Ranking Cincinnati Reds' Most Major League Ready Prospects for Next Season

The Cincinnati Reds farm system isn't necessarily bursting with talent, at no fault to Walt Jocketty. Most teams that are supposed to be contenders don't have a rich farm to fall back on at the moment. Consider this list made just days ago on B/R by Mike Rosenbaum, ranking every organization's farm. You'll notice a healthy amount of contenders occupying the lowest spots.

And it makes sense. A team will use its farm to either improve its major league roster via calling prospects up, removing them from the farm or trading those prospects for MLB talent. It's the cyclical nature of the sport, which is why criticism around the farm system of a team that is supposed to be contending never carries that much weight. 

Regardless, there are several near-MLB-ready prospects in the Reds farm. Not a lot, but they're there. This list will rank these players from almost-ready to most-likely-playing in Cincinnati next season. 

All stats and player information courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

No. 4 OF, Felix Perez

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Had Felix Perez been on the 40-man roster, he would probably be playing for the Reds right now. Perez has been in the Reds farm system for five seasons now. In those five seasons, he's slashing .281/.329/.404.

Perez had an exceptional year at Triple-A this season, slashing .280/.325/.450. He recorded 129 hits in 122 games, including 36 doubles, three triples and 12 home runs. 

For his stellar performance, Perez was selected to the International League roster for the Triple-A All-Star Game. And while many Reds fans may not know of him, this player was at one time a very valuable prospect for the New York Yankees. But per Rotoworld.com, he lost out on a $3.5 million signing bonus when he lied about his age. If he can make the 40-man roster next season, he should be able to make the 25-man roster.

The 29-year-old left-hander may be a valuable bat off the bench, provided there is room. 

No. 3 1B, Neftali Soto

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Neftali Soto has made a few brief appearances with the Reds, so most Reds fans are already familiar with him. Taken in the third round of the 2007 amateur draft, Soto has been ascending through the Reds farm system ever since.

He's slashing just .071/.091/.095 in the majors, which is hardly worth even mentioning considering his 30 at-bats this season. Soto has just 41 plate appearances in the majors combined, so there's little evidence to digest beyond his minor league performance, which was stellar. His 84 hits in 75 games played in Louisville are more indicative of his capability. 

In eight minor league seasons, Soto is slashing .274/.322/.447. This season, he slashed .302/.350/.406. 

While Soto has already been included on the 40-man roster, it's probably about time he be included on the 25-man. When you see what he's done in the minors, is it reasonable to believe he would be a better back-up to Joey Votto than Jack Hannahan? 

No. 2 RP, Ryan Dennick

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Ryan Dennick was taken in the 22nd round by the Kansas City Royals in 2009. The 27-year-old left-hander has been working his way through the minors leagues since. This year was his first experience at the major league level; It has not been a good one.

Dennick has only pitched 3.2 innings of work, so by no means has the book on him been written. But in just 3.2 innings with the Reds, he's allowed six hits for four earned runs, including two home runs. He also walked two while striking out three. 

Still, the left-hander has demonstrated real promise at Triple-A.

He pitched very well in the minors this year, even though you wouldn't know it from watching him this September. In Triple-A Louisville, Dennick turned in a 4-0 record with a 2.36 ERA. He surrendered 42 hits in 49.2 innings of work. 

No. 1 RP, Pedro Villarreal

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Similar to Dennick, Pedro Villarreal has also been given the opportunity to pitch for the Reds this September. So far, he's made the most of it. 

In 10.1 innings of work at the major league level, Villarreal has posted an 0-1 record with a 2.61 ERA. In those 10.1 innings, he has nine strikeouts, compared to just two walks. His WHIP currently sits at an impressive 0.58.

But like Dennick, despite the fact that the numbers are good, the sample size is just too small, so consider his Triple-A experience for a more accurate representation of his skill.

This year in Louisville, Villarreal went 6-2 from the bullpen with an ERA of 3.20. In 56.1 innings of work, he did surrender 57 hits, but he also struck out 50 batters compared to walking just 13.

Villarreal was taken in the seventh round of the 2008 draft and has been working his way up since. In seven minor league seasons, the  26-year-old right-hander is 30-47 with a 4.26 ERA; however, the bulk of this data is from when he was a starter. He was moved to the bullpen this year and looks like a strong candidate to help rebuild what was one of baseball's most disastrous bullpens for the Reds in 2015.