Jason LaRue

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #4 prospect in 1999
  Background: LaRue tied for the minor league lead in 1997 with 50 doubles. For an encore, he led Double-A in batting average and slugging percentage (.617). Strengths: LaRue can hit. He has plus bat speed and the innate ability to put the fat part of the bat on the ball. He has more of a line-drive swing now but has the strength and ability to recognize pitches to project home runs in the future. He's considered a good athlete, capable of playing other positions. Weaknesses: LaRue played solid defense during the 1998 season, but faltered badly during the Arizona Fall League, where he struggled just to hold onto the ball at times. The Reds hope this resulted from fatigue and mechanical problems rather than an inability to handle the above-average stuff thrown by many AFL pitchers. The Future: LaRue will be Reds senior advisor Bob Boone's top project in spring training. LaRue's best comparison is Reds starter Ed Taubensee, but the club feels he should surpass Taubensee both at the plate and behind it.