Yesterday we took a look at the pitchers that will be making their stateside debut in minor league spring training with the Reds. Today we will focus on the position players that were newly signed in 2014 and didn’t play or guys that will be coming up from the Dominican Summer League.
Jake Turnbull | C
Born: 2/16/1998 | 6′ 1″ | 190 lbs
The Reds hit up Australia with the best of them and they went back last year to grab 16-year-old catcher Jake Turnbull. He’s a left handed hitter who has plenty of size already, despite just turning 17 earlier this week. He played in the Australian Baseball League over the winter as a 16-year-old. At such a young age he didn’t make it into the lineup often, playing in just nine games and going 2-8 with two walks and two strikeouts.
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Nadir Ljatifi | SS
Born: 2/21/1998 | 5′ 10″ | 150 lbs
The Reds went to Germany in July of 2014 to ink the 16-year-old shortstop to a contract. He signed for just over $70,000. He participated in instructional league in October with the team and is considered to be a good defender for his age. He looks to be the youngest player in spring training, just edging out Jake Turnbull by five days.
Francis Guerrero | C
Born: 11/16/1994 | 6′ 3″ | 185 lbs
If you are trying to look up stats on Guerrero you will need to search for Francisco Guerrero, but the catcher goes by Francis. He signed with the Reds in October of 2012 as a 17-year-old. Technically, Guerrero shouldn’t be on this list, as he gathered nine plate appearances late last season with the Arizona League Reds, but with only two weeks late last season and not much playing time I decided to include him. He’s struggled offensively over the last two seasons. He’s hit .223 with no power in 355 plate appearances to this point in his career to go with 27 walks and 98 strikeouts. He’s got good size, and despite the poor numbers, the Reds certainly seem to like the potential he has or they wouldn’t be bringing him stateside. In 2013 he threw out 46% of opposing base stealers, but that dropped to 21% in 2014 for one of the Dominican Summer League teams.
There will only be a few new faces on the position side of things for 2015 minor league spring training from the international ranks. The team is bringing more pitchers up than position players.
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