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2. HOMER BAILEY, rhp, Dayton Dragons (Reds)
Age: 19 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 190 B-T: R-R Drafted/Signed: Reds '04 (1)
Bailey and Burlington's Luis Cota had the most electric arms in the league, but there was no comparison between them as pitchers. While Cota relies mainly on sheer arm strength, Bailey shows more aptitude and consistency. He has a legitimate chance to become a No. 1 starter in the majors.
He has a lean but strong frame and an arm stroke that almost looks too easy to be delivering one 92-94 mph fastball after another to the bottom of the strike zone. When he stays on top of his curveball, it's a dynamic 12-to-6 breaking ball. Like most teenagers, he's still refining his changeup and his command.
The Reds haven't been able to keep their top pitching prospects healthy, so they've turned to a tandem-starter system in the lower minors. They exercised extreme care with Bailey, who worked just 104 innings and was allowed to go as many as five innings in just six outings—earning victories in each.
G GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG
28 21 8 4 0 4.43 103.2 89 64 51 5 62 125 .232