Cincinnati Reds Top 25 Prospect List: 21-25

It’s that time of year again. Prospect ranking time. Every day this week we are going to unveil five more spots on the list as we work our way through the Cincinnati Reds Top 25 Prospect List for the 2016 season. You can see the entire list (once it’s published in it’s entirety) here.

Subscribers will get to see the top ranking tool for each player. All ages listed are as of June 30th of the past season and is the official “age” of a player during the 2015 season.

On Friday afternoon there will be an All Questions Answered thread to take on any questions about the list.

*To be eligible for the list a player must have 2015 Rookie of the Year eligibility (Fewer than 130 at bats in the big leagues, fewer than 50 innings pitches or more than 45 days on the active MLB roster that doesn’t include September)*

21. Gavin LaValley | 3B | Age: 20

2015 Team: Dayton Dragons | Acquired: 4th Round, 2014 Draft | Height: 6′ 3″ | Weight: “235” lbs

Gavin LaValley’s listed weight is 235 lbs., but that was his weight as the season began. He dropped weight throughout the season as he has continued to slim down since his time in high school. The year got out to a very rough start for the 20-year-old, who was hitting .224 with a 29% strikeout rate through the end of May. He really turned things around from there, hitting .292 moving forward while lowering his strikeout rate to 17%.

22. Tanner Rainey | RHP | Age: 22

2015 Team: Billings Mustangs | Acquired: 2nd Round, 2015 Draft | Height: 6′ 2″ | Weight: 235 lbs

The Cincinnati Reds selected Tanner Rainey with the second of the 2nd round picks in the 2015 draft. The right hander joined the rotation for the Billings Mustangs. He got out to a rough start, posting a 6.75 ERA through his first six starts. After that he was able to adjust and posted a 3.24 ERA over his final nine starts of the season while striking out 39 batters in 41.2 innings pitched.

23. Tejay Antone | RHP | Age: 22

2015 Team: Dayton Dragons | Acquired: 5th Round, 2014 Draft | Height: 6′ 4″ | Weight: 205 lbs

Tejay Antone got out to a strong start, posting a 2.95 ERA through his first 18 starts with just 17 walks and 77 strikeouts in 110.0 innings. While his ERA improved over the final seven weeks of the season he may have tired out some as he walked 16 batters with just 24 strikeouts over the final 48.0 innings of the season. His groundball rate was over 61% on the season, helping him keep the ball in the ballpark, allowing just two home runs all season long.

24. Jake Turnbull | C | Age: 17

2015 Team: AZL Reds | Acquired: Free Agent signing, 2014 | Height: 6′ 0″ | Weight: 195 lbs

Whenever a 17-year-old gets significant playing time in the United States, it’s noteworthy. The Reds sent Jake Turnbull to the rookie complex where he played in 35 games for the AZL Reds and hit an impressive .291/.395/.373 while playing catcher. He walked 17 times with 31 strikeouts in 129 plate appearances, more than holding his own at the plate despite a very young age. He also threw out 41% of opposing base stealers on the season.

25. Jacob Constante | LHP | Age: 21

2015 Team: Billings Mustangs | Acquired: Free Agent signing, 2013 | Height: 6′ 4″ | Weight: 215 lbs

The season got out to a rough start for the left hander, struggling through July with 24 walks and 26 strikeouts and an ERA of 6.03. Over the final six weeks of the season he was able to turn things around. In August and September he posted a 1.06 ERA in 34.0 innings while cutting his walk rate down significantly and striking out 32 batters. He also posted one of the best groundball rates in the system.

Top Tools

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Gavin LaValley | With all of his weight loss, there’s some concern that he’s lost some of his power potential, but it still remains his top tool.

Tanner Rainey | His fastball has touched 97 MPH at times in 2015, making his fastball his top tool to work with.

Tejay Antone | The breaking ball flashes itself as an above-average offering and is the best of his pitches.

Jake Turnbull | For such a young age he’s already showing off good hitting skills with his hit tool being the best of his tools.

Jacob Constante | His sinking fastball generates huge groundball rates and brings above-average velocity.

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