Reds Top 25 Prospects Update: 6-10

All week long I’m going to unveil the Cincinnati Reds midseason update of the Top 25 prospects. Every day will have five new additions to the list as we work through things until Friday’s completion. You can see the entire list here (once completed).

6. Jose Peraza | SS | Previous: #7

Jose Peraza has been pretty much as expected so far since joining the organization. He has spent a majority of the 2016 season in Triple-A where he hit .274. His walk rate is up from the previous two seasons, though still on the lower side of things. He’s continued to be a strong contact hitter and run the bases well. He’s currently in the big leagues, perhaps for good. Stock: Unmoved.

7. Tony Santillan | RHP | Previous: #24

Tony Santillan impressed me when I saw him in spring training. The raw stuff just stood out and he was dominant in the brief action he saw. He didn’t make his 2016 debut until the Billings season began but he’s now made three starts and has been about as dominant as one can be on a limited pitch count. In 13.1 innings pitched he’s racked up 27 strikeouts with just four walks to go with a 2.70 ERA in the hitter friendly Pioneer League. Stock: Up.

8. Taylor Trammell | OF | Previous: High School

The Cincinnati Reds drafted Taylor Trammell with their competitive balance lottery pick and signed him to a $3.2M signing bonus. The outfielder has gotten out to a solid start with the Billings Mustangs, hitting .281 through eight games with three walks and three steals. He’s got one of the top all-around packages of tools in the entire system and his speed is already playing very well in the early part of his career.

9. Tyler Mahle | RHP | Previous: #14

Two starts ago Tyler Mahle went out and threw a 9-inning no-hitter for Daytona. That, along with the rest of his first half, earned the 21-year-old a promotion to Double-A Pensacola. He’s posted a 2.88 ERA in 14 starts this season. The right hander has shown excellent control, walking just 19 batters in 84.1 innings to go with 84 strikeouts and a 0.98 WHIP. His control puts him in a different category than most of the other starters in the farm system. Stock: Up

10. Nick Travieso | RHP | Previous: #3

It’s been a tough first half of the season for Nick Travieso. His 4.91 ERA is the worst of his career. A large part of the problem this season has been his struggles with throwing strikes as his walk rate is easily the highest of his career. The righty has 35 walks in 62.1 innings this season to go along with 57 strikeouts in 62.1 innings. The strikeout rate is the highest of his career. He’s never had control issues before and the last two starts have been a step in the right direction, but overall this season it’s really held him back. Stock: Down

Scouting Reports

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6. Jose Peraza | The biggest weakness for Jose Peraza is built around the question of whether he will get on base enough to remain a viable everyday player. His low walk rate will likely leave that question open ended for a while. His biggest strength is his speed, which he struggled to use well on the bases early in the season with Louisville, but has provided plenty of value on the bases since April ended – both in the minor and Major Leagues. Defensively he’s moved back to shortstop in the minor leagues, and while he probably won’t shine there defensively, he looks like he could stay there. If not, second base or center field are also an option.

7. Tony Santillan | The biggest weakness at this point is tough to pinpoint. Coming into the season the biggest question was how his control, which was an issue coming out of high school, would be after working on his mechanics for the last year. So far things in that area have been outstanding. His change up could use improvement, which can be said for nearly all 19-year-olds. He’s still working on a pitch limit of 85 pitches, so building up stamina and showing he can handle a full season workload are still questions he will have to answer in the future. On the flip side, he’s been utterly dominant working with a fastball in the 94-95 MPH range that’s touched 98 MPH in each of his starts this season. He’s mixed that in with a potentially plus slider as well.

8. Taylor Trammell | The biggest weakness in the game for Taylor Trammell is his fringy arm, but it should be enough to remain in center field. At the plate he hasn’t shown any power yet with all of his hits on the season being singles. The power should be there in the future, and it’s way too early to really worry about the lack of extra-base hits. He shines defensively thanks to big range with his plus-plus speed and he’s able to use that speed on the bases as well. One of the best athletes in the organization, he’s got a chance to be a four-tool player (the arm being the only one that doesn’t stand out) that can play a premium defensive position.

9. Tyler Mahle | The biggest weakness for Tyler Mahle is tough to find. He seems to do everything well. None of his stuff jumps off of the table – he doesn’t have a plus pitch to work with, but he’s got four average or better offerings and he can throw them all for strikes. His fastball is working in the low 90’s and touches the mid 90’s on occasion. Mixing in a slider and curveball gives hitters two looks from a breaking ball and a solid change up gives a fourth look.

10. Nick Travieso | The biggest weakness for Nick Travieso has been his inability to throw strikes. As noted above, it’s never been a problem for him in the past, particularly with his fastball which is an area that he’s stood out in the past. It’s not an issue of facing better competition and guys laying off of the stuff less advanced hitters used to chase, he’s simply not finding the zone like he has in the past. The stuff hasn’t really changed much, though his velocity is down a tick or two – but he’s usually a guy who has thrown harder in the second half of the season than the first. The control is going to have to improve if he’s going to be able to find success moving forward.

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