REVISED Cincinnati Reds Top 10 Prospects for 2019

7. Shed Long, 2B/OF

Birthday: 8/22/1995 (23)
Acquired: Draft, 12th round, 2013
Level(s): AA Pensacola
Statistics: .261/.353/.412, 126 G, 522 PA, 22 2B, 5 3B, 12 HR, 19 SB, 10.9% BB, 23.6% K

The Cincinnati Reds originally drafted Shed Long out of high school in Alabama as a catcher, and he moved from behind the plate after his first full pro season. Injuries limited his time in 2015, but then Long had a huge year in 2016 in what was his first full minor league season, hitting .293/.371/.471 with 15 home runs and 21 stolen bases.

Long has excellent speed that is certainly plus, and he knows how to apply that speed on the bases, both as a baserunner and a base stealer. He does struggle with the glove, and that’s a big concern in finding a defensive home long-term after initially moving Long from behind the plate to take advantage of his speed.

While he has shown solid power over the last three seasons, averaging 43 extra-base hits over his three full seasons with double-digit home runs each of those seasons, but he has a significant uppercut in his swing that generates that power from his slight 5’8″ frame.

That big swing will lead to struggles with his contact ability and higher strikeout rates than you’d like, and the defense concerns are certainly real, but if he can continue walking at better than a 10% rate and perhaps could transition to left field, Long has enough blend of tools that he’s been able to show at AA that he should make at least a bench role in the major leagues.