Roster Moves

The Reds optioned Bill Bray to AAA, sent Andy Phillips down (likely to AAA) and returned Jose Capellan.

Top 10 Names to know in the Southern League - Danny Dorn 

Jonathon Mayo has been writing these ‘Top 10 to know’ articles for each league and today he got to the Southern League. Coming in at #2 overall on the list was Danny Dorn. Here is what he had to say about Dorn(Photo: Tim Evearitt) :

2. Daniel Dorn, OF

Chattanooga Lookouts (Cincinnati)

Not everyone on this list has to be a “top prospect.” It’s good to root for the underdog. Dorn was a 32nd-round pick in 2006 and the Reds look like they got a bargain. The senior sign has hit .309 in his brief pro career with a .401 OBP and .524 SLG. He hit 20 homers last year, including eight in 26 games at this level (to go along with a .311 average). He’ll be in Chattanooga from the get-go, but at the rate he’s been going, don’t expect this overachiever to be there too long.

I am right with Mayo on this guy. Dorn may be the best draft pick the Reds made in the 2006 draft. That doesn’t mean he will be the best player,  but for where he was taken and what he signed for, he has already turned out to be a great pick. I would expect Dorn to get off to a hot start in Chattanooga and make a push to Louisville if there is a spot open on the roster for him. Hopefully he can make strides with his bat against lefties, but even if he doesn’t, he still absolutely destroys right handed pitching.

David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press wrote an article on Craig Tatum. Here are some of the highlights from it:

“For the most part, coming to Chattanooga was a learning experience,” Tatum said. “I hit really well up there until the last 15 or 20 games, and not having a lot of at-bats killed me when I went into that skid at the end. I didn’t make my adjustments quick enough at the end of the season, but I learned from that, and hopefully this year is a little better.”

“My thing is just to try and take care of the pitching staff and let them have the confidence in me,” Tatum said. “They’re the people who make everything roll, so you’ve got work with them. Hitting comes last. You have to do everything you can to keep your pitcher happy and to let him trust you, so that’s what I’ve been trying to work on.”

Some of the article is a little fluff, but its worth giving it a read. Tatum is the closest legit catching prospect in the system, so having him step up would be real big for the team’s near future.

Dayton names their #1 starter 

Last years 3rd round draft pick Scott Carroll will be starting for the Dragons on Opening Day. He didn’t pitch much last year, as he only logged 15 innings with the Billings Mustangs after he was drafted, but they were pretty good innings.

The Dayton roster is set today sometime, so maybe we will get our hands on it sometime today. One note is that Kyle Lotzkar, last years 3rd First round pick, will begin the year in extended spring training and is slated to go to Billings. Being that he will be 18 years old all year, its not too much of a problem but I will say it sucks that I won’t get to trek up to Dayton to see him this year.