Cincinnati Reds Top 40 Prospects

Under is an evaluation of the prospects within the farm system of the Cincinnati Reds. Scouting studies have been compiled with data offered by trade sources in addition to my very own observations. That is the fourth 12 months we’re delineating between two anticipated aid roles, the abbreviations for which you’ll see within the “place” column under: MIRP for multi-inning aid pitchers, and SIRP for single-inning aid pitchers. The ETAs listed usually correspond to the 12 months a participant must be added to the 40-man roster to keep away from being made eligible for the Rule 5 draft. Guide changes are made the place they appear acceptable, however we use that as a rule of thumb.

A fast overview of what FV (Future Worth) means will be discovered here. A a lot deeper overview will be discovered here.

All the ranked prospects under additionally seem on The Board, a useful resource the location affords that includes sortable scouting data for each group. It has extra particulars (and up to date TrackMan information from numerous sources) than this text and integrates each group’s record so readers can examine prospects throughout farm programs. It may be discovered here.

Different Prospects of Be aware

Grouped by kind and listed so as of choice inside every class.

Energy Prospects I’m Apprehensive Gained’t Hit
Rece Hinds, RF
Yerlin Confidan, RF
Ariel Almonte, RF

It is a fairly self-explanatory group. Hinds is probably the most developed athlete and upper-level performer, however while you’re placing out a 3rd of the time within the minors, your possibilities of persistently succeeding on the large league degree are distant. Confidan and Almonte are extra frame-based developmental tasks within the backside half of the minors.

Final Cuts
Tyler Callihan, 1B/2B
Ethan O’Donnell, OF
David Lorduy, RHP
Pedro Alfonseca, RHP

I fear about transferring on from lefty bat pace pretty much as good as Callihan’s too shortly, however his strategy and protection are nonetheless fairly large issues. Along with the OBP points it causes, the previous makes it robust for him to get to his energy. O’Donnell was the membership’s 2023 sixth rounder out of Virginia. He has above-average bat pace, however I fear about his bat path having a gap up-and-away from him that will get uncovered as he climbs. Lorduy was the DSL innings chief, a Colombian righty with out a lot bodily projection who sits 91 and has good really feel for his breaking ball and changeup. He pitched in Colombia over the winter and held his personal towards adults, however I wish to see that velo spike earlier than placing him on the principle part of the record. Alfonseca is a 26-year-old transformed outfielder whose fastball sat 96 final 12 months, however he walked greater than a batter per inning.

Stuff!
Stevie Branche, RHP
Dennis Boatman, RHP
Jacob Heatherly, LHP
Brody Jessee, RHP

Branche (Division III Rochester Institute of Tech) and Boatman (Sacramento Metropolis Junior Faculty) are small faculty arms with mid-90s warmth and poor command. Branche (one in all two Steve Branches with 1997 birthdays) is sitting 94-95 with a superb slider at Louisville thus far this 12 months. Boatman walked a batter per innings in 2023, however his velo is comparatively new. He’s on the 60-day IL proper now. A former high-bonus excessive schooler, Heatherly will nonetheless present you 96-97 from the left aspect however he additionally nonetheless has 20 management. Jessee has elite quantifiable slider motion and his changeup has bat-missing fade, however he has below-average fastball velocity and 30 management.

Pitchability!
Jose Acuna, RHP
Hunter Hollan, LHP
Bryce Hubbart, LHP
Javi Rivera, RHP
Jose Montero, RHP

There are many medium-framed guys with low-90s fastballs and a mixture of nicely positioned 40- and 45-grade secondaries right here. Acuna (who, together with Hector Rodriguez, was acquired from the Mets for Tyler Naquin) sits 93. He has a whippy arm and a mean slider, and a changeup that would get there, too. Hollan is a soft-tossing lefty with a superb curveball who obtained simply shy of $600,000 popping out of Arkansas final 12 months. Hubbart was that at Florida State and has had a strike-throwing regression in professional ball. Rivera and Montero are just like Acuna, however Rivera is older (24), whereas Montero presents a much less conventional and athletic mechanical look.

Names You May Be Curious About
Leo Balcazar, SS
Esmith Pineda, OF

Generally prospects are well-known amongst their group’s fanbase, whether or not as a result of they’re distinguished on different publications’ lists or obtained a giant bonus, and I really feel obligated to say them as a result of I do know you’re curious what I believe. I typically really feel unhealthy concerning the tone of those gamers’ studies as a result of I’m explaining why I believe they aren’t good, and it will probably come off as dismissive of others’ opinions if there are writers who like them. That isn’t my intent, however I’m down on these two guys relative to different publications. Balcazar has posted good surface-level stats, however he isn’t an particularly good hitter or defender to my eye, and his underlying information is overwhelmingly supportive of my conclusion (17% swinging strike price, 61% contact price). Pineda signed for $800,000, had a mean 2023 within the ACL, and is now in Daytona. He’s a righty-hitting outfielder who I’ve by no means seen take a snug swing.

System Overview

This method has common depth and a below-average quantity of high-end expertise. A part of that’s as a result of it graduated a ton of very proficient rookies final 12 months — Cincinnati would price extremely if we have been taking a look at “younger expertise” somewhat than simply minor league prospects. The Reds’ strategy to scouting novice expertise has tended to be tools-driven. They’ve numerous big-bodied place participant prospects with energy who typically have hit device query marks, regularly as a result of poor plate self-discipline. Elly De La Cruz epitomizes this within the excessive. He’s a human spotlight reel who wants polish. To a point, that’s true of lots of the Reds’ minor league hitters, even once they’re on the thicker aspect (like Ricardo Cabrera and Cam Collier, whose contact is tremendous loud).

A giant a part of the foremost league group’s surge in 2023 was as a result of manner the professional scouting division nailed elements of their rebuild. Christian Encarnacion-Strand (who I believe I’ll find yourself being mild on), Spencer Steer (who, thus far, I nailed), Will Benson, and Jake Fraley have been all acquired by way of commerce, as have been half the prospects within the high 10 on this record. It’s paying homage to the Royals’ rebuild (the Greinke commerce particularly) that led to their World Collection title happening a decade in the past.

Are the Reds good at creating pitchers? I believe that’s open to debate. There are definitely pitchers with fascinating traits, or an excellent pitch or two, throughout this technique. However have any of the Greene/Ashcraft/Lodolo/Abbott success tales exceeded your expectations? Groups which might be good at creating arms both make pitchability sorts throw more durable or assist onerous throwers find higher. I’m unsure there’s actual proof that both is occurring right here. The org is nice at figuring out pitchers with fascinating stuff, however I’m unsure it’s nice at maxing these gamers out. The core group of younger hitters on the large league degree provides the Reds an actual shot to maintain postseason competition for a very long time if they’ll repeatedly generate pitching depth from inside, which I believe they should show they’ll do.