21-year old switch-hitting shortstop Billy Hamilton stole 103 bases in A-ball last year and he’s burning up the basepaths already this year. He has played in 26 games in A-ball for the Reds so far this year and he is 39 for 102 (.382 avg, 1.016 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 1 homer, 10 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. He has now played in 273 games in his first four years in the minors and he is 316 of 1,101 (.287 avg, .740 OPS) with 204 runs scored, 6 homers, 95 RBIs and 196 stolen bases. If Hamilton keeps hitting well, he’s going to get to Cincinnati sooner rather than later. He came into this season as the Reds’ #2 prospect according to Baseball America.

25-year old lefty swinging RF Jay Bruce has been ripping the ball so far this year for the Reds. He has played in 24 games for the Reds so far this year and he is 28 for 92 (.304 avg, .988 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 8 homers, 18 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Bruce has now played in 538 games in his first five years with the Reds and he is 503 of 1,944 (.259 avg, .813 OPS) with 290 runs scored, 108 homers, 295 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. The Reds are hoping that this is the season that Bruce has a true breakout year, and he’s off to a good start towards that goal.

The Reds have signed 33-year old righty reliever Michael Wuertz to a minor league deal. Wuertz pitched in 39 games (0 starts) for the A’s last year and he was 0-0 with a 6.68 ERA and a 1.87 WHIP. He has now pitched in 426 games (0 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 21-11 with 11 saves, a 3.71 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. I like this pickup for the Reds as I think Wuertz will help them at some point in 2012.

The Reds will be without 29-year old righty swinging SS Paul Janish for the next 4-6 weeks due to a fractured left wrist. Janish has played in 23 games in AAA-ball this year for the Reds and he is 23 for 73 (.315 avg, .911 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 2 homers and 4 RBIs. Janish has played in 324 games in his first four years with the Reds and he is 193 of 872 (.221 avg, .591 OPS) with 91 runs scored, 7 homers, 70 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. This is a bad break for Janish, as he was likely going to get called up by the Reds soon with the way he was hitting in the minors.

The Reds have signed 33-year old switch-hitting catcher Koyie Hill to a minor league deal. Hill played in 46 games for the Cubs last year and he was 26 of 134 (.194 avg, .545 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 2 homers, 9 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Hill has now played in 302 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 176 of 833 (.211 avg, .573 OPS) with 75 runs scored, 8 homers, 75 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. The Reds will start Hill out in AA-ball, as he will be nothing more than an insurance policy in 2012.