How are the Reds Top 25 prospects performing in the spring?

Spring training is more than halfway over at this point. The Cincinnati Reds still have over 50 players in camp and just 13 days – including today – remaining before the final game is over and the team heads back to Cincinnati to get ready for Opening Day against the Pittsburgh Pirates. With a night game on Tuesday it felt like a good time to check in on how the Top 25 prospects have performed in spring training.

Nearly half of the players in the Top 25 have not appeared in a game this spring with the Reds. Several others have incredibly limited time on the field, even by spring training standards.

The Top Performers

Christian Encarnacion-Strand

If there’s someone performing better in spring training anywhere I’d like to see it. The Reds 7th rated prospect is hitting .577 and slugging 1.192 with two doubles, a triple, and four home runs. He’s struck out just two times. Whether he can hit enough to make the club out of the spring is the big question right now. With Joey Votto back on the field that could lead to a situation where the team doesn’t think there would be enough playing time to justify bringing him up in April and to let him play every day in the minors.

Matt McLain

While he hasn’t gotten as much playing time as Encarnacion-Strand has, Matt McLain has taken full advantage of the time he’s had on the field. He hit a walk-off home run early on, and he’s kept on hitting since. Overall he’s posted a .375/.583/.688 line with two doubles to go along with his home run. McLain has also walked eight times this spring to go with just three strikeouts.

Spencer Steer

Expected to make the team out of spring training when camp started, Spencer Steer has done nothing but show that should be the case. The infielder has hit .333/.429/.625 with five extra-base hits. He’s also struck out six times while walking four times.

Allan Cerda

Despite his strong performance in limited action, Allan Cerda was sent back to minor league camp last week. He has hit .375/.545/1/125 with two home runs, three walks, and just two strikeouts in his 11 plate appearances with the big league club this spring.

Everyone Else