Cincinnati Reds' Arizona Fall League Report - Chad Wallach and
How are the Cincinnati Reds’ Arizona Fall League prospects doing in Peoria?
While the Cincinnati Reds struggled to a 68-94 record, there is plenty of reason for hope in the future. The team is loaded with talented prospects across all of their minor-league teams, and several of them are working at getting better this fall with the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League.
Let’s take a look at how a pair of Reds’ prospects are performing in Arizona as compared to their minor league seasons
Chad Wallach (1B/C)
2016 Stats (Arizona Fall League/Double-A):
Peoria: .242/.324/.482, 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 3 BB, 8 K, 0 SB
Pensacola: .240/.363/.410, 10 2B, 8 HR, 30 RBI, 37 BB, 46 K, 0 SB
Wallach was a catcher primarily in Pensacola, but has split his time in Peoria between 1B and DH. He was the primary prospect that came over with Anthony DeSclafani in the Mat Latos deal with the Miami Marlins. Wallach missed six weeks in the middle of the 2016 season, so he needs the extra work.
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos saw several people play first base for them this year. Both Wallach and Brandon Dixon were among the list. The Reds are uncertain as to who is their long term answer behind the place, but they are also uncertain about Wallach. When the Reds acquired Wallach, they hoped he would replace Devin Mesoraco someday as the everyday catcher. That was before Tucker Barnhart showed up.
Brandon Dixon had a better regular season than Wallach, but he has changed his approach in the fall league.
Brandon Dixon (INF)
2016 Stats (Arizona Fall League/Double-A):
Peoria: .286/.375/.321, 1 2B, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 9 K, 1 SB
Pensacola: .260/.315/.434, 23 2B, 16 HR, 65 RBI, 30 BB, 137 K, 15 SB
In a small sample, Dixon has shown more patience in Peoria. It has helped his OBP, but hurt his slugging. He’s an infielder because he is similar to a current Red, Jose Peraza, in that he plays numerous positions. The only place of the seven in the field that he didn’t play in Pensacola was shortstop.
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He is primarily a second baseman and will likely move up the organization as such. In Peoria he has started a few games at first base and was the back up first baseman in Pensacola. The Cincinnati Reds will want him to progress as a second baseman, but the major league team is so fluid that he could change positions to fill a need at any time. That’s the status of a Cincinnati Reds’ farmhand these days.
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