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Cincinnati Reds REVISED Top 10 Prospects For 2017

By Benjamin Chase

Jul 24, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; A Cincinnati Reds hat on top of third base in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 24, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; A Cincinnati Reds hat on top of third base in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 24, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; A Cincinnati Reds hat on top of third base in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 24, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; A Cincinnati Reds hat on top of third base in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

The Cincinnati Reds traded away starter Dan Straily to the Miami Marlins. How did it affect their top 10 list?

An Introduction

Our minor league top 10 series is coordinated by Benjamin Chase, one of our contributors at Call To The Pen.

He has poured over thousands of minor league games over the course of the year via milb.tv along with speaking with a number of team and independent scouts. These lists are based out of those conversations.

Each system will have prospects from 10 to 1, and then finish with one newcomer to the system that is worth keeping an eye on that is not in the top 10 at this time.

Conversations are certainly encouraged in the comments section on each system as we go along!

…they’ve still made significant progress in their minor league system. A system that was very top-heavy after that 2014 season now has much better depth.

Reds System Review

The Reds have competed as recently as 2013, but after stumbling through 2014, the team went full force into rebuild mode, losing 98 games in 2015 and 94 on 2016.

This has given the Reds significant draft pick and international bonus pool money, and they’ve been able to turn that into some substantial prospects and also done some exceptional scouting as well. We’ll talk about some of that in the final slide with their newcomer to watch, but they’ve caught guys off of the radar as well as the mainstream guys.

While the Reds haven’t gone full “scorched earth” like teams like the Braves and Padres did in their rebuilds, trading away anyone but young, controllable assets, they’ve still made significant progress in their minor league system. A system that was very top-heavy after that 2014 season now has much better depth.

They may not be done tearing down yet, either. There are significant rumors this offseason of the Reds looking to move Brandon Phillips, Zack Cozart, and even one or more of their “established” pitchers in Homer Bailey and Anthony DeSclafani. Those deals could add even more depth to their system, and DeSclafani could bring back a significant return.

Let’s take a look at the top 10!

Next: #10

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