Chris Heisey's hot bat matching the weather in Arizona Fall League

October 26, 8:45 PMLouisville Bats ExaminerJason Stella

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Chris Heisey is intimidating with his Saguaros' hat.
photo is fromPeoria Saguaros' roster webpage

Four Cincinnati Reds' prospects are trying their hand in the Arizona Fall League this year, with outfielder Chris Heisey putting up the best numbers of the quartet thus far in the season. 12 games into the 32-game season, Heisey is cleaning up while playing all three outfield positions for the Peoria Saguaros, leading the team with a .439 average, which currently ranks fourth in the league. In 41 at-bats, Heisey has 18 hits, including three homers, a pair of triples, and ten ribbys. Heisey, who was promoted to triple-A Louisville for the first time in late June, has continued to improve at the plate as he has risen through the professional ranks since being picked out of Messiah (PA) College in the 17th round of the 2006 draft. This past season, the 24-year-old set career highs in hits, homers, and runs batted in.

Heisey isn't the only Reds' prospect hitting in the desert, as the team's #1 ranked prospect, 1B/DH Yonder Alonso is currently tied with Heisey for the team lead with 10 ribbys to go with his two homers. While Alonso has struggled hitting for average (.188), he has remained an RBI threat for the middle of the order. Alonso, a 22-year-old Cuban, was a first-round pick in 2008 after crushing the ball as a member of the Miami Hurricanes. As a member of the Saguaros, he has played first base and designated hitter. Neither player has committed an error in a combined 18 games.

Two pitchers from the Reds' organization are also members of the Saguaros, but both have had some problems adjusting to the dry heat in Arizona. Logan Ondrusek, who took over the closer role for the Louisville Bats down the stretch in 2009, was roughed up in his first two outings out of the pen. In the righty's last two appearances, however, he has looked more like the pitcher who was a double-A all-star this season, throwing a combined three innings of scoreless relief with four punch outs. Fellow Reds' pitching prospect Sean Watson has been dinged up in his four appearances, as the former Tennessee Vol has seen his ERA balloon to an astronomical 15.43. Watson spent most of the season at double-A ball with the Mudcats, posting pedestrian numbers (4-4, 4.48).

Heisey is chasing Marlins' 19-year-old prospect Mike Stanton in the race for the batting crown, as Stanton leads the league with a .478 batting average. Stanton is not related to the ageless relief pitcher Mike Stanton, who was in a Reds' uniform just a few years ago. Oakland minor-leaguer Grant Desme currently tops the league with eight homers.

Click here for Arizona Fall League preview,

Chris Heisey interview