Loading ...Rookie
Billings and GCL Reds DNP
LOW A
Dayton DNP
HIGH A
23 year-old Paul Janish (Reds #4 – 2004) went 2 for 5 The shortstop from Cypress, Texas is now hitting .277/.354/.428 since being promoted from Dayton.
AA
20 year-old Homer Bailey (Reds #1 – 2004) went 5 scoreless innings giving up 4 H, and 3 BB while striking out 4. Since being promoted to the Lookouts, Bailey has a 1.16 ERA with 69 K, 24 BB, 45 H in 62 IP. For the season he has a combined 2.32 ERA with 148 K, 46 BB, 94 H, in 132.2 IP. Last year he pitched 103 Innings at Dayton. The year before that he was attending his senior prom.
AAA
28 year-old Jesse Gutierrez (Reds #20 – 2001) went 3-3 with a 3B and 2 BB. Jesse is now hitting .288/.377/.450. Gutierrez has the kind of career numbers that if he was drafted in the top 5 rounds he would have already been given a shot in the majors, but since he was drafted #20 he never got a shot.
Are we simply waiting for Bailey to get older, because I’m not sure he’s going to get any better. Of all the times to call a player of his caliber up, it would be now.
From what I’ve heard from people that have seen him throw down in Chattanooga… he is simply blowing AA hitters away with his fastball right now.
If he can develop a killer breaking ball / strikeout pitch that he can get over the plate, he will tear it up in the bigs.
I will agree that he could make a good september callup to close a few games and pitch an inning here and there though. He can work on improving his arsenal over the offseason.
This kid will be AMAZING!
I think I disagree about Gutierrez. The guy was old for absolutely every level he played at – and has never dominated until (no surprise) his age 27 year, when he was still at AA. I look at his record and don’t see any year where he was artificially held back, other than perhaps last year (and even at that, it looks like he’s been hurt a lot).
I live in Chattanooga and have seen Homer’s last 2 home starts (he should go tonight in Birmingham & Monday in Chatt.)
One thing very impressive is that he changes speed on the fastball, and his motion looks the same whether it’s 88 or 94 or 96.
It’s also something to watch his warm-up routine. Before going to the pen, he long tosses with the catcher in right field from about 175-200 feet, using his pitching windup. Just watching that, you can see he has a special talent.
Comment by David — 8/23/2006 @ 3:41 pm
Chris, you are right about Tonys. Just wanted to see if you were reading.
GCL season is over. The Reds did not make the playoffs and the regular season is over.
Homer Bailey is no longer just blowing guys away with his fastball. He was relying on it almost entirely in his first 3-4 starts, but since has started throwing his curve and its starting to get better, but he still has trouble locating it every now and again. He is a change up away from being ready to be real good in the major leagues. He has one now, but he is slowing down his arm speed when he throws his change up, and you simply cant do that against major league hitters, they will eat it alive.