Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings January 22, 2018 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1921-The Reds trade Jimmy Ring and Greasy Neale to the Phillies for pitcher Eppa Rixey. Rixey will spend 13 years with the Reds, collecting a 179-148 record, with a 3.33 ERA in 2890.2 innings pitched Long ranked No. 6 second-base prospect Left-handed hitter played well down the stretch at Double-A By Mark Sheldon MLB.com @m_sheldon 12:33 AM ET MLB.COM CINCINNATI -- Shed Long was drafted as a catcher and played behind the plate for his first two pro seasons before moving to the middle infield. In just a few years, the Reds' prospect is ranked as one of the top second basemen in the Minor Leagues. In rankings released Monday by MLB Pipeline, Long was named the sixth-best second baseman. Cincinnati's No. 7 prospect, he is the second player from the organization to be named to one of Pipeline's top 10 lists. Last week, Hunter Greene was named among the top 10 right-handed pitchers at No. 8. Long, 22, split last season between Class A Advanced Daytona and Double-A Pensacola. In 104 games combined, he batted.281/.358/.477 with 16 home runs and 50 RBIs. It wasn't an easy year overall for Long, especially after his promotion to Pensacola in late June. He went 2-for-26 over his first nine games. Then he missed most of August with a wrist injury. But he played well down the stretch -- going 8-for-22 in the final seven games -- to help the Blue Wahoos secure a share of the Southern League title. A 2013 12th-round Draft pick as a catcher out of Jacksonville High School in Alabama, Long was added to the Reds' 40-man roster in November, and he will be in big league camp for the first time. Listed at 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds and a left-handed hitter, Long has some power that especially surfaced in 2016 when he hit 15 homers and 75 RBIs for Daytona and Class A Dayton. He was able to carry that into last season. Considered more offensive minded, he will continue to be an average defensive player but could work his way to improvement. It's not unreasonable for Long to be a candidate for a big league promotion by the latter end of 2018, but 2019 would be more realistic. The Reds currently have Scooter Gennett at second base, and the organization's No. 1 prospect, third baseman Nick Senzel, could potentially be moved to the right side of the infield as well. Another second-base prospect, Alex Blandino, reached Triple-A Louisville last season and was added to the 40-man roster. MLB Pipeline compiles its lists with input from industry sources, including scouts and scouting directors. Lists are based on analysis of players' skill sets, upsides, proximity to the Majors and potential immediate impact to their teams. Price encouraged by rotation health pre-camp By Mark Sheldon MLB.com @m_sheldon Jan. 19th, 2018 CINCINNATI -- At Spring Training last year, the Reds lost two starting pitchers early to injury, and before April was over they had lost four-fifths of the rotation to the disabled list. Heading into camp for the upcoming season, manager Bryan Price was optimistic. Three veterans who spent much of 2017 injured -- Anthony DeSclafani, Homer Bailey and Brandon Finnegan, are healthy and having normal offseasons.
"I've spoken with several of [the pitchers] and have gotten good reports from [strength coach] Sean Marohn and [head trainer] Steve Baumann," Price said. The only pitcher behind schedule and not expected to be ready for the start of Spring Training is Rookie Davis. In early October, Davis had right hip surgery to repair the labrum and remove a bone spur. The right-hander began a throwing program this week. "We'll certainly be cautious with how we get him ready," Price said. "We are at 31 [pitchers] total coming into camp. Thirty out of the 31, right now as we speak, we consider healthy and ready to compete in Spring Training on time without being behind schedule." Finnegan had surgery last season to repair the teres major muscle near his left shoulder. Following a slip and fall on a boat during the summer, he also had right shoulder surgery. DeSclafani missed the entire season with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Bailey had bone chips removed from his right elbow just before camp opened -- his third elbow surgery since 2014. He was limited to 18 starts and posted a 6.43 ERA. Price anticipated all three men to be members of the 2018 rotation, along with young right-hander Luis Castillo. The Reds rotation's 5.55 ERA ranked at the bottom of the National League while being last in the Majors in innings pitched. No significant acquisitions were made to bolster the starting staff because of confidence in the arms that are in house. Sal Romano, Robert Stephenson, Tyler Mahle and Michael Lorenzen will be among those vying for the fifth spot in the rotation. "We draw this up with as much optimism as you can," Price said. "But in the end, we have to be healthy and we have to perform. We have not done that in our recent history. We have to start to outperform our opponent at a much higher rate." During the Winter Meetings, Price said he identified two starting pitchers that would likely be used in bullpen roles. This week, he kept their names withheld. "We have to see what we get when our guys show up," said Price, who held a pitching summit for 11 pitchers in Arizona this week. "Unfortunately, we've just had too many early Spring Training injuries. Before games start, guys will know what they are competing for. In the same respect, you have to have fallback options." As Price has handicapped the favorites for the rotation, and feels there are enough good arms to form a second rotation of quality depth at Triple-A Louisville, he cautioned that things could change during camp. "Guys could come in injured or unprepared and it's easier to lose a spot in this environment than it's been the last three or four years because we've got enough depth now where we feel like we're covered," Price said. "If someone takes something for granted, that job can be taken by somebody else." Top 100 MLB Prospects 2018 January 22, 2018 By BA Staff BASEBALL AMERICA Baseball America s Top 100 MLB Prospects is the natural demarcation between one season to another. Countless conversations with scouts, coaches and team officials as well as many road trips over the past year lead to this list. And as soon as we put it in your hands, we begin working toward next year s. The Top 100 is compiled with input from J.J. Cooper, Matt Eddy, Ben Badler, Josh Norris and Kyle Glaser. Grades listed are for each player s projected future tools. 1. Ronald Acuna OF Braves 2. Shohei Ohtani RHP Angels 3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 3B Blue Jays 4. Eloy Jimenez OF White Sox 5. Victor Robles OF Nationals 6. Gleyber Torres SS Yankees
7. Nick Senzel 3B Reds 8. Bo Bichette SS Blue Jays 9. Fernando Tatis Jr SS Padres 10. Forrest Whitley RHP Astros 11. Michael Kopech RHP White Sox 12. Mitch Keller RHP Pirates 13. Walker Buehler RHP Dodgers 14. Brent Honeywell RHP Rays 15. Kyle Tucker OF Astros 16. J.P. Crawford SS Phillies 17. Alex Reyes RHP Cardinals 18. Lewis Brinson OF Brewers 19. Willy Adames SS Rays 20. Francisco Mejia C Indians 21. Austin Hays OF Orioles 22. Brendan Rodgers SS Rockies 23. Luiz Gohara LHP Braves 24. Royce Lewis SS Twins 25. Sixto Sanchez RHP Phillies 26. MacKenzie Gore LHP Padres 27. Mike Soroka RHP Braves 28. Michel Baez RHP Padres 29. Hunter Greene RHP Reds 30. A.J. Puk LHP Athletics 31. Scott Kingery 2B Phillies 32. Luis Urias 2B Padres 33. Triston McKenzie RHP Indians 34. Kyle Wright RHP Braves 35. Franklin Perez RHP Tigers 36. Willie Calhoun OF Rangers 37. Alex Verdugo OF Dodgers
38. Estevan Florial OF Yankees 39. Brendan McKay LHP/1B Rays 40. Keibert Ruiz C Dodgers 41. Justus Sheffield LHP Yankees 42. Ian Anderson RHP Braves 43. Franklin Barreto SS Athletics 44. Austin Meadows OF Pirates 45. Jake Bauers 1B Rays 46. Jo Adell OF Angels 47. Keston Hiura 2B Brewers 48. Taylor Trammell OF Reds 49. Jesus Sanchez OF Rays 50. Alex Faedo RHP Tigers 51. Leody Taveras OF Rangers 52. Cal Quantrill RHP Padres 53. Jack Flaherty RHP Cardinals 54. Austin Riley 3B Braves 55. Carson Kelly C Cardinals 56. Juan Soto OF Nationals 57. Alec Hansen RHP White Sox 58. Luis Robert OF White Sox 59. Miguel Andujar 3B Yankees 60. Anthony Alford OF Blue Jays 61. Brandon Woodruff RHP Brewers 62. Yordan Alvarez 1B Astros 63. Ryan McMahon 1B Rockies 64. Jorge Mateo SS Athletics 65. Kolby Allard LHP Braves 66. Adrian Morejon LHP Padres 67. Kyle Lewis OF Mariners 68. Chance Sisco C Orioles
69. Mitchell White RHP Dodgers 70. Sandy Alcantara RHP Marlins 71. Ryan Mountcastle 3B Orioles 72. Max Fried LHP Braves 73. Jon Duplantier RHP D backs 74. Corbin Burnes RHP Brewers 75. Monte Harrison OF Brewers 76. J.B. Bukauskas RHP Astros 77. Albert Abreu RHP Yankees 78. Matt Manning RHP Tigers 79. Heliot Ramos OF Giants 80. Brett Phillips OF Brewers 81. Chance Adams RHP Yankees 82. Dane Dunning RHP White Sox 83. Jay Groome LHP Red Sox 84. Adonis Medina RHP Phillies 85. Michael Chavis 3B Red Sox 86. Tyler O Neill OF Cardinals 87. Jorge Guzman RHP Marlins 88. Dustin Fowler OF Athletics 89. Jahmai Jones OF Angels 90. Tyler Mahle RHP Reds 91. Nate Pearson RHP Blue Jays 92. Brent Rooker OF Twins 93. Nick Gordon SS Twins 94. Andres Gimenez SS Mets 95. Wander Javier SS Twins 96. Wander Franco SS Rays 97. Stephen Gonsalves LHP Twins 98. Jesse Winker OF Reds 99. Riley Pint RHP Rockies
100. Adam Haseley OF Phillies Transactions 01/19/18 New York Mets invited non-roster 1B Peter Alonso to spring training. Milwaukee Brewers invited non-roster CF Kyle Wren to spring training. Milwaukee Brewers invited non-roster RHP Corbin Burnes to spring training. Milwaukee Brewers invited non-roster 2B Nate Orf to spring training. Milwaukee Brewers invited non-roster 2B Keston Hiura to spring training. Milwaukee Brewers signed free agent RHP Ernesto Frieri to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Miami Marlins signed free agent 1B Jonathan Rodriguez to a minor league contract. New York Mets sent RHP Kevin McGowan outright to Las Vegas 51s. Baltimore Orioles signed free agent C Audry Perez to a minor league contract. Baltimore Orioles signed free agent OF D'Arby Myers to a minor league contract. Baltimore Orioles signed free agent RHP Eddie Gamboa to a minor league contract. Baltimore Orioles signed free agent 3B Anderson Feliz to a minor league contract. Toronto Blue Jays traded RHP Dominic Leone and RHP Conner Greene to St. Louis Cardinals for LF Randal Grichuk. Seattle Mariners claimed RHP Chasen Bradford off waivers from New York Mets. Minnesota Twins signed free agent RHP Omar Bencomo to a minor league contract. Minnesota Twins signed free agent LF Jermaine Curtis to a minor league contract. New York Mets invited non-roster RHP Adonis Uceta to spring training. New York Mets invited non-roster 3B David Thompson to spring training. New York Mets invited non-roster OF Tim Tebow to spring training. New York Mets invited non-roster RHP Corey Taylor to spring training. New York Mets invited non-roster RHP Drew Smith to spring training. New York Mets invited non-roster C Patrick Mazeika to spring training. New York Mets invited non-roster OF Kevin Kaczmarski to spring training. New York Mets invited non-roster LHP P.J. Conlon to spring training. Milwaukee Brewers invited non-roster RHP Luis Ortiz to spring training. Milwaukee Brewers invited non-roster RHP Jon Perrin to spring training.