innings. Lecure throws in the low 90s with a good slider and a change up, but he saw his control leave a little bit this season. I would expect him to return to Chattanooga next season, but with a good start, see Louisville early on in the season. 

 

23. Carlos Fisher - RHP - Chattanooga
Fisher began his season with the Sarasota Reds, but after 7 starts and a 2.20 ERA he was promoted to Chattanooga. Using his low 90s sinker, Fisher is a groundball pitcher who still gets plenty of strikeouts. Fisher saw his ERA jump to 4.29 while in Chattanooga, but he also experienced some bad luck thanks to a .350 BABIP. While Fisher may look a little old to just be reaching AA, lets not forget that he was not a pitcher until his junior year in college. Like Lecure, I would expect he begins back in Chattanooga, but could get a quick call to Louisville with some success early on.

 

24. Scott Carroll - RHP - Billings
The Reds selected Carroll in the 3rd round of this past years draft. He has a low 90s fastball but has thrown in the mid 90s at times in the past. He also brings two versions of a splitter to the table, one that kind of runs on hitters and another version that is more straight but works like a change up to right handed batters. He also has a curveball, but it needs work before it is even an average pitch. Carroll only threw 15.1 innings while in Billings and he allowed 14 hits, 5 walks and struck out 15 batters while posting a 2.93 ERA. I could see him starting in Sarasota next season due to his polish and his age, although Dayton could certainly be the landing spot for him.

   
25. Marcus McBeth - RHP - Cincinnati
McBeth is a little old to be on these lists, but given the fact that he is a converted outfielder with good stuff out of the bullpen with very little experience. He ’struggled’ in Cincinnati, but I really think that is a sample size issue. His numbers in AAA and his numbers in Cincinnati look pretty similar, but there was a 3.40 difference in ERA. I don’t think he is nearly that bad. He could start in either the Louisville or Cincinnati bullpen next year depending on how well he does in Spring Training.

 

26. Daryl Thompson - RHP - Sarasota
Thompson started the year in Dayton but jumped out to a quick 5-0 start with a 0.96 ERA in 5 starts and was sent to Sarasota. Once in Sarasota he went 9-5 with a 3.77 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 105 innings. He finished the season with a 3.18 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 133 innings. I would expect him to be starting next season in Chattanooga.

 

27. Evan Hildenbrandt - RHP - DNP in '07
Hildenbrandt was signed near the deadline and due to that, did not play in the regular season. The Canadian Junior National Team member was selected in the 6th round by the Reds, but dropped a bit due to signability reasons. The scouting reports on him have his fastball hitting 93 MPH and an inconsistent curveball that has shown the ability to be an above average pitch at times. Big pitchers body that he could pack some weight onto still (6′4″ and 190 Lbs).

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28. Craig Tatum - C - Chattanooga
Tatum hit like crazy in the first half of the season in the FSL as he posted a .320/.348/.525 line before earning a promotion to AA Chattanooga. Once in Chattanooga Tatum hit a wall a little bit as he posted just a .231/.299/.335 line over 170 at bats as his power dropped off the table. He is an athletic catcher who plays good defense but has a few questions about his bat. It will be interesting to see where Tatum ends up at, as the catching situation could take some time to play out in spring training.

 

29. Jose Castro - SS - Chattanooga
Acquired in the Jeff Conine trade to the Mets, Castro only played 13 games in the system, all in Chattanooga at the age of 20. Combined between High A and AA he hit .312/.357/.378. He doesn't have much power and he doesn't walk a ton either, but he rarely strikes out and he plays solid defense at SS. He was one of the youngest players to spend time in Chattanooga last season.

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30. Chris Heisey - OF - Sarasota
Heisey was drafted out of Messiah College in 2006 as a 17th rounder. He began his year in Dayton where he would hit .289/.350/.436 with 19 steals and 35 extra base hits. He was promoted to Sarasota at the end of July but only got to play in 12 games before getting injured. In those 12 games he would hit .349 and steal another 3 bases. He hits lefties and righties almost exactly the same and plays very good defense in the outfield.

 

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