[Stardust]

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2010/09...ce-harper/

I was talking to Bill Bavasi, the Reds V-P of scouting, player development and international operations, for my Sunday Insider. It’s First in Print, so it won’t be posted until Monday. But I wanted to share what Bavasi said about Yorman Rodriquez.

“When I was in Billings, he turned 18. He’s played most of the year at 17. You put him at Moeller High and you wouldn’t have heard of Bryce Harper. At 17 just turning 18, he’s hitting .350 at a high level of rookie ball. When you get those kids at 16, it takes a while to pop the clutch. But once they get going, they’re fun to watch.”

Billings is where the Reds typically send players drafted out of college.

Rodriguez is the Venezuelan outfielder the Reds signed for $2.5 million on his 16th birthday in 2008. He’s hitting .353 with two home runs and 35 RBI in 38 games for Billings. He’s stolen 12 bases in 14 tries.

He’s 6-foot-3, 180 pounds and he’s only one of the fastest runners in the system.