The Reds have released 24-year old lefty reliever/starter Phillippe-Alexandre Valiquette. Valiquette has not pitched at all this year in the minors for he Reds. He has pitched in 201 games (28 starts) in his six years in the minors for the Reds and he was 18-19 with 20 saves, a 4.50 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. The Reds won’t miss Valiquette too much as he never really looked that good in the minors.

25-year old righty swinging 3B Eric Campbell didn’t come into this season as one of the Reds’ better prospects, but he’s turning in a big year in the minors for the Reds. He has played in 108 games in A+AA-ball so far this year and he is 113 for 353 (.320 avg, .956 OPS) with 69 runs scored, 17 homers, 66 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Campbell has now played in 711 games in his first 8 years in the minors and Campbell is 798 for 2,596 (.276 avg, .838 OPS) with 462 runs scored, 124 homers, 471 RBIs and 55 stolen bases.

The Reds have called up 21-year old LF/1B Yonder Alonso. Alonso was the Reds’ #4 prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. Alonso has played in 91 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 106 for 358 (.296 avg, .860 OPS) with 46 runs scored, 12 homers, 56 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. He has now played in 313 games in his first four years in the minors and he is 345 for 1,179 (.293 avg, .837 OPS) with 149 runs scored, 36 homers, 179 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. Alonso will share time in LF with Chris Heisey and he will also give Joey Votto a day off when he needs one.

The Cincinnati Reds are calling up 29-year old lefty starting pitcher Dontrelle Willis to start the game Sunday against the Brewers. Willis has pitched in 13 games (all starts) in AAA-ball for the Reds so far this year and he is 5-2 with a 2.63 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He has only walked 20 batters while whiffing 67 of them in his first 75 1/3 innings, showing impressive control. The Reds hope his control carries over in the majors as that has been his big problem since leaving the Florida Marlins. Willis has pitched in 192 games (189 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 71-63 with a 4.12 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. The Reds have their fingers crossed hoping that Willis can get back to being the D-Train of his younger days with the Marlins.

23-year old righty swinging 1B Neftali Soto came into this season as the Reds’ #24 prospect according to Baseball America. Soto has played in 51 games in AA-ball so far this year and he is 53 for 187 (.283 avg, .906 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 13 homers and 34 RBIs. He has now played in 423 games in his first five years in the minors and he is 461 for 1,651 (.279 avg, .779 OPS) with 212 runs scored, 58 homers, 239 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Soto is more likely to be trade bait than he is to get to Cincinnati this year.