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Former Dragon Todd Frazier Named Reds Top Prospect By Baseball America

November 18, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1) - Dayton Dragons News Release


DAYTON, OH -Former Dayton Dragons infielder Todd Frazier was selected today as the number one prospect in the Cincinnati Reds organization by Baseball America, the trade publication for Minor League Baseball.

Frazier played for the Dragons briefly in 2007 and then opened the 2008 season in Dayton. In 2008, he batted.321 with the Dragons with seven home runs and 20 runs batted in, appearing in 30 games. Frazier belted one of the season's most memorable home runs in the second home game of the year, April 8, 2008, when he delivered a game-winning "walk-off" homer to beat Fort Wayne. It was his second home run of that game.

Frazier hit a tape-measure home run at Fifth Third Field in the Reds Futures Game on April 4, 2009. He spent most of the 2009 season with the Double-A Carolina Mudcats and batted.290 with 14 home runs and 68 runs batted in. He also added 40 doubles in 119 games. He was promoted to Triple-A Louisville for the final two weeks of the season and the playoffs. With Louisville, he batted.302 with two home runs and nine runs batted in. He added five more doubles at Louisville to give him 45 for the year, one fewer than the leader for all of Minor League Baseball. Frazier, a highly-versatile player, spent time at shortstop, third base, and first base with the Dragons in 2008. He played left field and second base in 2009.

Other former Dragons on the list of top-10 prospects as announced by Baseball America include outfielder Chris Heisey (2007 Dragons) at number four; third baseman Juan Francisco (2007 Dragons) at number five; left-handed pitcher Travis Wood (2006 Dragons) at number seven; and shortstop Zack Cozart (2007-'08 Dragons) at number 10.

The Reds last two first round draft picks, 2008 selection Yonder Alonso (first baseman) and '09 pick Mike Leake (right-handed pitcher) were listed at number two and number three respectively. Outfielder Yorman Rodriguez, a young 17-year-old prospect who may play in Dayton in a future season, was listed at number six. Others in the top-10 include left-handed pitcher Matt Maloney at number eight and right-handed pitcher Brad Boxberger, the Reds supplemental first round draft pick in 2009, at number nine.

Like Frazier, Heisey and Francisco both split the 2009 season between Carolina and Louisville and both had huge offensive years. Heisey led the entire Reds organization in batting average at.314 while finishing tied for second in both home runs (22) and RBI (77). With the Dragons in 2007, Heisey played in 104 games and batted.289 with nine homers.

Francisco led the Reds organization in both home runs with 27 and RBI with 93 while batting.295. He also appeared in 14 games for the Reds and hit.429 with a home run in 21 at-bats. With the Dragons in 2007, Francisco led the Midwest League in home runs with 25.

Wood had the best season of any starting pitcher in the Reds organization. He posted a record of 13-5 with a 1.77 earned run average that ranked second among starting pitchers in all of Minor League Baseball. Wood led the Southern League in ERA with Carolina at 1.21 in 19 starts, going 9-3 before advancing to Louisville. Wood was 4-2, 3.14 in eight starts in Triple-A.

Baseball America also singled out players with the "Best Tools" in the Reds organization in 15 categories. Former Dragons on the list included Francisco (Best Power Hitter and Best Infield Arm); Wood (Best Change-up); right-handed pitcher Mark Serrano (Best Slider); shortstop Miguel Rojas (Best Defensive Infielder); and outfielder Dave Sappelt (Best Defensive Outfielder).

Top-10 Prospects:

1. Todd Frazier, of/2b/3b
2. Yonder Alonso, 1b
3. Mike Leake, rhp
4. Chris Heisey, of
5. Juan Francisco, 3b
6. Yorman Rodriguez, of
7. Travis Wood, lhp
8. Matt Maloney, lhp
9. Brad Boxberger, rhp
10. Zack Cozart, ss

Best Tools:

Best Hitter for Average: Yonder Alonso
Best Power Hitter: Juan Francisco
Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Yonder Alonso
Fastest Baserunner: Theodis Bowe
Best Athlete: Yorman Rodriguez
Best Fastball: Brad Boxberger
Best Curveball: Mike Leake
Best Slider: Mark Serrano
Best Changeup: Travis Wood
Best Control: Matt Maloney
Best Defensive Catcher: Chris McMurray
Best Defensive Infielder: Miguel Rojas
Best Infield Arm: Juan Francisco
Best Defensive Outfielder: David Sappelt
Best Outfield Arm: Yorman Rodriguez
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