The Baseball is Red, The Horses Are Dark
May 20, 2022 18:53:53 GMT -5
Commissioner Erick, brewersgm, and 1 more like this
Post by mikereds on May 20, 2022 18:53:53 GMT -5
After a promising 88-74 2026 campaign, the wheels came off in 2027 and the Reds only managed 60 wins, their second worst season in the PBA era. With new scout Anthony Slama now on board, the new direction of the Reds front office is to look desperately for improvements wherever they might be found, be they foreign misfits, castoffs, other teams' sloppy seconds, or men of ultimate mystery. Here is a summary of some of these Reds dark horses worth keeping an eye on in 2028:
1) Joe Rizzo (MLB 1B/3B/DH). Once a Royals fixture, in 2027, Rizzo lost playing time with the team as younger talent emerged. He started only 105 games in 2027, compared to the 147 or more starts he logged in 2020-2026. Still only 29, Joe left in free agency and surprisingly was happy to sign a $1.6 million one-year prove it deal early in free agency with the Reds. Sources indicate that Rizzo (affectionally called J-Rizz by the batboys) is working on regaining his power stroke (he only managed 14 homers in his 2025 and 2026 combined) with new swing mechanics. The homer-friendly Great American Ball Park seems as good as place as any to do it. Odds are management will need to see at least 20 homers from Rizzo in 2028 in order to consider any kind of extension.
2) Robbie Ross Jr (MLB reliever). Reds management regretted not extending "The Lawnmower", who was a solid part of their 2026 bullpen. They decided to rectify that mistake in 2028, reuniting with the lefty for 1 year with a $1 million dollar deal. Ross basically got the 2027 season off, pitching a meager 7 innings for the Cardinals farm last year. The Reds are hoping Robbie can help the bullpen rebound in 2028. Is his slider still good enough to frustrate batters?
3) Jim Mashburn (MLB OF/1B). "Liberty" Mashburn was one of the very few bright spots in Cincinnati in 2027. The 2025 8th round pick over-achieved in the minors and had a nice rookie debut with 11 homers and a .906 in 188 at-bats. "Liberty" hopes to continue that effort in 2028 and put an exclamation mark on his status as a PBA Draft sleeper.
4) Victor "Victor Victor" Mesa Jr (AAA CF). The Reds were surprised to see the Brewers let go of the Cuban league star late in the pre-season. Mesa Jr. saw limited action in 2027 but tallied a .905 OPS in 90 at-bats. The 31-year old can hit for average, and if the Reds are in need of a hot bat as the season progresses there's a possibility he could receive a call up. Mesa Jr. is surly and every bit an outsider, but the Reds clubhouse will put up with his oddities if he can still hit anything like he did in the Cuban league.
5) Alejandro Ramirez (A+ 1B). Ramirez is one of the most enigmatic players in Reds history. He played in an independent league with no name and with no recorded stats. He tried out for Slama, who liked what he saw. "He showed up with a refined swing and good plate discipline", said Slama. "He also has innate ability to field first base. Look, when you're a 60-win team with a limited budget, you learn not to ask too many questions. Ramirez says he's from New Jersey. He might also be a space alien. No family to speak of, but there's a Perkins waitress he's had his eye on. Wants to be paid in cash - small bills. Likes to crank obscure 70's prog rock in the clubhouse. He's quite a trip." The Reds plan to start Ramirez at high A, monitor his progress closely and deny his whereabouts to authorities.
6) Abdul-Muhaimin Bin Bilal (AAA SS). Bin Bilal, sometimes called "BB Gun", has become a cult hero in the Reds organization. He's a fan favorite because of his excellent speed and grit and the season ticket holders want to see him in the majors. He had a breakout in AA in 2027, hitting .292 and posting 5.5 WAR with superb defense. Will he play well enough in AAA to make the Reds consider shopping established shortstop Wander Samuel Franco? Wait and see.
7) Chris Schoepflin (MLB 2B) and Kevin Furtado (MLB 1B/OF). These players are listed together here because they are both established minor league stars for Milwaukee who couldn't quite break into the bigs. Schoepflin was waived and claimed by the Reds during the offseason, while Furtado was acquired during the Rule V Draft. Both hope to show the juggernaut Brewers that they made a mistake in letting them go. Furtado is the nephew of Canadian singer Nellie Furtado.
1) Joe Rizzo (MLB 1B/3B/DH). Once a Royals fixture, in 2027, Rizzo lost playing time with the team as younger talent emerged. He started only 105 games in 2027, compared to the 147 or more starts he logged in 2020-2026. Still only 29, Joe left in free agency and surprisingly was happy to sign a $1.6 million one-year prove it deal early in free agency with the Reds. Sources indicate that Rizzo (affectionally called J-Rizz by the batboys) is working on regaining his power stroke (he only managed 14 homers in his 2025 and 2026 combined) with new swing mechanics. The homer-friendly Great American Ball Park seems as good as place as any to do it. Odds are management will need to see at least 20 homers from Rizzo in 2028 in order to consider any kind of extension.
2) Robbie Ross Jr (MLB reliever). Reds management regretted not extending "The Lawnmower", who was a solid part of their 2026 bullpen. They decided to rectify that mistake in 2028, reuniting with the lefty for 1 year with a $1 million dollar deal. Ross basically got the 2027 season off, pitching a meager 7 innings for the Cardinals farm last year. The Reds are hoping Robbie can help the bullpen rebound in 2028. Is his slider still good enough to frustrate batters?
3) Jim Mashburn (MLB OF/1B). "Liberty" Mashburn was one of the very few bright spots in Cincinnati in 2027. The 2025 8th round pick over-achieved in the minors and had a nice rookie debut with 11 homers and a .906 in 188 at-bats. "Liberty" hopes to continue that effort in 2028 and put an exclamation mark on his status as a PBA Draft sleeper.
4) Victor "Victor Victor" Mesa Jr (AAA CF). The Reds were surprised to see the Brewers let go of the Cuban league star late in the pre-season. Mesa Jr. saw limited action in 2027 but tallied a .905 OPS in 90 at-bats. The 31-year old can hit for average, and if the Reds are in need of a hot bat as the season progresses there's a possibility he could receive a call up. Mesa Jr. is surly and every bit an outsider, but the Reds clubhouse will put up with his oddities if he can still hit anything like he did in the Cuban league.
5) Alejandro Ramirez (A+ 1B). Ramirez is one of the most enigmatic players in Reds history. He played in an independent league with no name and with no recorded stats. He tried out for Slama, who liked what he saw. "He showed up with a refined swing and good plate discipline", said Slama. "He also has innate ability to field first base. Look, when you're a 60-win team with a limited budget, you learn not to ask too many questions. Ramirez says he's from New Jersey. He might also be a space alien. No family to speak of, but there's a Perkins waitress he's had his eye on. Wants to be paid in cash - small bills. Likes to crank obscure 70's prog rock in the clubhouse. He's quite a trip." The Reds plan to start Ramirez at high A, monitor his progress closely and deny his whereabouts to authorities.
6) Abdul-Muhaimin Bin Bilal (AAA SS). Bin Bilal, sometimes called "BB Gun", has become a cult hero in the Reds organization. He's a fan favorite because of his excellent speed and grit and the season ticket holders want to see him in the majors. He had a breakout in AA in 2027, hitting .292 and posting 5.5 WAR with superb defense. Will he play well enough in AAA to make the Reds consider shopping established shortstop Wander Samuel Franco? Wait and see.
7) Chris Schoepflin (MLB 2B) and Kevin Furtado (MLB 1B/OF). These players are listed together here because they are both established minor league stars for Milwaukee who couldn't quite break into the bigs. Schoepflin was waived and claimed by the Reds during the offseason, while Furtado was acquired during the Rule V Draft. Both hope to show the juggernaut Brewers that they made a mistake in letting them go. Furtado is the nephew of Canadian singer Nellie Furtado.
