CINCINNATI REDS
Reds Minor League Pitcher of the Month: Ryan Hendrix (Chattanooga)
Reds Minor League Player of the Month: Josh VanMeter (Louisville)
Louisville Bats
‘Josh VanMeter
Josh VanMeter
April Record: 10-16
Top Hitter: Josh VanMeter
Top Pitcher: Anthony Bass
The opening month for the Bats started slow, but the Bats picked up, particularly behind a historic month from Josh VanMeter at the plate. His dominant April was capped by a 4-for-5, 3 home run, 8 RBI performance on 4/29 at Toledo, which set a new Bats single game record in RBI.
VanMeter’s statline proved just how dominant he was in April: 34 hits, 24 runs, 28 RBI, 16 extra-base hits, 11 home runs, 72 total bases and a .446 on-base percentage. VanMeter was honored as the International League’s Player of the Month.
Other highlights included:
4/11: Bats erase both a 4 and 3 run deficit to defeat Gwinnett in home-opener, 7-6.
4/23: Reds MLB.com no. 1 prospect Nick Senzel makes his regular season debut.
4/27: Bats walk-off over Norfolk with a Brian O’Grady single.
4/27: Blake Trahan is presented with his 2018 Rawlings Gold Glove Award® in a pregame ceremony
Chattanooga Lookouts
‘Luis Gonzalez
Luis Gonzalez
April Record: 11-12
Top Hitter: Luis Gonzalez
Top Pitcher: Ryan Hendrix
Back as the AA affiliate of the Reds, the Lookouts opened April by beginning 4-3. The team hit a lull mid-month, losing 5 straight games. However, a 5-game win streak late in the month put the team at nearly .500 to end April.
Luis Gonzalez had a strong month at the plate for the Lookouts, hitting .326 in 17 games, driving in 8 runs and scoring 9. Taylor Trammell, MLB.com’s No. 2 Reds prospect, led the team in walks (15) and RBI (15). No. 5 prospect Tony Santillan led with 34 strikeouts, while Ryan Hendrix compiled a 3-0 record without allowing an earned run in 10 1/3 innings of work.
Other highlights included:
4/6: The Lookouts come-from-behind, scoring 2 in the 8th, to earn its first win.
4/11: Chattanooga strikes for 14 hits, only 1 of which was extra-bases, in a 6-2 win over Jackson.
4/24: The Lookouts defeat the Smokies 4-3, by scoring every run in the 7th and 8th innings.
4/28: Chattanooga wins its 5th straight game, 6-5 over Biloxi.
Daytona Tortugas
Wendolyn Bautista
Wendolyn Bautista
April Record: 13-12
Top Hitter: Alejo Lopez
Top Pitcher: Wendolyn Bautista
The Tortugas flirted with 1st place late in April, but has hovered around the top of the standings for much of the opening month. The team won 7-straight games in the latter part of April. Balanced hitting as well as strong pitching from Aneurys Zabala, Packy Naughton, and Ryan Lillie have kept the Tortugas in many games, losing no game by more than 6 runs.
Other highlights included:
4/20: The Tortugas sweep Florida in a Saturday double-header, 3-2 and 7-5.
4/24: Trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the 10th with the tying run at third and 2 outs, Jonathan India swung and missed at a third strike in the dirt. However, the throw down to first base – which would have ended the game – sailed wide and ended up in right field. Bruce Yari took the next pitch for a double, ending the game and clinching a Daytona win.
4/30: Daytona stuns Dunedin, again, scoring 7 in the final 4 frames to win 8-7.
Dayton Dragons
Jay Schuyler
Jay Schuyler
April Record: 8-15
Top Hitter: Jay Schuyler
Top Pitcher: Eduardo Salazar
The Dragons struggled for much of the opening month, winning only 1 series during April. A bright spot was Jay Schuyler, who hit .347 in 20 games with 26 hits and 14 RBI. Alexis Diaz had an organization high 4 wins on the mound.
Other highlights included:
4/4: The Dragons open at Fifth Third Field in front of 7,622 fans, yet another sell out.
4/15: Jacob Heatherly, who in his first start against Fort Wayne did not make it out of the 1st inning, pitches 4.0 scoreless innings against the TinCaps.
4/23: Pabel Manzanero knocks 3 home runs in route to a 7-4 win over Lake County.