No. Thankfully, Dusty will be managing tonight against the San Francisco Giants rather that sitting with the big brass deciding who to take with the No. 12 overall selection.
The Reds, being so small market and all, traditionally go after players deemed signable at a low-price.
Many of the Internet mock drafts have them selecting, University of Miami catcher Yasmani Grandal, probably the most MLB-ready player in the pool. First, it’s doubtful he’ll fall to the Reds. Second, he’ll demand a big-time signing bonus.
So who are the Castellini’s and Jocketty looking at? That’s a tough one.
There’s a boat-load of pitching depth down on the farm, but in the same light, it can be said that a team can never have too much pitching.
During the Jocketty tenure, they’ve gone with big college program players: first baseman Yonder Alonso in 2008; and some little pitcher out of Arizona State in 2009. Pretty sure his name is Ike Leake, or Mark something.
It’s the guy who never had to touch a minor league baseball and is currently sitting on a 5-0 record with a 2.22 ERA.
Anyway, back to the subject. Most likely, Castellini & Co. will be looking at one of four players.
The dark-horse candidate is Ohio State’s right-handed starter, Alex Wimmers. Most boards have him as a much lower first-rounder. He’s been compared to that Leake fella the Reds nabbed in last year’s draft.
Sorry, Leake has five rock-solid pitches. Wimmers has a mediocre fastball and at this point, only two secondary pitches.
The next possible candidate whose name has been popping up is Arkansas’ Zack Cox. He played mostly third with the Razorbacks, but projects to be a second baseman in pro ball.
The Reds would jump on Cox if he were still on the board. That is somewhat doubtful.
Another guy they would love to have is Ball State second baseman, Kolbrin Vitek. Like Cox, he’ll most likely be gone—probably to the Padres with the ninth pick.
Two Ohio college players in Wimmers and Vitek. Unfortunately, one will have already been chosen and the other will probably not be taken twelfth overall.
However, Wimmers will still be on the board. It’s not out of the realm of possibility.
So where is the smart money pick?
Christian Colon, unless Vitek falls in their lap.
Colon is a sure-handed shortstop from Cal State Fullerton. He’s not the second coming of Barry Larkin, but who could be? He takes the game seriously. He wont dazzle you with any one skill.
On the contrary, Colon does not have a lot of holes.
In five years, he’ll probably finish the season hitting about .270, 8 HR, 10 SB. He’s got great hands and will make any play that comes his way.
So in the spirit of Pete Rose who once said, “I’d be willing to bet you, if I was a betting man, that I have never bet on baseball.”
Mark it down: Christian Colon to the Reds with the No. 12 pick.
Last minute edit: Scratch that! Just found out Colon is a client of agent Scott Boras. That translates into a no go for the Reds.
Sticking to the original pick, Alex Wimmers.
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