The D-Train Rolls Into Cincinnati

Every club brings a few reclamation projects to spring training every year as non-roster invitees. Some of those guys don’t even make it through spring training camp, like former Detroit closer Matt Anderson with the Phillies this year. The Cincinnati Reds 2011 project is 29 year old Dontrelle Willis. I dusted off an old prospect report on the D-Train from John Sickels, of MinorLeagueBall.com, The Baseball Prospect Book 2003. He came to the Marlins as an anonymous Class A pitcher in the Matt Clement/Antonio Alfonseca deal, then quickly emerged as one of the best southpaw prospects in the game with an awesome 2002. I didn’t recall that he was essentially a thrown-in. Sickels went on to say… His best attribute right now is his command: his control is phenomenal…Some scouts worry that his unusual delivery puts extra stress on his arm, so the Marlins must monitor his workload carefully…If his health holds up, Willis projects as a fine number two starter on the major league level. Wil...