24-year old lefty swinging 3B/OF Juan Francisco is finally starting to get some P.T. and he’s taking advantage of it. Francisco has played in 29 games for the Reds so far this year and he is 22 for 86 (.256 avg, .719 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 3 homers, 14 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 79 games in his first three years with the Reds and he is 46 for 162 (.284 avg, .772 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 5 homers, 28 RBIs and 1 stolen base. I think the Reds are actually showcasing Francisco for a deal for some starting pitcher over the winter.

35-year old righty swinging catcher Ramon Hernandez has done a solid job for the Reds the last three years. But, top prospect Devin Mesoraco and veteran Ryan Hanigan are cheaper alternatives to Hernandez for the 2012 season and beyond. Hernandez has played in 85 games for the Reds so far this year and he is 79 for 283 (.279 avg, .774 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 11 homers and 33 RBIs. He has now played in 263 games in his first three years with the Reds and he is 246 for 883 (.279 avg, .756 OPS) with 81 runs scored, 23 homers, 118 RBIs and 1 stolen base.

24-year old lefty swinging 1B/LF Yonder Alonso came into this season as the Reds’ #4 prospect according to Baseball America and he’s showing why. The Reds are playing Alonso in LF because the only way he would get to play 1B is if Joey Votto got hurt. He is a butcher in the field but he can really rake. He has played in 31 games for the Reds so far this year and he is 24 for 59 (.407 avg, 1.148 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 4 homers and 13 RBIs. If the Reds can get Alonso just to where he can be an average defensive player in LF, he will be a huge asset to the team going forward due to his bat.

24-year old lefty swinging RF Jay Bruce got his power stroke back in August after struggling with it in June and July. He played in 28 games in August for the Reds and he was 24 for 101 (.238 avg, .825 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 7 homers, 22 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Bruce has now played in 131 games for the Reds this year and he is 127 for 487 (.261 avg, .833 OPS) with 73 runs scored, 28 homers, 85 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. The Reds need another good power month out of Bruce to finish out the year.

27-year old lefty swinging 1B Joey Votto is turning in a great follow-up season to his 2010 N.L. MVP Award winning year. Votto has played in 122 games for the Reds so far this year and he is 144 for 449 (.321 avg, .962 OPS) with 81 runs scored, 20 homers, 73 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Votto’s numbers might be down a tad production wise but that’s only because he has the full respect of pitching staffs. That’s because he has already walked 88 times this year. He will smash his career high for walks (91), which he set last year. Votto has now played in 578 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 655 for 2,075 (.316 avg, .959 OPS) with 349 runs scored, 110 homers, 371 RBIs and 34 stolen bases.