First Quarter Grades for Cincinnati Reds

The 2015 MLB season is reaching the end of its first quarter, which makes it a great time to evaluate how the Cincinnati Reds have performed through the first month-plus.

Cincinnati currently sits in third place in the National League Central with an 18-20 record. Realistically, given the tough opening schedule, that is probably about where most fans would have hoped the club would be at this point in the season.

The Reds have squandered away some games, so it wouldn't be a stretch to say that the they should be above .500 and possibly just a few games behind the St. Louis Cardinals. Instead, they face an uphill battle as they look to get back to the postseason after missing out on the playoffs last year for just the second time in five seasons.

When grading players, a few things are taken into consideration. Obviously a player's offensive and defensive numbers are a big part of the grade. However, expectations for each player are also factored into the equation. 

Keep reading to see how each individual player grades out through the first quarter of the 2015 season.

*All stats are via MLB.com (unless otherwise noted) as of 5/17

Infield

John Minchillo/Associated Press

C Devin Mesoraco

2015 stats: 21 G, .154/.250/.231, 0 HR, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 9 K, 4 BB, 1 SB

Coming off an All-Star season, Devin Mesoraco was expected to be a big part of Cincinnati's offense in 2015. Unfortunately, a hip injury has forced him to come off the bench or be used as a designated hitter.

Mesoraco got off to a rough start, hitting just .095 with no extra-base hits in the opening week of the season. He has started to swing the bat better as of late and will get a chance to be the designated hitter in the Reds' upcoming series in American League parks. After that, the team will have to evaluate his injury and decide what to do with him.

Grade: Incomplete

1B Joey Votto

2015 stats: 37 G, .292/.394/.496, 7 HR, 5 2B, 1 3B, 21 RBI, 32 K, 23 BB, 5 SB (1 CS)

Joey Votto missed 100 games in 2014 with a quad injury, but he started the 2015 season looking like the 2010 National League Most Valuable Player.

The 31-year-old off hit seven home runs and drove in 17 runs in the first month of the season. He has cooled down in May, recording just a single extra-base hit through the first 15 games of the month. 

With Votto hitting like the Votto of old, the Reds are going to be able to compete in most games. Some were concerned that the first baseman's injury from last year would carry over into this season. That hasn't been the case. Votto has shown this season that he can still rake.

Grade: A

2B Brandon Phillips

2015 stats: 34 G, .310/.355/.364, 2 HR, 1 2B, 17 RBI, 16 K, 8 BB, 5 SB

A lot has been made in recent years about Brandon Phillips supposed "demise," but he's still playing at an All-Star-caliber level.

The 33-year-old second baseman has bounced back from a down season, one in which he had to have thumb surgery, and is hitting for average the way he did in his prime. If he keeps it up, manager Bryan Price will have to give serious consideration to moving Phillips up to the leadoff spot.

The only reason that Phillips isn't receiving an "A" for his 2015 performance is the fact that he isn't hitting for much power. The veteran second baseman isn't going to club 30 home runs the way he once did, but through 32 games, he has just three extra-base hits. Given that he's been hitting near the middle of the lineup, that's something the team would like to see improve a bit.

Overall, Phillips has been very good this season. He's done a good job of getting hits, driving in runs and has even been drawing some walks. If he starts to find some gaps, that's the only way his game could get better at this point.

Grade: B+

SS Zack Cozart

2015 stats: 34 G, .300/.358/.525, 6 HR, 7 2B, 1 3B, 17 RBI, 19 K, 10 BB, 3 SB (2 CS)

Although each of Cincinnati's infielders could make a strong case for the All-Star Game, it's Zack Cozart may have the best argument to be named to the squad.

From 2012-13, Cozart was a .250 hitter with some power. Cozart then struggled through a rough 2014 season, hitting .221 with just four home runs and 18 doubles.

Well, he's looking like a completely different hitter this season.

Cozart is hitting .319 so far and has already surpassed his home run total from a season ago. In fact, he had matched his 2014 home run output by April 21. The shortstop is making great contact in most of his at-bats, even when he is making outs.

Cozart's offensive numbers are among the best at his position in the NL. If he keeps it up, he is going to get serious consideration for the All-Star Game.

Grade: A+

3B Todd Frazier

2015 stats: 37 G, .250/.346/.564, 12 HR, 6 2B, 1 3B, 23 RBI, 27 K, 17 BB, 6 SB

Todd Frazier had a breakout season in 2014, and this season, he is showing that last year was no fluke.

Frazier (12) trails only the Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper (13) in the NL in home runs. This comes a season after he blasted 29 home runs and finished second in the 2014 Home Run Derby. Simply, the third baseman is a genuine slugger.

As for why he didn't receive a solid "A," Frazier could improve when it comes to hitting with runners in scoring position. Eight of his 12 home runs have been solo shots, and two have come with just a runner on first. He's hitting .138 with runners in scoring position, and in 15 plate appearances with a runner on third and less than two outs, he has just five RBI. Frazier is hitting in the middle of the lineup, so the Reds need him to be coming up with hits with runners in scoring position.

Of course, that's just getting picky. Frazier has come up with plenty of timely hits the past two seasons and is just blasting the ball early on this season. His past performance has set the bar high, so there is room for him to (slightly) improve from his strong start this season.

Grade: A-

Outfield

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

RF Jay Bruce

2015 stats: 36 G, .190/.290/.397, 7 HR, 1 2B, 2 3B, 19 RBI, 40 K, 18 BB, 3 SB (1 CS)

The Reds were hoping that an offseason would give Jay Bruce a chance to get his knee healthy, which would lead to the two-time All-Star bouncing back from a miserable season. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case so far.

After hitting .217 last year, Bruce is hitting just .174 this season. That's just not something that a team can have from a player who it was expecting a big season from. On the plus side, he does have six home runs and has driven in 17 runs in 34 games.  

For those who are calling for the Reds to bench Bruce, don't go overboard.

For starters, the team doesn't have anyone who would be produce in his place. Also, advanced statistics show that the right fielder may just be unlucky right now. According to ESPN.com, Bruce's .174 batting average on balls in play ranks 178th out of 181 players entering play May 17. For those unfamiliar with the stat, the league average is typically around .280.

That shows that Bruce, who often faces huge shifts, is frequently hitting the ball right at defenders. As of late, he has been hitting the ball better—and often to the warning track—but just hasn't been getting anything to show for it—until recently. Bruce has hit two home runs in his last two games.

Bruce is making good contact right now, so it's just a matter of time before he starts finding holes. If he is indeed heating up, the Reds could get on a roll. 

Grade: D

CF Billy Hamilton

2015 stats: 34 G, .214/.263/.336, 3 HR, 2 2B, 3 3B, 27 K, 10 BB, 17 SB (2 CS)

Throughout the 2014 season, Billy Hamilton was basically two different players. He received All-Star consideration by hitting .285 and stealing 38 bases in the first half of the season, but he lost the NL Rookie of the Year award by hitting .200 and stealing just 18 bases in the second half of the season.

Cincinnati was hoping for the first-half version to show up in 2015. That, unfortunately, has not been the case.

Hamilton is hitting just .212 this season and is getting on base just 26 percent of the time. For a leadoff hitter, that's not getting the job done. 

The speedster has done a great job of wreaking havoc on the bases, stealing 17 bases. However, Hamilton is beginning to look a little like Drew Stubbs, in that he hasn't been able to perfect the art of bunting Through the first 33 games, Hamilton has just one hit on bunt attempts. He did go 15-for-44 last season on bunts, but bunting figured to be a bigger part of his game this year. It hasn't been.

The 24-year-old is just starting his second full season in the majors, so there's still plenty of time for him to work on his offensive game—his defense is already Gold Glove-caliber. Hamilton was moved down to No. 8 in the lineup on May 17, and if the speedy outfielder doesn't start getting on base more frequently, manager Bryan Price may want to think about dropping Hamilton to the No. 9—yes, No. 9—and moving Brandon Phillips up to the leadoff spot. 

Grade: C-

LF Marlon Byrd

2015 stats: 36 G, .219/.297/.453, 8 HR, 4 2B, 1 3B, 23 RBI, 39 K, 14 BB, 1 SB

It took Marlon Byrd a while to get going, but now that he is swinging the bat well, he is doing exactly what the Reds brought him in to do.

Provide some offense from the left field spot.

Byrd hit just .169 with two home runs and two doubles in 21 games in April. Through 14 games in May, he has been one of the toughest hitters in all of baseball. Byrd has a .294 average, six home runs, two doubles and 15 RBI in May.

Byrd's May is worthy of an "A+." However, his slow start was taken into account and resulted in a lower grade.

Left field has been a major hole in the lineup for the Reds in recent seasons. Now that Byrd has found a rhythm, the team no longer has that huge hole in the lineup.  

Grade: B

Bench

John Minchillo/Associated Press

C Brayan Pena

2015 stats: 27 G, .337/.413/.384, 0 HR, 4 2B, 4 RBI, 8 K, 11 BB

For the second straight season, Brayan Pena has received a lot more playing time than anticipated. And he's taking advantage of it.

Pena has stepped up for the injured Devin Mesoraco and has done a great job. Not only has he done a solid job behind the plate, but he has been racking up hits like crazy.

The veteran catcher has notched at least one hit in 16 of his last 20 games. In fact, he has failed to get a hit in only seven of his appearances this season. He has failed to record either a walk or a hit in just four games this season. Those are some pretty good stats for a guy the team expected to play sparingly this year.

The only thing Pena really hasn't done this season is drive in runs consistently. Despite sporting a .337 overall average, the catcher is hitting just .235 with runners in scoring position and has just four RBIs. 

It's tough to knock Pena too much for not being run producer because he has far exceeded expectations this season. 

Grade: A

2B/OF Skip Schumaker

2015 stats: 22 G, .231/.250/.333, 0 HR, 4 2B, 3 RBI, 8 K, 1 BB

There's not much to say about Skip Schumaker so far this season. The veteran utility man—in limited action—is doing pretty much about what was expected of him. He has gotten a handful of starts and has gotten the occasional hit.

Schumaker isn't going to be a huge impact player, but he is a player who will do things fundamentally sound and not hurt the team with silly mistakes.

Grade: C-

UT Kristopher Negron

2015 stats: 25 G, .115/.270/.115, 0 HR, 0 2B, 1 RBI, 13 K, 8 BB, 1 SB

Kristopher Negron played his way onto the roster with a strong performance in 2014. He hit .271 with six home runs and 10 doubles while playing nearly every day in the second half last year. Now that he is rarely seeing any action, his bat has been quieted a bit.

Negron has about a dozen starts through the first six weeks, which may be making it hard for him to get into a rhythm. He had a stretch in which he went 0-for-23 that lasted nearly a month.

As long as the Reds stay healthy, Negron isn't going to be expected to be an everyday player. He does bring a lot of value with his speed and versatility, but until he gets his bat going, he will have a hard time finding consistent at-bats off the bench.

Grade: D

OF Brennan Boesch

2015 stats: 17 G, .138/.219/.172, 0 HR, 1 2B, 0 RBI, 11 K, 3 BB, 1 SB

Brennan Boesch's strong spring earned him a spot on the Opening Day roster, but he has yet to do anything when he has been given a chance to play in the regular season.

The Reds put Boesch on the roster because between spring training and the minors (in 2014), he has shown the ability to provide some pop with the bat. He has only notched one extra-base hit this season.

Boesch is pretty much filling the Chris Heisey role. He can make the occasional start to give an outfielder the day off, but for the most part, he is the guy the team turns to when it needs a big swing late in games. It just hasn't worked out thus far—on offense or defense.

Grade: D-

C Tucker Barnhart

2015 stats: 10 G, .308/.367/.538, 2 HR, 0 2B, 3 RBI, 6 K, 3 BB

Like Pena, Tucker Barnhart has taken advantage of his unexpected playing time this year.

Barnhart has essentially served as Mike Leake's personal catcher and has developed a good relationship with the pitcher. The young catcher has always been known for his defense, which has yet again been a strong point this season. 

At the plate, Barnhart has been a pleasant surprise. He has a hit in eight of his 10 games and even has a pair of home runs. Anything he provides on offense is a bonus.

Grade: B+

Rotation

John Minchillo/Associated Press

RHP Johnny Cueto

2015 stats: 8 GS, 3-3, 2.93 ERA, 58.1 IP, 42 H (7 HR), 56 K/11 BB, 0.91 WHIP

Johnny Cueto has had a couple of shaky starts this season, but he's still Johnny Cueto.

Cueto, despite very little run support, has given his team a chance to win nearly every time out. Just as importantly, he has been an innings eater yet again. He has thrown 58.1 innings in 8 starts, which averages out to just more than seven innings per start. He has only had one start in which he has failed to go at least seven innings and has made it through six in each outing.

A season after winning 20 games, Cueto has even messed with his delivery a bit. The right-hander has used the twist in his windup for the past few seasons, but occasionally this season, he randomly ditches it to mess with the hitter's timing. It's just one more way that the ace can gain an advantage on the batter.

If he keeps it up, Cueto will have a strong case to start the 2015 MLB All-Star Game in Cincinnati. 

Grade: A

RHP Mike Leake

2015 stats: 8 GS, 2-2, 3.62 ERA, 54.2 IP, 47 H (9 HR), 30 K/13 BB

The Reds no longer have Mat Latos and were only able to get two starts out of Homer Bailey this season. In their place, Mike Leake has put together a very strong start to the year.

Entering his last start, Leake had compiled a 2.36 ERA in seven games. He had allowed just one run over his previous three starts, spanning 22 innings. That great stretch came to a screeching halt when he got roughed up for nine runs in five innings in his latest outing.

Outside of two starts, Leake has pitched good enough to win in every game. The right-hander is in his contract year, and he's pitching like it.

Grade: B+

RHP Anthony DeSclafani

2015 stats: 8 GS, 2-4, 3.80 ERA, 45 IP, 38 H (4 HR), 34 K/21 BB, 1.31 WHIP

Anthony DeSclafani couldn't have gotten off to a much better start, but now that the league has seen him a bit, he's starting to run into some trouble.

DeSclafani allowed a total of two runs on nine hits through his first three starts of the season, spanning 21 innings. Since then, he has allowed at least three runs in each of his last five starts and has made it past the fifth inning just once.

The Reds have to be fairly pleased with what they have gotten out of DeSclafani on the mound. However, at the plate, he's not doing himself any favors. He does have a hit, but when it comes time to lay down a sacrifice bunt, he's unable to do so. With the way he holds the bat on his bunt attempts, he could wind up injuring his fingers. Pitching obviously takes precedent, but NL pitchers have to at least be able to put down a bunt.

Outside of his latest start, the 25-year-old right-hander has really given his team a chance to win. That's all a team can ask for as a young pitcher gets his feet wet in his first extended stint in the majors.

Grade: B

RHP Jason Marquis

2015 stats: 7 GS, 3-3, 6.63 ERA, 38 IP, 50 H (9 HR), 32 K/12 BB, 1.63 WHIP

With the way he has pitched early on, Jason Marquis is essentially just serving as a placeholder so the Reds can limit the innings of some of their young pitchers.

To be fair, the 36-year-old right-hander has given the Reds a couple of strong starts. He is even tied with Cueto for the team lead in wins. Unlike Cueto, Marquis, according to ESPN.com, is tied for the NL lead in most run support at six runs per game.

When a pitcher is getting six runs per game behind him, the team should be near unbeatable. That hasn't been the case with Marquis. The veteran right-hander has allowed at least five runs in four of his seven starts and has also been yanked before the sixth inning four times.

Nobody expected Marquis to put up Cueto-like numbers. However, the club didn't think that he'd have a 6.63 ERA in the middle of May.

The Reds are playing well enough to stay in contention, but if Marquis keeps taking the mound every five days, it will be hard for the team to make a serious run at the postseason. Michael Lorenzen, Raisel Iglesias and Tony Cingrani are among the options the Reds have for the rotation. It's just a matter of time before Marquis gets bumped in favor of the young pitchers.  

Grade: D

RHP Michael Lorenzen

2015 stats: 4 G/3 GS, 1-1, 4.00 ERA, 18 IP, 21 H (4 HR), 11 K/10 BB, 1.72 WHIP

Early on in his first taste of the majors, Lorenzen is looking good.

The right-hander has allowed a total of five runs in 16 innings over his first three starts. Like many young pitchers, he has had a tough time going deep into games. That's just something that takes time for a pitcher to learn how to do.

Opposing teams have had a hard time scoring off Lorenzen in his starts. Of the five runs he has allowed, four have come via solo home runs. Three of those home runs came in his first start, which took place at Great American Ball Park. At least Lorenzen has been able to minimize the damage by serving up the homers when nobody was on base.

Now that he has shown he can pitch in the big leagues, he needs to work on his control and figure out a way to go deeper into games. Of course, the two are somewhat related. 

Grade: B

RHP Raisel Iglesias

2015 stats: 3 G/2 GS, 1-0, 4.00 ERA, 15 IP, 11 H (0 HR), 5 R, 11 K/5 BB,

Even though he has made just two starts for the Reds this season, Raisel Iglesias has been incredibly impressive.

The right-hander was near unhittable through the first four innings of each of his two starts. The fifth inning has proven to be a bit of a struggle for him, but in his latest start, he was able to get through it unharmed.

In his two starts, Iglesias has surrendered four runs on just seven hits in 13 innings. That's pretty impressive for someone who hadn't pitched much since signing with the club in the middle of last season.

There's no doubt that Iglesias is ready for the majors. His stuff is terrific and can keep hitters guessing. The only reason he hasn't been permanently inserted into the rotation is because the organization wants to limit his innings. Iglesias will be back in the rotation at some point this season, but when he's not starting, he's a pitcher manager Bryan Price can turn to late in games.

Grade: B+

RHP Homer Bailey

2015 stats: 2 GS, 0-1, 5.56 ERA, 11.1 IP, 16 H (3 HR), 3 K/4 BB

Homer Bailey was shut down near the end of last season and underwent surgery to repair a forearm injury. He returned in the middle of April only to be shut down after two starts.

When he pitched this season, it was clear something wasn't right. The right-hander's velocity was down, and he had trouble putting hitters away once he had two strikes on them.

Bailey recently had Tommy John surgery and is expected to return at some point in the 2016 season.

Grade: Incomplete

Bullpen

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

LHP Aroldis Chapman

2015 stats: 18 G, 2-2, 7 SV, 1.04 ERA, 17.1 IP, 14 H (0 HR), 29 K/7 BB, 1.21 WHIP

Cincinnati's bullpen has had a rough start to the 2015 season, but as usual, Aroldis Chapman has been able to come in and slam the door shut at the end of games.

Chapman started the season with 13 consecutive scoreless appearances. He recently had back-to-back outings in which he got hit around a bit and took the loss, but he typically endures a stretch or two like that during a season. More importantly than those two losses, which were tied games when he entered, he has not blown a save in seven opportunities.

The Reds will have to worry about the front end of their bullpen for the time being, but when it comes time to close out a victory, the Cuban Missile is going to get the job done. 

Grade: A-

LHP Tony Cingrani

2015 stats: 13 G, 0-0, 2.93 ERA, 15.1 IP, 9 H (0 HR), 16 K/11 BB, 1.30 WHIP

Entering spring training, Tony Cingrani appeared to be a lock to be in the starting rotation. Manager Bryan Price made the decision in the middle of the spring to move the left-hander to the bullpen, which immediately upgraded the unit.

For whatever reason, Price rarely used Cingrani early on this season. Once he started to use the starter-turned-reliever, he started having an easier time getting the ball to Chapman.

Cingrani was used just three times through April 25. Since then, he has made 10 appearances and has allowed just seven hits.

Outside of Chapman, Cingrani is the toughest Cincinnati reliever to hit. The only problem is that the southpaw struggles with control. He walked at least one batter in five of his six April outings and has 11 walks in 15.1 innings this season.

Price has made the great decision to use Cingrani in the setup role. With his stuff, that's the left-hander can excel in—as long as he throws strikes.

Grade: B+

RHP J.J. Hoover

2015 stats: 16 G, 2-0, 2.81 ERA, 16 IP, 8 H (0 HR), 13 K/9 BB, 1.06 WHIP

J.J. Hoover's 2014 season (1-10, 4.88 ERA) was about as bad as it gets, but in 2015, he has regained his old form.

The right-hander has allowed just six runs (five earned), four of which came in a game that featured 26 total runs, in 16 innings this season. He allowed all six runs during a two-game stretch. He has had 14 scoreless outings and eight hitless appearances.

Perhaps the biggest reason for his turnaround has been his ability to keep the ball in the park. Hoover allowed 13 home runs in 62.2 innings last season after allowing just eight in 96.2 innings combined the previous two seasons. This season, he has yet to give up a long ball in 16 innings.

The seventh and eighth innings were question marks entering the season. Thanks to Cingrani and Hoover, Price has a couple of relievers he can rely on in the setup role.

Grade: B+

RHP Jumbo Diaz

2015 stats: 17 G, 2-0, 6.46 ERA, 15.1 IP, 13 H (4 HR), 16 K/3 BB, 1.04 WHIP 

Jumbo Diaz was a pleasant surprise last season. This year, it's been mixed results.

The right-hander has had three awful outings, allowing a total of nine runs and picking up two blown saves in the process. Other than those three poor appearances, he has been one of the better relievers in the bullpen.

Diaz has done a great job of responding to poor outings. Since giving up five runs in his final appearance of April, he has made it through six of his past eight outings without surrendering a run.

As steady as the Hoover-Cingrani-Chapman trio has been this season, a team needs more than three relievers it can rely on. With the way Diaz has been pitching as of late, he has become a reliable reliever for Price to turn to.

Grade: C

RHP Burke Badenhop

2015 stats: 13 G, 0-1, 9.95 ERA, 12.2 IP, 21 H (2 HR), 6 K/3 BB, 1.89 WHIP

The 2014 Reds bullpen was terrible and forced the front office to address the unit this past offseason. Unfortunately, the additions haven't improved the bullpen.

Burke Badenhop looked like a great addition for Cincinnati. The 32-year-old right-hander has made a living getting ground balls, a trait that is ideal for pitchers at Great American Ball Park. Surprisingly, he's just not getting the job done this season.

Badenhop did not allow a run in four of his first five outings. After that, he has had a hard time getting through an inning unharmed. He has allowed a run in five of his last eight outings and has allowed at least two runs in three of those outings. Crazily, the veteran reliever has allowed at least one hit in 10 of his 13 outings and has only gone two games in which he did not allow a walk or a hit.

The Reds brought Badenhop in to be a reliever they could turn to in a jam. So far, he's not a reliever the team can rely on.

Grade: F

RHP Kevin Gregg

2015 stats: 11 G, 0-2, 10.13 ERA, 10.2 IP, 13 H (3 HR), 14 K/5 BB, 1.69 WHIP

Along with Badenhop, Kevin Gregg was a veteran reliever who was brought in to help the Reds' bullpen.

It was a failed experiment from the first time Gregg took the mound at Great American Ball Park on Opening Day.

The 36-year-old reliever allowed at least one run in each of his first four starts and allowed two runs in three of those outings. Price chose to stick by his reliever, but it never got better. Gregg allowed at least one run in seven of his 11 outings.

By early May, which was about a month after it should've happened, the Reds decided enough was enough and designated Gregg for assignment. 

Grade: F