Cincinnati Reds Prospect Profile: SS Carlton Daal
By Adam Hughes
Next up on our list of the Cincinnati Reds‘ top prospects is shortstop Carlton Daal.
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Name: Carlton Daal
Age: 21
Position: SS
Acquired: Signed as amateur free agent in 2012
Highest Level: Single-A Dayton Dragons
2014 Statistics: 1 HR, 29 RBI, .296 BA, .334 OBP, .356 SLG, 13 SB
Overview:
A native of Curacao, shortstop Carlton Daal was signed by the Reds as an undrafted amateur free agent in 2012. He inked his deal too late to make play that summer, but Daal made his professional debut at Rookie-level Billings in 2013, also logging time with the Arizona League Reds. On the campaign, Daal batted just .200 in 75 plate appearances, showing very little plate discipline (four walks, .243 OBP) and virtually no power.
The Reds, though, decided what Daal needed most in 2014 was playing time, and the promoted him to the Single-A Dayton Dragons to open the season. Cincinnati’s faith in the youngster was rewarded with a .296 average in 370 plate appearances spanning 95 games. Though Daal managed just one home run, his OBP improved to .334, courtesy of 19 walks and the higher batting average.
Daal also flashed good speed and base-running abilities, as he swiped 13 bases against just three times caught stealing.
The one area where Daal took a step back in 2014 was in the field, where he committed a whopping 39 errors to drag his fielding percentage down from .957 in 2013 to a lowly .911. He also showed some degradation in his range, and those two developments might point to an eventual position change.
Daal sprained his wrist in late July and was replaced on the roster and at shortstop by 22-year-old Alex Blandino. That Blandino played well in Daal’s absence, and that Daal did not play for the rest of the season, casts doubts on the Reds’ plans for Daal in 2015. He will likely need to show that he can handle himself in the field at Single-A before his next promotion.
Riverfront ETA: 2018