Team Fantasy Preview - Cincinnati Reds
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Throughout the preseason, we will be previewing all 30 teams and what their rosters bring to the fantasy baseball table. This edition covers the Cincinnati Reds:
Projected Lineup
| ORDER | POSITION | NAME | BATS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CF | Billy Hamilton | S |
| 2 | SS | Zack Cozart | R |
| 3 | 1B | Joey Votto | L |
| 4 | LF | Adam Duvall | R |
| 5 | RF | Scott Schebler | L |
| 6 | 3B | Eugenio Suarez | R |
| 7 | C | Devin Mesoraco | R |
| 8 | 2B | Jose Peraza | R |
| BENCH | C | Tucker Barnhart | S |
| BENCH | OF | Desmond Jennings | R |
Projected Rotation
| ORDER | NAME | THROWS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anthony DeSclafani | R |
| 2 | Scott Feldman | R |
| 3 | Brandon Finnegan | L |
| 4 | Tim Adleman | R |
| 5 | Robert Stephenson | R |
RHP Homer Bailey is starting the season on the disabled list following elbow surgery in February. He is expected to return in June.
Bullpen Hierarchy
| ROLE | NAME | THROWS |
|---|---|---|
| Closer | Raisel Iglesias | R |
| Set-Up | Michael Lorenzen | R |
| RP | Tony Cingrani | L |
Top Prospect to Watch in 2017
SP Amir Garrett. The 6-foot-5 lefty is set to join the big league club at some point in 2017, if not out of spring training. There's not much more for him to do in the minors, where he has honed a mid-90s fastball-slider-changeup combo that should lead to viable fantasy strikeout totals. He may not be an ace but he's trending toward fantasy relevance.
Who Will Drive You Crazy?
In Suarez's first season with a full-time role in the majors, he showed off big-play potential with 21 HRs and 11 SBs. He also posted a mediocre .317 OBP, which means he's probably not going to have much exposure to the top of the order, where the likes of Votto and Hamilton will produce massive run and RBI totals for those hitting near them.
The One to Own
If scouting grades went above 80, Hamilton's speed grade would be 90. Unlike 2016, when he made 114 plate appearances out of the seventh or ninth spot in the lineup, Hamilton and his improving plate discipline will take virtually all his PAs in leadoff, ahead of hit-machine Votto. He could tally 120 runs and 80 SBs if he can maintain an OBP near .320.
Top Sleeper
The Reds likely won't consider moving Votto up to the two-slot. Cozart hasn't shown that he can be an above-average on-base option, but did see all but seven PAs batting first or second last season. Whoever bats between Hamilton and Votto has a shot at a 80-run, 80-RBI season. For now, that looks like Cozart.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)