As the season goes on and the injuries pile up for the Cincinnati Reds, the organization needs to start thinking about what it should do for the rest of the season.
The season-ending injuries this team has had to endure already—pitcher Homer Bailey, shortstop Zack Cozart and catcher Devin Mesoraco—are incredible. Unfortunately for the Reds, a banged-up squad has made it tough for the team to stay in contention and could ultimately lead to selling at the trade deadline.
Injuries have already forced the team to call up pitchers Michael Lorenzen, Raisel Iglesias and Jon Moscot. Both Iglesias and Moscot are currently injured, with the latter done for the season with a shoulder injury. Utility player Ivan De Jesus Jr. and shortstop Eugenio Suarez have each been called up because of injuries as well.
Cincinnati will soon have to decide whether to sell or stand pat at the deadline. If it chooses to sell, that opens the door for some young players to get a shot in the majors in the second half of the season. Although the club has already called up some of its promising prospects, there are a couple of young players the Reds need to promote later on this season.
RHP Robert Stephenson
There's almost no doubt Robert Stephenson will be in the majors at some point this season. The only question is, when?
Stephenson, whom MLB.com lists as the organization's top prospect, has shown a lot of promise at Double-A this season. He is 4-6 with a 3.73 ERA in 13 starts this season, which includes a complete game. The right-hander has 86 strikeouts in 72.1 innings pitched. More impressively, he has allowed just 48 hits this season.
His monthly earned run average has dropped each month this season, down to 2.42 in June. Overall this season, there have been just two starts—both in his first four starts—in which he has allowed more than three runs. He's done a better job this year of going deep into games, as he has gone at least seven innings in four of his last five starts.
The only real problem so far, like many young pitchers, has been control. The 22-year-old has walked 40 batters and hit four batters in 2015. Control problems need to be taken care of in the minors, because once he reaches the majors, the strike zone only gets smaller.
Stephenson has an incredible amount of potential and looks like he could be a front-of-the-rotation starter at some point. This year, the Reds just need to decide when he is ready for a taste of the show.
Injuries to Bailey, Iglesias and Moscot have created an opening in Cincinnati's starting rotation, but the club has decided to not rush Stephenson to the majors. The Reds announced Monday that right-hander Josh Smith will be joining the rotation, giving their top prospect more time to develop in the minors.
Even though he was not promoted this week to fill the rotation, Stephenson may not have to wait too much longer to get the call. Both Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake could be traded before the July 31 trade deadline. Dealing those veterans would create openings in the rotation. Not only that, but rookie Michael Lorenzen will also be on an innings limit this season. That would once again open up a spot in the rotation, just a little bit later than Stephenson would like.
The Reds will have plenty of opportunities to call Stephenson up—after possible trades in July or in September, to name a few. At some point this season, they will call the young pitcher up. It's just a matter of when he's deemed ready.
OF Yorman Rodriguez
Unlike Stephenson, Yorman Rodriguez has already gotten his feet wet in the big leagues. The 22-year-old was in Cincinnati for a short stint last year, but it was a stint nonetheless.
Rodriguez was called up in September last season and was given a chance to play nearly every game in the in the final two weeks of the season. The young outfielder went 6-for-27 in 11 games in the majors last September, failing to record an extra-base hit.
Those numbers may not be overwhelming for a high prospect, but considering he went straight from Double-A to the majors, it was a decent showing. This year, he is getting his first taste of Triple-A action. He's hitting .258 with six home runs, 12 doubles and six triples in 66 games this season.
Rodriguez doesn't figure to be a player who will hit for a high average or be a true slugger, but he does have the ability to do a little bit of everything on offense. He can get hits, provide some pop and use his decent speed to take an extra base.
Cincinnati fans can't wait for outfield prospect Jesse Winker to get to the majors—but that's not happening anytime soon. The 21-year-old is currently getting his first extended look at Double-A pitching and figures to be at least a year away from getting called up. In the meantime, the Reds would be wise to see what they have in Rodriguez.
Right now, the Cincinnati outfield doesn't have any room for Rodriguez. However, there could be some room by the time the trade deadline rolls around. Marlon Byrd, 37, is a nice trade chip the Reds have. If they can find a team that needs a veteran bat, they'd be crazy not to make a deal and then bring up Rodriguez.
Whether it's near the end of July or in September, Rodriguez is going to be up in Cincinnati. Once he gets called up, the club needs to give him playing time and see what he can do in the big leagues.
*All stats are via MiLB.com
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
- Login to post comments