Reds sending 7 prospects to play in AFL
CINCINNATI -- The Reds will be sending seven prospects out west to take part in the Arizona Fall League, it was announced on Wednesday.
Included in the group are two prospects ranked in the Reds’ Top 30 by MLB Pipeline. Reds players will play for Surprise Saguaros and are grouped with others affiliated with the Nationals, Rangers, Royals and Yankees organizations.
Cincinnati will be sending pitchers Michael Byrne, Eddy Demurias and Jacques Pucheu and outfielder Drew Mount from Double-A Chattanooga to Arizona. Right-handed pitcher James Marinan, infielder Ivan Johnson and outfielder Michael Siani from High-A Dayton will also be headed to the AFL.
Siani, 22, is ranked as the Reds’ No. 11 prospect while Johnson is ranked at No. 16.
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Also involved are Chattanooga game-planning coach Kyle Amsberg and Dominican Summer League trainer Lauren Powers.
The six-team AFL is often viewed as an avenue for advanced development for players that are -- or soon will be -- on the big league radar. The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the league from playing games in 2020.
There will be some rules experimentation and new ideas tried out this fall as well. AFL rules will include a pitch timer, restriction on defensive positioning, larger bases and the Automatic Ball-Strike System (“ABS”). Pitchers and catchers will also be permitted to use PitchCom, a pitcher-catcher communication device.
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Double-A All-Stars announced
Minor League Baseball announced its All-Star teams on Wednesday. From Chattanooga, outfielder Lorenzo Cedrola and designated hitter Wilson Garcia were named All-Stars.
Cedrola batted .320 with nine home runs, 61 RBIs and an .817 OPS in 106 games in Double-A. Garcia batted .290 with 18 homers, 64 RBIs and a .788 OPS in 103 games.