Prospect Garrett on Majors: ‘I think I’m ready’

LOUISVILLE — In a small conference room in the lowest level of Louisville Slugger Field sat Reds prospect Amir Garrett; the plush office chair underneath him dwarfed by the frame of the 6-foot-5, 210-pound left-hander.

Leaning back, hands behind his head, Garrett’s posture carried a certain aloofness. Although soft-spoken, his words paint the picture of a competitive and confident player.

“There’s always room for improvement,” Garrett said. “I think I’m, for the most part, pretty much ready [for the Majors] right now.”

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After his 2016 campaign, Garrett has a lot to be confident about.

In his second full year since foregoing his basketball career to focus on baseball, Garrett made some of the biggest strides of any player in the organization. With a plus fastball and slider, Garrett blazed through his first season of Double-A with a 1.75 ERA in 12 starts.

Midway through the season, Garrett earned a call up to Triple-A Lousiville and posted a 3.46 ERA in 11 starts, finishing his season with a combined 2.55 ERA in 144 2/3 innings and earning the Reds’ Pitcher Prospect of the Year Award by MLBPipeline.com.

“I think it’s gone really, really well, better than I’d expect,” Garrett said. “I ran into some troubles up here [in …

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