BA GRADE
50
Risk: High
HIT: 55.
POW: 55.
SPD: 45.
FLD: 45.
ARM: 55.
Born: Aug. 22, 1995. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 5-8. Wt.: 180. Drafted: HS—Jacksonville, Ala., 2013 (12th round). Signed by: Ben Jones.
Drafted as a catcher in the 12th round in 2013, Long moved to second base in 2015 to take advantage of his bat. He started slowly at high Class A Daytona in 2017 before catching fire and earning a starting nod in the Florida State League all-star game. He hit 13 homers in 62 games before being moving up to Double-A Pensacola, where a wrist injury sidelined him for three weeks in the final month of the season.
Long’s 5-foot-8 stature belies his power. He has a quick, strong wrists that produce thunder in his bat. He has a solid approach, even if he’s not looking to walk. and has shown the ability to hit for average thanks in part to his short stroke. Defensively, Long has improved at second base to become a fringe-average, though his bat will always be his calling card. While not a burner, Long has the savvy to steal bases.
Long’s background behind the plate is a plus that can add flexibility as an emergency catcher, and that skill could be a tiebreaker as the Reds fill out their bench. Long will get another chance at Double-A in 2018 after struggling there in 2017. Though the Reds have plenty of options at second base, Long could work his way into the big league picture soon as he had more offensive potential than any of the Reds other second base candidates.
Year |
Club (League) |
Class |
AVG |
G |
AB |
R |
H |
2015 |
Dayton (MWL) |
LoA |
.283 |
42 |
152 |
22 |
43 |
2016 |
Dayton (MWL) |
LoA |
.281 |
94 |
335 |
47 |
94 |
|
Daytona (FSL) |
HiA |
.322 |
38 |
143 |
22 |
46 |
2017 |
Daytona (FSL) |
HiA |
.312 |
62 |
247 |
37 |
77 |
|
Pensacola (SL) |
AA |
.227 |
42 |
141 |
13 |
32 |
Minor League Totals |
.276 |
331 |
1183 |
156 |
327 |
||
Year |
Club (League) |
2B |
3B |
HR |
RBI |
BB |
2015 |
Dayton (MWL) |
7 |
2 |
6 |
16 |
18 |
2016 |
Dayton (MWL) |
24 |
1 |
11 |
45 |
44 |
|
Daytona (FSL) |
6 |
4 |
4 |
30 |
10 |
2017 |
Daytona (FSL) |
16 |
1 |
13 |
36 |
27 |
|
Pensacola (SL) |
6 |
2 |
3 |
14 |
19 |
Minor League Totals |
64 |
10 |
38 |
155 |
131 |
|
Year |
Club (League) |
SO |
SB |
CS |
OBP |
SLG |
2015 |
Dayton (MWL) |
31 |
2 |
3 |
.363 |
.474 |
2016 |
Dayton (MWL) |
85 |
16 |
3 |
.371 |
.457 |
|
Daytona (FSL) |
35 |
5 |
1 |
.371 |
.503 |
2017 |
Daytona (FSL) |
63 |
6 |
3 |
.380 |
.543 |
|
Pensacola (SL) |
31 |
3 |
1 |
.319 |
.362 |
Minor League Totals |
280 |
35 |
13 |
.353 |
.444 |
|