Earlier this week the Midseason Update for the Cincinnati Reds Top 25 Prospect List was released. There was one player on the list that probably jumped out – sitting at #24 was infielder Jonathan Willems. The 19-year-old was out to a strong start for the Greeneville Reds, but as I noted in the update, he had very little track record. Still, he was passing the eye test and his start was strong.
Well, on Tuesday night the native of Curacao took that start and made it even stronger. Jonathan Willems hit a home run to left field in his first trip to the plate, giving him three for the year. He entered the year with one for his career in two seasons. The next trip to the plate for Willems accounted for the only out he made in the game as he grounded into a double play.
In the 5th inning Jonathan Willems would come to the plate with one out and Jonathan India on first base. He would triple and bring the run in, getting the hardest two parts of the cycle out of the way. The next time he came up would result in a single in the seventh inning. That set up a final trip to the plate in the 8th inning where he needed a double. Willems came through, lacing a 1-2 pitch into left field and just beating out the throw to the bag. That pushed his season line to .348/.387/.623 through his 16 games played.
Here’s some video from Jonathan Willems home runs that he hit in Johnson City last week while I was in town to give you some reference of what he looks like for those who have never seen him play before.
Reshard Munroe continues crushing Pioneer League pitching
The season didn’t begin for Reshard Munroe until June 15th this year. That also happens to be his birthday, and he celebrated it by going 1-2 with 2 walks for the Dayton Dragons against the West Michigan Whitecaps. That, however, was the only game he would play with the Dragons. He was sent to Billings to join the Mustangs and on June 20th he played a double header, going 4-7. The 22-year-old from the Bahamas hasn’t stopped hitting since.
On Tuesday night Reshard Munroe went 1-3, and he made that one count. He homered, and that ball landed about 18 minutes later, traveling 451 feet. In 21 games since joining the Mustangs the outfielder has hit .333/.392/.528.