Jose Barrero homered for the second straight day in a Louisville extra-innings win, Michael Siani and TJ Hopkins set new career highs in home runs while Connor Curlis set a new career high in strikeouts in a start during the Lookouts loss, Jose Torres picked up three hits for Dayton.
If you are interested in getting emailed every day during the season with additional game notes and a rundown on how the Cincinnati Reds Top 25 Prospects performed (along with other perks) you can sign up to support the site through Patreon and get all of that for a few bucks a month. If that’s something that sounds interesting you can get more information here.
The Louisville Bats won 9-7 in 12. Box Score
- Donovan Solano (rehab) went 0-2 with a walk, a run, and he was hit by a pitch.
- Max Schrock (rehab) went 1-4.
- Jose Barrero went 2-6 with a home run (5), 2 runs, and 2 RBI.
- Cristian Santana went 1-6 with 2 RBI.
- Juniel Querecuto went 2-4 with a walk, run, and an RBI.
- Robbie Tenerowicz went 1-5 with a walk and a run.
- Ronnie Dawson went 2-3 with a double and a run.
- Trey Amburgey went 1-1 with a run, double, and an RBI.
- Eddy Demurias threw a shutout inning with a strikeout.
- Dauri Moreta threw a perfect inning.
- Ryan Hendrix threw a perfect inning.
- Matt Pidich was charged with 2 unearned runs in 3.0 innings with 5 strikeouts.
The Chattanooga Lookouts lost 5-2. Box Score
- Michael Siani went 1-4 with a solo home run (7).
- Matt McLain went 1-4.
- Isiah Gilliam went 1-3 with a double and a walk.
- TJ Hopkins went 2-4 with a home run (9).
- Connor Curlis allowed 2 earned in 6.0 innings with a walk and 13 strikeouts.
- JC Keys threw a hitless inning with a walk and 2 strikeouts.
The Dayton Dragons lost 7-2. Box Score
- Justice Thompson went 1-4.
- Elly De La Cruz went 1-3 with a walk and a steal (17).
- Rece Hinds went 1-4.
- Ruben Ibarra went 1-4 with a run.
- Nick Quintana went 1-3 with a walk.
- Jose Torres went 3-4 with a run scored.
- Garrett Wolforth went 1-3 with a walk and 2 RBI.
- Carson Rudd threw a perfect inning with a strikeout.
The Daytona Tortugas lost 5-1. Box Score
- Jay Allen II went 1-4 with a run.
- Jack Rogers went 1-4.
- Jamal O’Guinn went 1-4 with a double and an RBI.
- Michel Triana went 1-4.
- Tyler Callihan went 1-4 with a steal.
- Daniel Vellojin went 1-3 with a walk.
- Fidel Castro went 1-4.
- Javi Rivera threw a shutout inning with a strikeout.
- Ryan Cardona allowed a run in 3.0 innings with 2 walks and a strikeout.
ACL Reds had the day off
DSL Reds lost 4-1. Box Score
- Diego Omana went 2-3 with a double and a run.
- Carlos Sanchez went 1-3 with a steal.
- Eddy Isturiz went 1-3.
- David Lorduy was charged with 2 earned in 4.0 innings with 4 walks and 3 strikeouts.
- Vladimir Davila was charged with an unearned run in 3.0 innings with 3 strikeouts.
6/16 Game Preview
| Team | Record | Time (ET) | Probable | Box Score | Listen | Watch |
| Louisville | 23-38 | 6:35pm | Nicolino | Here | Here | Here |
| Chattanooga | 31-28 | 7:15pm | Spiers | Here | Here | Here |
| Dayton | 37-21 | 7:35pm | Phillips | Here | Here | Here |
| Daytona | 24-33 | 4:00pm | Fransen/TBA | Here | Here | N/A |
| AZL Reds | 6-1 | 9:00pm | TBA | Here | N/A | N/A |
| DSL Reds |
4-5 | 10:30am | TBA | Here | N/A | N/A |
That’s a pretty crazy stat about Hopkins and Siani already with career highs.
Petty throwing the 2nd game for Daytona tomorrow or will he be used in relief like he has before?
He’s listed as the starter, so expect him to start.
Back to back multi hit games with HR in each! Barrero might be back very soon. Bring Schrock up now, and Solano before we go to San Francisco.
Nice to see Torres with a 3 hit game, he and McLain need to come back to life soon.
Do you feel Barrero is ready?
Currently Farmer is four-hole hitter. I really do not know where Berrero plays. Certainly won’t move Farmer to third to displace Drury, who is probably the team All Star.Don’t even know who comes off the roster to reinstate these guys 40-man or 26-man.
Unless Baseball-Reference is incorrect, Farmer has not hit 4th a single time this season. He’s hit 3rd once and 5th 15 times.
The biggest hole offensively for the Reds right now is CF where Senzel is sporting an OPS+ of 44. The Reds tried Barrero in CF last season he looked fine there, but he’s playing exclusively at SS in Louisville. I’d suggest promoting Barrero to play CF and optioning Senzel would be prudent, but they should give Barrero some time to get comfortable in CF before making the change. The Reds and Senzel need to take some time to try and figure out why he can no longer hit. The minors are the best place for that.
The Reds need a upgrade at SS. Sorry, but Farmer is just abysmal there. You don’t put a potential SS glove in CF. That is where Castillo comes in.
@Greg, I don’t really know what the right answer is. As I stated, the Reds aren’t playing Barrero at CF right now, so they don’t seem to like my suggestion and they know way more about each player than I do.
That said, barring an injury, Farmer will be in the Red’s lineup, and he absolutely belongs–he’s an above average hitter (OPS+ 107), and his defensive metrics at SS are positive both last year and this year. He’s also a key leader in the clubhouse. While he doesn’t have to stay at SS, he’s going to play nearly every day, and I can understand Bell’s reluctance to displace a productive player with a top prospect.
Barrero has had a couple of great days in a row. If he continues to hit like he did last year, he’ll force the issue. The holes on the big league roster are C, DH, CF and RF. As injured players return, C, DH, and RF should improve. Unless Senzel turns it around, CF seems like the biggest hole in the everyday lineup.
I expect Farmer to be traded to
open the way for Barrero. If Barrero fails, Reynolds can certainly cover SS this year and/or one of the other hotshot middle infielders can emerge. I like Farmer and root for him. But he’ll likely never be more valuable and Barrero will benefit without having to look over his shoulder. It’s just the right baseball move. It also benefits Farmer by going to a better team and likely one who will give him the extension he will never get here. Sad but true. If only for Farmer’s sake, it’s likely his one chance to get a good contract.
It will be interesting to see how the Reds handle the trade deadline. I think there will be “buyers” for Farmer, Pham, and Drury, but I wonder if the returning players will be enough to get the Reds to bite.
– Pham has the best track record and the Reds owe him the most money. He’s also a FA after this season. I don’t see the Reds turning down whatever the best offer is.
– Drury doesn’t have the sustained performance but is inexpensive and is also a FA after this season. Probably makes sense to take the best offer.
– Farmer has two more years of arbitration after this one. He doesn’t have the track record to warrant huge raises. He’s defensively versatile and brings a lot of intangibles. I can envision scenarios where the Reds prefer to keep him.
Sorry 5-hole
@BK, I agree about the limited trade value of Farmer, Pham, Drury, Reynolds, Hoffman, Cessa. These guys are trade for Cash types. To get value out of them, these guys that would need to become apart of a larger trade that includes either Castillo or Mahle.
I wouldn’t be in a rush to trade Farmer or Drury, but if they helped bring back the right prospects alongside Castillo or Mahle, I’d do it.
@Greg, Eric Davis and Billy Hamilton made fine defensive OF, even if they were only converted SS’s.
BK, I think Farmer brings more more than cash, although ownership may prefer cash in their pockets. Well, not may, they will. But he’s had a decent 1.5 year run at a position of greater value than LF or 2/3B. Seeing we do not have a 3B, at least until one of the minor leaguers arrives and not counting Moose), Drury may stick around. Bob likes his media successes. Same can be said of Farmer, too. So who knows. Not me. I just want a clear pathway for Barrero or whoever ifs following
Elly is currently hitting over 0.300 but K’s over 1/3 of his plate appearances. That doesn’t seem like a likely combination.
Schrock kind of reminds me of Hatteberg, as a guy who didn’t really get a chance to play much in the majors until his late 20’s, plays 1B with minimal power, and would probably slash about 270 / 320 / 440.
I assume Barrero won’t be coming up any time soon. After Farmer began the year hitting below 0.200, he’s been hitting 0.397 over the past couple of weeks. Meaning Bell won’t be sitting Farmer to let Barrero play. And with Drury suddenly becoming a power hitter, it’s not like Bell will slide Farmer to 3B to let Barrero get playing time. Short of Farmer getting hurt, or going 0 for 40, I don’t see them calling up Barrero to watch games from the bench.
And yet, it’s unlikely Barrero will rot in Louisville all season either. Something has to give…..trade the 31 year old with the career 80 OPS+ and get on with the business of building the next playoff team!
Javier Baez might be a comp for Elly? High strikeouts, but lots of pop and sterling defense at a premium position–an atypical way for a middle infielder to provide above average value, but just as valid.
I’d prefer Xander Bogaerts, better temperament.
Linder would be a nice ceiling.
Schrock was sent on this rehab assignment on May 28th. By my count that was 19 days ago. His rehab is up tomorrow, so the Reds’ll have a move to make.
I almost get more excited when Elly walks than when he homers. Needs to work on that a bit IMO.
Marinan clears waivers and outrighted. Think he should be moved full time to the bullpen.
He’s halfway there.
Doug,
You’re skills are unparalleled. Love this content. I came across your Twitter. You’re an absolute psychopath. Insane. Like split personality.
I love it. Keep on rocking, bro.
^your