The top four prospects in the Cincinnati Reds organization can reopen the window for the small market Reds to start winning again in 2017.
The most recent update of Reds’ prospects by MLBPipeline.com ranked left fielder Jesse Winker as the club’s top prospect. Three starting pitchers Robert Stephenson, Cody Reed and Amir Garrett follow Winker.
Winker has yet to bat in Triple-A. He’ll most likely have to prove himself there in 2016. He has thrived as a high on-base percentage hitter with power to the gaps.
The left-handed hitting 22-year-old has a slash of .292/.397/.471 over four minor league seasons. Winker was a first-round supplemental pick in 2012 in compensation for the free agent loss of catcher Ramon Hernandez.
The three pitching prospects literally hold the fate of the Reds in their hands. If Stephenson, Reed and Garrett are all ready by 2017 to be front-end rotation starters, the Reds’ return to relevancy will be rapid.
Only Stephenson has any Triple-A experience among the three. He’s thrown just 55.2 innings at Triple-A with a 4.04 ERA in 11 starts.
Reed has just 13 Double-A starts under his belt. Garrett has yet to pitch a Double-A game. Both Reed and Garrett dominated at the level they pitched last year. Their rise to the Reds’ rotation by 2017 will depend upon their continued dominance.
The trio of pitchers would complement Homer Bailey and Raisel Iglesias in the 2017 rotation. Their rise would also allow the Reds to explore trade value for Anthony DeSclafani.
The trio would also allow the Reds to convert Michael Lorenzen to closer. Current starter Brandon Finnegan would also join the bullpen. Finnegan is an ideal left-handed, late-inning stopper.
The Reds also have another pair of power pitchers waiting in the wings in Nick Travieso and Keury Mella . Both are rising through the Reds’ minor league system.
Robb Hoff writes about the Cincinnati Reds for OutsidePitch MLB. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
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