Reds’ Blake Trahan Retires
Reds shortstop Blake Trahan was invited to participate in the Reds’ training camp but instead opted to retire, GM Nick Krall told reporters including C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic.
Just 26 years old, Trahan will close the books on his MLB career entering a season in which he figured to be a depth option for the Cincinnati infield mix. Though he didn’t appear in an MLB game last year, he very well could have gotten another crack at the Majors this year or next.
A 2015 third-round selection from UL-Lafayette, Trahan spent his entire career in the Reds organization, breaking into the big leagues in 2018. In 11 games at the Major League level, Trahan played all over the infield and notched a 3-for-14 batting line. In his minor league career spanning parts of five seasons, Trahan hit 14 home runs and stole 56 bases in 79 attempts.
We at MLB Trade Rumors wish Mr. Trahan all the best in his future endeavors, baseball-related or otherwise.
Minor MLB Transactions: 8/8/19
Here are Thursday’s minor moves from around the game…
Latest Moves
- The Marlins announced that infielder Yadiel Rivera cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A, after he was designated for assignment on Tuesday. Rivera has seen action in each of the last five MLB seasons, but doesn’t have much to show for it at the plate, including a .183/.258/.217 slash line in 66 PA for Miami in 2019.
Earlier Today
- The Reds announced that infielder Blake Trahan has been outrighted to Triple-A Louisville after clearing waivers. Trahan was designated for assignment earlier this week. The 25-year-old has spent much of his season at Louisville already, hitting only .230/.280/.324 over 323 plate appearances, continuing Trahan’s struggles at the plate during his five-year pro career (which included 11 games for the Reds at the big league level in 2018).
- The Royals released 23-year-old first baseman Samir Duenez from their Triple-A club, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports (via Twitter). Duenez ranked as Kansas City’s No. 13 prospect, per Baseball America, as recently as the 2017-18 offseason. However, he’s endured a miserable season at the plate in 2019, batting a combined .199/.261/.307 in 361 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A. BA’s 2017-18 report on him tabbed him as a potential “impact power bat” with average glovework at first base and below-average speed. That outlook has clearly become more clouded with Duenez’s recent struggles, though as a 23-year-old who posted solid Double-A numbers in 2018 (when he was still rather young for the Texas League), he’ll likely find another opportunity elsewhere.
Reds Place Derek Dietrich On IL, Select Brian O’Grady, Designate Blake Trahan
The Reds announced a series of moves today, driven by ongoing shoulder inflammation for infielder Derek Dietrich. He’ll head to the 10-day injured list.
To fill the opening, the Cincinnati organization selected the contract of first baseman/outfielder Brian O’Grady. That necessitated a 40-man opening, which was created by designating infielder Blake Trahan for assignment.
It isn’t known how long the Redlegs expect to go without Dietrich, who has been in a cold spell for some time now. He remains a key piece for the team, particularly after Scooter Gennett was sent packing at the deadline.
In Dietrich’s steady, O’Grady will receive his first shot at the majors. The 27-year-old has appeared in exactly 100 games this year at Triple-A, slashing .277/.351/.562 and popping 27 long balls. That’s a big power outbreak for the former eighth-round draft pick, even after accounting for the wild offensive environment in the International League.
As for the 25-year-old Trahan, who received a cup of coffee last year, the bat just hasn’t come around. He’s carrying an ugly .230/.280/.324 line in 323 plate appearances at the highest level of the minors. The 2015 third-rounder has failed to produce at a league-average rate in the upper minors in prior seasons.