Yesterday kicked off the 2014 Top 25 Cincinnati Reds prospects list. Today we will be looking at the guys who come in at #16-20 list. On Friday there will also be a chat to discuss the list, though I will also answer some questions each day in the comments section. All listed ages are the official age during the season, which is calculated by their age as of June 30th of the playing year. Subscribers will get to see the best tool for each player.
20. Chad Rogers | Right Handed Pitcher | 2013 Teams: Pensacola Blue Wahoos & Louisville Bats
Acquired: 28th Round, 2010 Draft | Height: 5′ 11″ | Weight: 205 lbs. | Age: 23
Rogers began 2013 doing what he ended 2012 doing; dominating the Southern League for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. He posted a 2.20 ERA in 69.2 innings before earning a promotion to Louisville where he had a 4.22 ERA in 70.1 innings. His strikeout rate at Louisville was the lowest of his career and his home run rate was the highest of his career.
| Team | W | L | ERA | SV | IP | H | HR | BB | K | WHIP | BB% | K% | K/BB |
| Pensacola | 3 | 2 | 2.20 | 0 | 69.2 | 47 | 5 | 26 | 55 | 1.05 | 9.4% | 19.9% | 2.1 |
| Louisville | 5 | 5 | 4.22 | 0 | 70.1 | 66 | 9 | 19 | 48 | 1.21 | 6.5% | 16.4% | 2.5 |
| Total | 8 | 7 | 3.21 | 0 | 140.0 | 113 | 14 | 45 | 103 | 1.13 | 7.9% | 18.1% | 2.3 |
19. Gabriel Rosa | Outfield | 2013 Teams: Billings Mustangs
Acquired: 2nd Round, 2010 Draft | Height: 6′ 4″ | Weight: 185 lbs. | Age: 19
After a disastrous 2012 season that he tried playing with a hip injury that led to him being shut down, Rosa returned to Billings. He made the transition to the outfield in 2013. While his line of .211/.327/.339 isn’t much to write home about, he showed steps forward in plate discipline and showed off good tools.
| Team | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Billings | 211 | 180 | 29 | 38 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 23 | 13 | 2 | 25 | 46 | .211 | .327 | .339 |
18. Seth Mejias-Brean | Third Base | 2013 Teams: Dayton Dragons & Bakersfield Blaze
Acquired: 8th Round, 2012 Draft | Height: 6′ 2″ | Weight: 216 lbs. | Age: 22
Mejias-Brean spent time at both third and first base during 2013, but moving forward he should be viewed as a third baseman. After a slow start in April, Mejias-Brean hit .327/.396/.504 from May through the end of the season. He showed off strong plate discipline throughout the year and was very steady on both sides of the ball once April ended.
| Team | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Dayton | 545 | 479 | 70 | 146 | 35 | 3 | 10 | 79 | 3 | 2 | 55 | 83 | .305 | .381 | .453 |
| Bakersfield | 13 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .308 | .308 | .615 |
| Total | 558 | 492 | 73 | 150 | 36 | 3 | 11 | 82 | 4 | 2 | 55 | 83 | .305 | .379 | .457 |
17. Aristides Aquino | Outfield | 2013 Teams: Arizona League Reds & Billings Mustangs
Acquired: International Free Agent, 2011 | Height: 6′ 4″ | Weight: 190 lbs. | Age: 19
After two years of OPS’ing under .600 in the Dominican Summer League Aquino broke out for the Arizona League Reds where he hit .278/.325/.479 before getting a promotion to Billings for the final two weeks of the season. His strikeout-to-walk ratio was iffy in Arizona and very poor in Billings and will need to improve moving forward.
| Team | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Reds | 209 | 194 | 37 | 54 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 38 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 40 | .278 | .325 | .479 |
| Billings | 70 | 66 | 13 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 22 | .212 | .229 | .394 |
| Total | 279 | 260 | 50 | 68 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 48 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 62 | .262 | .301 | .458 |
16. Jose Ortiz | Catcher | 2013 Teams: Billings Mustangs
Acquired: 17th Round, 2012 Draft | Height: 5′ 11″ | Weight: 205 lbs. | Age: 19
After getting a late start to 2012 and tearing up the Arizona League for two weeks to end the season the Reds sent Ortiz to Billings for 2013. He got off to a great start, hitting .305/.370/.585 through July before slumping some over the final six weeks of the season. He hit .333/.385/.690 on the road during the season and struggled mightily at home.
| Team | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Billings | 186 | 164 | 21 | 43 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 42 | .262 | .321 | .494 |
Scouting Notes
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20. Chad Rogers
Best tool: Slider. Rogers has an above-average slider that has good biting action and is a pitch that he can throw for strikes.
19. Gabriel Rosa
Best tool: Power. While Rosa hit just 6 home runs during 2013, five of them came on the road with just one coming at home in a pitcher friendly Dehler Park. He shows above-average power potential.
18. Seth Mejias-Brean
Best tool: Defense. While I didn’t name him as the best defensive infielder in the system, he is among the best with outstanding range, reaction time and a strong arm at third base.
17. Aristides Aquino
Best tool: Power. While Aquino has several big tools his power may be his best where he shows off big bat speed and gets outstanding leverage. He has plus power potential.
16. Jose Ortiz
Best tool: Power. Ortiz has above-average to plus raw power and he can flash off big power at times already with light tower home runs.
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