A few Reds-related items to round up:
- The team has released Kip Wells, according to the club's official Twitter page. They had signed the veteran right-hander to a minor league deal earlier in the winter.
- Aroldis Chapman is among the players listed in the same tweet that will head to the Reds' Triple A affiliate in Louisville.
- Mike Leake, Cincinnati's first round pick in last year's draft, has earned a spot in the rotation as the team's fifth starter, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Sheldon points out that Leake will be the first drafted pitcher to skip the Minor Leagues entirely since Darren Dreifort, and ESPN.com's Rob Neyer adds that no starting pitcher has pulled off the feat since Jim Abbott in 1989.
- John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes that Wladimir Balentien and Aaron Miles remain on the roster for now, but will not be on the team. GM Walt Jocketty says that the club will try to trade them in the next few days, if possible. Fay adds in a tweet that the pair will be designated for assignment on Sunday.
I was so happy to hear that Mike Leake made the rotation. First since 1994 to go straight to the Majors. I was just estatic.
I’ll add Mike Leake to my ‘to-watch’ list for this year then
Good luck to the kid.
Man I’m excited about Leake. ROY ROY!
I don’t know about Leake. He’s a good pitcher, but I think he should spend at least a month or so in the minors. Maybe that’s just me, but I think it would be good for him.
Chapman and Strasburg both had nice Springs, but they’re going down to the minors. I understand that Chapman had a bit of an injury and the Nats have more options to fill that last spot in the rotation until Strasburg is ready, but still.
Either way, I’ll be rooting for Leake to perform well…except when he’s playing against the Cubs.
I wholeheartedly agree with you. I’m surprised the Reds aren’t at least trying to delay his arb clock a bit.
Dusty is just lickin’ his lips with that young pitcher to mess all up!
Joking haha, I wish the kid luck he’s gonna need it without minor league experience
Generally I would agree with you on a pitcher needing time in the minors, but this kid isn’t the stereotypical power pitcher who has command issues or needs to develop another pitch. Leake can throw 4 pitches for strikes and he throws them all with command and confidence. His ceiling is probably a #2/3 starter if he reaches full potential and confidence is not an issue with this guy. He is close to being as good as his body will allow so I expect him to have a fairly successful year. He has a very quiet confidence that he has portrayed since he was drafted. He is fit to handle the ups and downs of the majors imo
All of that may be so, but a young player going down to the minors is just a part of the game. That’s how it works. That’s why there hasn’t been a pitcher who has skipped the minors since 94 and that pitcher was Dreifort who ended up being a complete and total trainwreck. When it comes down to it even the best pitchers spend time in the minors.
Having Dreifort mentioned in the same sentence is never good. EVER! Why did the M’s front office not listen to Lou and draft him?
WHat was Mike Leake Spring Training Numbers (Giants fan here)
1-0/3.00 ERA/18 IP/16 H/6 ER/1 HR/4 BB/10 K/
mike leake aka christmas tree coming soon!!!
Wow very suprising that Leake made the rotation.