2017 Acquisition: Jose Israel Garcia, SS
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 4/5/1998 (19)
2017 teams/levels played for: none
2017 Stats: none
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Info: The Cincinnati Reds signed Cuban Garcia for nearly $5 million in signing bonus. He was a star on the Cuban junior national team, playing second base.
The Reds love Garcia’s athleticism and believe that he can move to shortstop long-term, but he could end up at an up-the-middle position defensively regardless of where he ends up in the end. He has tremendous hands and smooth actions in the field with great range due to his quick first step.
Garcia’s offensive profile has used his speed well, even as he filled in his frame, and he shows good bat control with gap power around the field from line to line.
He should fill in more physically and add in more power into his game. The Cincinnati Reds will likely place Garcia stateside, but he’ll open at extended spring in 2018 before his first assignment.
Next: CTTP's Top 150 prospects
So that is the Cincinnati Reds top 10 prospects for 2018. Who is too high? Too low? Missing entirely from the list? Comment below!!