There have been a lot of highlights in the Cincinnati Reds’ farm system through the first five weeks of the minor league season, but there is some concern about the number of injuries in the organization.
Injuries are up across the entire sport, an effect of shortened or canceled 2020 seasons, but it’s tough seeing prospects losing time to develop.
None of the Reds’ six picks from the 2020 MLB Draft played for a minor league affiliate throughout the past week. First-round pick Austin Hendrick was on the injured list with a left groin strain, though he’s expected to return Sunday. Second-round pick Christian Roa threw one inning at Low-A Daytona before he was shut down with a right elbow flexor mass strain. Roa could return within the next month.
More:'I know what’s going to happen': How Kyle Farmer fits into the Cincinnati Reds infield
Infielders Rece Hinds and Tyler Callihan, two of the organization’s top three picks in the 2019 Draft, recently sustained significant injuries. Hinds tore the meniscus in his left knee, which required surgery and will likely sideline him until at least August. Callihan is expected to miss the rest of the season with a right elbow injury.
“We’ve got a number of guys that we’re very high on that are shut down temporarily because they’ve had some setbacks,” Reds farm director Shawn Pender said. “Those setbacks are typical, but obviously of greater concern in a year following when they didn’t really get to pitch because if they miss significant time this season, then you’ve really missed two years of player development.”
Among the top 30 prospects in the organization, according to MLB.com’s rankings, the Reds had 10 of those prospects on the injured list Saturday.
Some of the injuries would’ve happened in a typical season, but there is a delicate balance on limiting pitch counts and innings after many guys didn’t pitch in a game last year and making sure they’re still being challenged properly.
More:'It was crazy': Cincinnati Reds make history with parade of homers in rout over Rockies
Teams have taken different approaches on easing players into the season. Some teams have emphasized six-man rotations, but that makes it more of a college style with one start per week (minor league teams play a six-game series with an off day Monday). The Reds have only one starter at Daytona with more than 23 innings pitched, entering Saturday, while High-A Daytona has four pitchers above that threshold.
“Our goal has been to keep guys healthy, get them out there competing and managing their workloads in a way that keeps them as healthy as we can,” Pender said, “while also exerting some push to make sure that the player development process is happening. That is a balance. It’s a balance of knowing when to push and when not to push.
“Especially after such a unique year like last year, that balance is probably harder to find than any other time that I can remember.”
The Reds made a big investment in their pitching development over the past two years and it’s led to strong results. Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo have dominated at Double-A. Vladimir Gutierrez pitched well at Triple-A and looks good through three starts in the big leagues. There have been standouts at the lower levels of the minor leagues.
Consistently developing pitchers is a big key to sustained success at the Major League level.
“It’s been a lot of fun to see,” Reds general manager Nick Krall said. “It isn’t just Greene and Lodolo. Obviously, they pitch so well, it gets a little bit lost in the shuffle, but you’ve got guys like Gutierrez. Even Derek Johnson, spring training stuff that we’ve done with guys, Gutierrez, (Tony) Santillan, Lyon Richardson – I was able to drive up to Lake County and watch him.
More:Daugherty: For Reds' Vladimir Gutierrez, pitching must be the easy part
“The whole group of guys have been fun to watch and fun to continue to watch develop. I think we’ve got some solid prospects and I’m excited about where that’s going to take us.”
There have been plenty of strong starts for position players. Shortstop Jose Barrero, formerly Jose Garcia, entered Saturday with a .383 on-base percentage. Double-A catcher Mark Kolozsvary starred for Team USA in its Olympic qualifier. Infielder Alejo Lopez, who was with the Reds in spring training, is batting .365 between Double-A and Triple-A.
The Reds are pleased with how guys have performed at their complex in the Dominican Republic, and they’re considering inviting some players to their Arizona Summer League team in Goodyear, Arizona.
More:Cincinnati Reds bullpen takes a hit as Tejay Antone placed on injured list
“We haven’t done that for a while,” Pender said. “That’s an exciting thing. The reason why we’re bringing them over is we feel like they’re certainly talented enough, but we also feel like they’re ready. They’re a little bit more mature, a little bit more together than maybe our previous groups in years past. That’s a real positive and a great sign for what is being done with our international scouting and player development over there.”
After a season without baseball, the Reds are confident they've continued to make strides with their player development system.
More:How Nick Castellanos sets 'a great example,' 'expectation' for Cincinnati Reds
They just hope that injuries stop piling up.
“We’ve had a lot more positive than negative,” Pender said. “The negative has just been the injuries that, unfortunately, it’s happening to everyone in baseball. When it’s your own house, right, it seems to hurt you a lot more. You feel it.”
Source link
