José Torres picked up the Low-A Southeast Hitter of the Month award for September. That gives the Daytona Tortugas three different player of the month honors this past season. Pitchers James Proctor (May) and Bryce Bonnin (July) were named Pitcher of the Month in the league earlier in the season.
When the Cincinnati Reds drafted José Torres in the 3rd round of this summer’s draft, the team initially sent him (and all other draft picks) to the complex in Arizona where they would get their feet wet with the Arizona Complex League Reds. For Torres is was a rather short stay. The shortstop would play in just three games there before joining Daytona on August 18th.
His first full month would be an award winning one. During September José Torres would play in 16 games with Daytona and hit .404/.446/.684. Most of his games came at shortstop, but Torres did play in a few games as the Tortugas designated hitter. He had 4 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs, 5 steals, and 14 RBI during the month. That production turned enough heads in the league to get him the nod for Hitter of the Month in September for the league.
Coming out of the draft, José Torres was known more for his glove than his bat. Part of that could be that he was considered the best defensive shortstop in the entire draft. It’s easier to overlook the bat at times when someone stands out so much on the other side of the ball. In college he hit .300/.349/.533 in 69 games with NC State between the 2020 and 2021 seasons. While there may have been some doubters about how much he would hit as a professional, Torres did his best to silence those doubts with his debut. In his 28 games this season he hit .333/.387/.590 with 10 walks and 19 strikeouts between his two stops during the year.
I like it, shows some backbone. He came out and hit with authority. Maybe we’ve got a similar profile to Zach Cozart on our hands. Wouldn’t that be something.
I see many complaints about the Reds’ management, but there should be no complaints about the scouting. This year’s draft class looks impressive.
Jose Torres is looking like one of four great picks in the 2021 draft. To get McLain with pick 17 was huge. Jay Allen may turn out to be the best player in the draft. Thomas Farr had a problem throwing strikes in college. But may the Reds saw something because he has had 1 BB in 10 IP. A 2.6% BB% together with a 35.9% K% and a 98 MPH fastball make for the potential of a great prospect and a steal in the 6th round.
That leaves just Jose Torres. His BABIP (.364) at Daytona may suggest a little luck but his adjusted BABIP (.300) indicates little to no luck. His BB% of 7.5% was decent as well as his 15.9% K%. His ISO of .231 very good. All indication are everything he did in Daytona was talent based. In comparing him to Matt McLain their ISO in 2021 (in college) were about the same. But for his college career Torres had a greater ISO. That indicates a potential for more power than McLain. That said his bat is not as good as McLain. But at least thus far, this looks like a great pick.
There once was a time when this system was void of SS prospects.
This year Barrero, McLain, Ivan Johnson, Jose Torres, Elly De La Cruz, Leonardo Balcazar and Carlos Jorge are all top prospects who played SS this year. In fact 3 of them should place in Doug’s top 6 prospects when he creates his list. Barrero, McLain and Elly De La Cruz have appeared in top 100 prospect lists in the past year.
Miguel Hernandez and Leonardo Rivas need to be included on that list as well. Have to believe Alf Rod will be gone as a Free Agent this off season.
Agreed MK. Hernandez was a top 25 prospect 2 years ago. It will be interesting to see where the prospect go next spring.
I think McLain heads to AA. Ivan Johnson stays in Dayton and is joined by Jose Torres. Elly De La Cruz stays in Daytona. Leonardo Balcazar and Carlos Jorge stay in AZ. Newly signed Ricado Cabrera should man SS in the DSL.
It is time for Jose Barrero to play everyday in the majors. I don’t think Hernandez is ready for AAA. It will be interesting to see if they push Hernandez to AAA because they want McLain to play every day in AA. Hopefully they will move Hernandez to 2B and keep him in AA.
I forgot to include Braylin Minier. Billings would be perfect for him. Maybe he stays in AZ one more year.
I think Ivan Johnson could get a shot in AA starting next season
You may be right. His K% was so high when at Dayton I felt that he may repeat with the option of being promoted in season. He is in the instructionals and is also in the Arizona fall league.