Eight Reds prospects among those extending their seasons

[el loco]

AFL offers serious training ground
Eight Reds prospects among those extending their seasons
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com

CINCINNATI -- If a player is invited to play in the Arizona Fall League, it's a sign that his big league dream has come within grasping-reach.
Major League rosters are loaded with alumni that played in the AFL, which began play this week. The six-team league consists mainly of top-end prospects from the Double-A and Triple-A levels. The Reds sent eight prospects from their organization to participate this year.

"Anytime you can get guys additional playing time in any venue, it's good," Reds Minor League director Terry Reynolds said. "When you can get them playing against the better prospects from other organizations, it's even better."

Among Major Leaguers with AFL experience are Reds pitchers Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo, second baseman Brandon Phillips and first baseman Joey Votto. MLB superstars like Derek Jeter and Ryan Howard also played in the league.

The Reds playing in the AFL this year are pitchers Pedro Viola, Sean Watson, Robert Manuel and Carlos Fisher, outfielder Drew Stubbs and infielders Chris Valaika, Justin Turner and Sean Henry. Louisville coach Ted Power, a former Reds reliever, will be a pitching coach.

"I think it's a good experience and competition for those kids," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. "We're sending some pretty good players. If other teams did the same, there will be some very good competition."

The most familiar name to Reds fans among this year's AFL group will be Stubbs, Cincinnati's 2006 first-round Draft pick out of the Univ. of Texas. The 24-year-old reached Triple-A Louisville by the end of this season.

Louisville wasn't the intended target, originally. Stubbs began 2008 at Class A Sarasota and batted .261 over 86 games before making the move to Double-A Chattanooga. The stay only lasted 26 games while he batted .315 with a .400 on-base percentage.

In August, injuries and an outfield shortage at Louisville necessitated another promotion. Like Jay Bruce a year ago, it was supposed to be short stay before returning to Chattanooga. Instead, it became permanent.

"Truth be told, I thought it might be better for him to spend the whole summer in Double-A," Reynolds said. "But he was a pleasant surprise at Louisville. He held his own there."

Stubbs played center field exclusively at Louisville under manager Rick Sweet. There are plans to improve his versatility next season at the other two outfield spots. The Reds do not have to protect Stubbs on their 40-man roster until after the 2009 season. The decision hasn't been made yet whether to invite him to big league camp as a non-roster player next spring.

In 19 games with Louisville, Stubbs batted .293. Overall at the three levels, he batted .277 with seven homers, 57 RBIs, 33 doubles, 33 steals and a .371 OBP. He walked 67 times with 123 strikeouts.

The Reds have been working with Stubbs to not expand his strike zone too much and to cut down on the K's.

"He improved significantly. It's an area where he'll have to continue to work," Reynolds said. "We want him to put the ball in play and use his speed. We just don't want him to strike out. It's an effort for all of our coaches to get him better at that."

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/art ... p&c_id=cin