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Leake makes rotation; Reds set roster

Written by Dave Biddle | 02 April 2010

Wow, talk about the unexpected.

Rookie Mike Leake has won the No. 5 spot in the Cincinnati Reds' rotation despite never having thrown a pitch in the minor leagues.

Leake was the Reds' first-round pick in the 2009 draft (No. 8 overall) and did not sign until close to the deadline. Therefore, he didn't get his feet wet in the minors last year, although he did pitch in the Arizona Fall League.

Leake was extremely impressive this spring and beat out rookie Travis Wood for the final spot in the rotation. Wood will begin the season at AAA Louisville.

How rare is it for a pitcher to go straight from college to the Big Leagues? Extremely. It hasn't happened since 1994 - Darren Dreifort with the Dodgers - and the last one before that was Jim Abbott in 1989 with the Angels.

So, is Leake a star in the making? The Reds certainly think so. It says a lot that they aren't worried about keeping him in the minors just so they can save money in the future (which is what many think they are doing with Aroldis Chapman). Credit goes to the team for finding the best pitcher for the staff, no matter who it is.

Leake, 22, has a lot of moxie on the mound - in addition to a variety of pitches that he can spot well - and it's going to be real interesting to see how he performs. He's going to have a lot of pressure on him, but one of the things the Reds love about the Arizona State product is his composure.

He likely won't make his debut until April 11 at home against the Cubs, therefore the Reds could technically leave him off the 25-man roster until then.

In fact, it looks like that's exactly what they plan on doing considering there are really 26 players on the roster right now including Leake.

Some of the other interesting decisions that were made on pink-slip day:

  • Rookie slugger Juan Francisco made the team (at least for now) and manager Dusty Baker said he will be the backup third baseman, and can also play first base and left field. Francisco might be sent down when Leake is needed as the fifth starter, but it still speaks volumes about how the club feels about him. At AA and AAA combined last year, Francisco batted .295 with 27 home runs and 93 RBIs. If Scott Rolen goes down with an injury -- which is bound to happen eventually -- the Reds are fortunate to have Francisco waiting in the wings.
  • Veteran Miguel Cairo made the team (at least for now) as the utility infielder, beating out Aaron Miles (the Reds are eating his $2.7 million contract) and Drew Sutton. The good news is that Sutton had options left and if he tears it up at Louisville, the Reds can always bring him up.
  • Laynce Nix made the team as the No. 5 outfielder, beating out Wladimir Balentien. Hopefully Balentien clears waivers (he didn't have any options left) although it wouldn't be a surprise to see a team claim him.
  • Rookie relief pitcher Logan Ondrusek - all 6-foot-8 of him - made the team over Jared Burton (who was optioned to Louisville). Ondrusek was a 13th-round pick by the Reds in the 2005 draft out of McLennan (Texas) Community College and had a breakout year in the minors in 2009. He started the year at high-A Sarasota (13 appearances), was then promoted to AA Carolina (24 appearances) and finished the season in AAA Louisville (19 appearances). Combined for the year he was 4-1 with a 1.50 ERA and 19 saves (12 of which were at Louisville). In 72 innings, he gave up just 44 hits, walked 21 and struck out 47.
  • Micah Owings and Mike Lincoln round out the Reds' bullpen.

2010 CINCINNATI REDS

STARTING PITCHING ROTATION

  1. Aaron Harang
  2. Bronson Arroyo
  3. Johnny Cueto
  4. Homer Bailey
  5. Mike Leake

(Edinson Volquez is returning from Tommy John surgery; is expected to return in early August.)

BULLPEN (in order of importance)

  • Francisco Cordero (closer)
  • Arthur Rhodes (lefty)
  • Nick Masset
  • Danny Ray Herrera (lefty)
  • Micah Owings
  • Logan Ondrusek
  • Mike Lincoln

LINEUP

  1. Chris Dickerson/Drew Stubbs - CF
  2. Orlando Cabrera - SS
  3. Joey Votto - 1B
  4. Brandon Phillips - 2B
  5. Scott Rolen - 3B
  6. Jay Bruce - RF
  7. Jonny Gomes - LF
  8. Ramon Hernandez - C

RESERVES

  • Laynce Nix - OF
  • Dickerson/Stubbs - OF
  • Juan Francisco - 1B, 3B, LF
  • Paul Janish - SS
  • Ryan Hanigan - C
  • Miguel Cairo - INF

PREDICTION: 83-79

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