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1/31/15

Tom Brennan - Majoring on the Minors: Top 30 Prospects - #6 Matt Reynolds

MAJORING ON THE MINORS: TOP 30 PROSPECTS – #6 MATT REYNOLDS – Tom Brennan

I’m doing my Top 30 Prospects articles a bit differently – in 2 lists:
·       A top 10 list of lower minors guys who likely won’t show up until 2017 or later.  See list at end of this article.

·       Followed by my top 20 list of guys who are closing in on the big leagues.  Guys who could help in the near future or be trade bait.

Here is the list so far:
20.   Daniel Muno
19.   Michael Fulmer
18.   Miller Diaz
17.   Dario Alvarez
16.   Jayce Boyd
15.   Rob Whalen
14.   Hansel Robles
13.   Gabriel Ynoa
12.   Gavin Cecchini
11.   Jack Leathersich
10.   Cory Mazzoni
9.      Cesar Puello
8.      Matt Bowman
7.      Akeel Morris

Today, let’s ponder LIPA, LILCO, Con Edison, National Grid.  At the start of 2014, coming off a mid .220's season in 2013 in St Lucie, most folks were down on 2nd round 2012 pick MATT REYNOLDS.  Had him pegged as a utility infielder, at best.  Me too.  But as 2014 began in AA, he did 3 things well, in no specific order: hit, hit, and hit.

When he scorched coming out of the 2014 gate, I started advocating early on for a quick Reynolds jump to AAA.  After 55 games, a .355 average and a.430 on base % in AA, I got my wish and off he went to AAA.  

Surely, he'd sputter at least a bit there, right?  Uhh, no, unless you consider 68 games in AAA hitting .333, with a .385 on base %, as sputtering.

And to all those who were saying, he hit a powerless .355 in AA, where's the pop, how about 25 extra base hits in AAA. 

Eight or nine homers after late July, between AAA and winter ball, showing the 6'1", 200 righty hitter has some emerging pop and could be a 10-15 HR guy.  A .300 major league hitter?  Why not?

20 steals in 27 attempts show there is a bit of giddyup in the lad's gait.  Still looking for flaws, folks.

Maybe the defense is flawed.  80% of his 2014 games at SS, the rest at 2B, and 17 errors.  OK, not Rey Ordonez in the field, but progress in his defensive game over 2013, and not so bad, actually. Maybe he'll be slightly above average defensively when all is said and done.  I still don’t see a real flaw.

In summary, I like the guy.  Too quick with that utility player label, everyone.  Maybe he is a Daniel Murphy with better D.  I'd take that.  Or trade him for something real good during or after 2015.

What does he have that Troy Tulowitzki does not?  How about healthy, younger hips?

He'll show up in Citi this year if healthy.  I look forward to it.  He is going to prove to be far better than Ruben Tejada.  Yes, I look forward to Matt joining the roster in Queens soon.


MY TOP 10 LOWER MINORS LIST:
# 1 - Marcos Molina

#2 – Michael Conforto

#3 – Amed Rosario

#4 – Dominic Smith

#5 - Jhoan Urena

#6 – Vicente Lupo

#7 – Wuilmer Becerra

#8 – Luis Guillorme

#9 - Casey Meisner

#10 - Milton Ramos

8 comments:

  1. I completely agree. He will be known soon.

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  2. The only way he gets a shot is to remove Terry Collins' temptation by dealing Ruben Tejada elsewhere (or DFAing him since they oddly chose to tender him a contract). As long as Tejada is there, Reynolds will not get a shot.

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  3. Wonder why he doesn't get more ink. Flores this , Flores that, but look at those you just put out.
    Real prospect. Pumped for our team

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  4. Meant to say look at his numbers last year.

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  5. I look forward to 2015 for Reynolds. He earned a lot of respect in his great 2014 season. Let's see how his encore performance goes in 2015. I see a Citifield future.

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  6. I appreciate the restraint you've shown in not making him #1 ;)
    I seem to recall anothert recent former vegas 51s player know to have one solid 'tool' who managed to hit around .350 and took awhile to get a chance........I think his name was Juan something

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  7. I watched reynolds play while in college at the university of Arkansas. Became a starter as a freshman. Although he struggled and had gotten injured and played through it. He will compete in spring training. Plan on traveling to Florida to watch. He doesn't need the ink, besides what do these so called experts know. Most of them didn't play.

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