The Reds have successfully replenished their farm system after a wave of graduations up to now two years. Hunter Greene and Elly De La Cruz headlined Cincinnati’s farm system in 2022, and each have grown into franchise cornerstones in Southwest Ohio. Matt McLain, Nick Lodolo, Spencer Steer, and several other others have additionally locked down constant roles since being ranked within the Reds’ prime 10 prospects earlier than their call-ups.
Since then, Cincinnati has utilized the draft to restock their farm. Their first-round picks from 2022-2024 all appear to have been “hits” to this point. Their later-round picks have been success tales too, with gamers drafted in Rounds 2-5 making appearances on this checklist. The Reds wish to bounce into competition within the NL Central. They may want a number of the names on this checklist to make the leap to the key leagues to help the youth core already in place at Nice American Ball Park.
This text is a part of a sequence specializing in every MLB workforce’s prime 20 prospects for fantasy baseball heading into the 2025 season. Keep tuned for prospect breakdowns for all 30 groups all through January right here at Pitcher Listing, and head over to the Pitcher Listing dynasty web page to take a look at the remainder of the farm system rankings!
Prime Reds Prospects
The Prime Tier
1) Chase Burns – SP, 21 YO
MiLB Stats: N/A
The Reds landed one of many prime pitching prospects lately once they have been slotted into the #2 decide within the 2024 Draft. In a category loaded with celebrity hitters, Cincinnati opted to take a possible ace. Chase Burns has been thought-about one of many recreation’s most fun pitching prospects since bursting onto the scene with Tennessee in 2022. As a 19-year-old freshman, he struck out 103 batters in 80 innings en path to a 2.91 ERA. Whereas his 2023 season wasn’t as spectacular, Burns returned to prime type after transferring to Wake Forest.
The stat line Burns put up seems to be like one thing you’d see in a online game. He struck out 191 batters in 100 innings, registering ten wins and a 2.70 ERA for the 38-22 Demon Deacons. 48% of hitters that Burns confronted in 2024 have been retired by way of the strikeout (Paul Skenes‘ mark in 2023 with LSU was 45%). He reached the double-digit strikeout mark in 12/16 video games, together with 16 in opposition to Clemson and a 15-Ok shutout in opposition to UNC. His accolades included being named the ACC pitcher of the 12 months, and reaching the semi-finals of the Golden Spikes race.
It’s straightforward to see why Burns was so dominant. He possesses one of the crucial electrical fastballs in all of baseball. At 101 miles an hour, he shall be lighting up radar weapons across the nation within the minors subsequent season. His supplemental choices are stable as effectively. His slider generated a 60% whiff charge between ’23 and ’24, and his curveball and slider might each grow to be stable choices as effectively. Burns remains to be at the least a 12 months away from the Majors, and the Reds should not going to be compelled to hurry him. When he does get to Nice American Ballpark, he has the possibility to be a real ace for the Reds.
2) Rhett Lowder – SP, 22 YO
MiLB Stats (Stage): 108.2 IP / 3.64 ERA / 1.15 WHIP / 113 SO
MLB Stats: 30.2 IP / 1.17 ERA / 1.27 WHIP / 22 SO
Make no mistake, Rhett Lowder goes to be a stud on the main league stage for a very long time. He can be the #1 on many different organizations’ prime prospects checklist and solely misses out right here as a result of immense expertise that Burns possesses. The second Wake Forest alumni on this checklist dazzled as a Demon Deacon, and the Reds wasted no time deciding on him at decide #7 in 2023.
The 22-year-old flew by the minor leagues in 2024. He made simply 5 begins at Excessive-A Dayton earlier than being promoted to Chattanooga, the place he spent nearly all of the season. His stats don’t bounce off the web page (4.31 ERA, 1.26 WHIP), however his remaining seven begins do. He pitched to a 1.88 ERA in 38.1 innings earlier than being despatched to Louisville. His time in Kentucky was short-lived, as he made one begin earlier than being promoted to the Reds’ large league roster. He continued to impress in Cincinnati, registering a 1.17 ERA in six begins within the present.
Six video games isn’t a big sufficient pattern measurement to say for certain that Lowder will proceed to succeed, however the underlying knowledge signifies that his dominance was not a fluke. He held hitters to a 3.3% barrel charge, which might have ranked first amongst MLB pitchers over a full season. Moreover, three of his 4 pitches registered a optimistic run worth (FB: 2, SL: 2, SI: 6) and held hitters to a SLG beneath .300. Lowder has loads of competitors for a rotation spot, particularly after the addition of Brady Singer, however he has the potential to stay on the prime of the rotation within the close to future.
3) Cam Collier – 3B, 20 YO
MiLB Stats (A+): .248 AVG / .355 OBP / .443 SLG / 20 HR / 2 SB / 25 Ok% / 13 BB%
This 20-year-old nook infielder took one of the crucial distinctive paths to the skilled ranks in current historical past. Collier reclassified to the 2022 Draft Class after ending highschool early and enrolling at Chipola Faculty. As a 17-year-old, he slashed .333/.419/.537 with eight dwelling runs. He continued to impress within the Cape Cod League, registering 5 hits and an OBP of .379 as one of many youngest gamers in League historical past. The Reds snapped him up with the 18th total decide that summer time, and he continued to carry out in his first style of professional ball (203 wRC+ in ’22).
His first full season went fairly effectively contemplating that he was greater than three years youthful than the common age of the Single-A Florida State League. Collier completed with a .705 OPS and 98 wRC+ in 111 video games with Daytona. He was rewarded with a promotion to Excessive-A Dayton, the place he broke out, demonstrating why he’s a top-ten prospect at his place. Collier posted a 129 wRC+, which ranked 4th amongst hitters his age or youthful with greater than 500 PAs. He added 20 lengthy balls and a stroll charge of 13%, showcasing plus energy and self-discipline to construct on in his age-20 season.
Collier remains to be 3+ years away from making his debut, however he has two full years of professional ball beneath his belt now. If he’s capable of study from his expertise and construct one other stellar season, he might discover himself among the many prime 25 prospects in baseball earlier than lengthy.
4) Edwin Arroyo – SS, 21 YO
MiLB Stats: N/A – Harm
2024 was a wash for Arroyo after a torn labrum in Spring Coaching ended his season earlier than it started. Earlier than going into camp, the 21-year-old had constructed up a ton of momentum. Arroyo put collectively a powerful marketing campaign with Excessive-A Dayton, slashing .248/.321/.427 with 13 dwelling runs and 28 steals in 119 video games. He was rewarded for his efficiency with a quick run of video games with AA, the place he continued to hit. Arroyo went 6/20 with three extra-base hits in restricted time with Chattanooga.
The 21-year-old returned to recreation motion within the Arizona Fall League. He smashed 5 extra-base hits and 7 steals in eighteen video games with Glendale, regardless of being, on common, two years youthful than his competitors. Arroyo’s balanced swing, in tandem with the loft that the swing generates, will permit him to faucet into plus energy for his place. That pop, plus the pace and base-stealing functionality, makes Arroyo one of the crucial intriguing prospects within the system getting into 2025. His ceiling is an on a regular basis participant who can generate 20+ homers and steals on a yearly foundation, and if he’s wholesome he might be on his approach to AA by midseason.
5) Chase Petty – SP, 21 YO
MiLB Stats (AA, AAA): 137.0 IP / 4.20 ERA / 1.34 WHIP / 130 SO
Petty burst onto the scene greater than 4 years in the past after his 100+ mile per hour heater propelled him into the first-round dialog. Right now, he finds himself on the point of a serious league debut after 2.5 excellent years within the Reds farm system. After being traded to Cincinnati in trade for Sonny Grey, Petty posted a 3.48 ERA in 25 video games in 2022. He was even higher in 2023. Petty’s 1.72 ERA was the 2nd greatest amongst all minor league pitchers (min. 60 IP), permitting simply 13 runs in 18 begins.
It regarded as if he had regressed barely in 2024. He posted a 5.40 ERA in 14 first-half begins in Double-A, with a sky-high WHIP of 1.48. Nonetheless, he returned to type in September, posting a 1.88 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in 4 begins to finish the season. Whereas he’s moved away from his 100 mph+ heater, he’s reinvented himself with a four-pitch arsenal that includes a 95 mph sinker and wipeout slider. The 2 pitches work together with one another masterfully, because the sinker dives into Petty’s arm aspect, whereas the slider violently sweeps to the glove aspect. Hitters managed to hit simply .211 (79.0 EV) off the breaker, producing a 42% whiff charge. If he continues to fluster hitters with that combo, he might be referred to as up someday early in 2025.
6) Tyson Lewis – SS, 18 YO
MiLB Stats: N/A – 2024 Draft
One of the vital intriguing highschool bats in final 12 months’s draft class fell exterior of the primary spherical earlier than being chosen. The Reds took Lewis within the second spherical of the 2024 Draft out of Millard West Excessive College in Nebraska, bypassing a scholarship to Arkansas to make the bounce to the professionals. He hit .496 with eight dwelling runs in his senior season with a 1.491 OPS, including 31 stolen bases. That monitor report, plus some spectacular showcase numbers, made Lewis too good to move up on at decide #51 final 12 months.
Lewis reportedly hit exit velocities as excessive as 108 and ran a 6.4 60-yard sprint. Each of these measurements can be spectacular for some main league gamers. At eighteen, they’re indicative of a doable celebrity growing in Cincinnati’s system. He’s nonetheless but to play knowledgeable aggressive recreation, however he’s proven the instruments to achieve his early profession. At 6’2″, Lewis has the body to stay at shortstop so long as his glove stays stellar within the minors. The Reds can afford to be affected person with Lewis, however he’s a participant to regulate within the coming years.
7) Sal Stewart – 3B, 21 YO
MiLB Stats (A+): .279 AVG /.391 OBP /.454 SLG / 8 HR / 10 SB / 16.9 Ok% / 14.8 BB%
Oh look, the Reds have one other thrilling infield prospect. The 2022 first-round decide was off to a stellar begin to life in Excessive-A Dayton earlier than being compelled out of motion with a wrist damage in July. Stewart’s 144 wRC+ was the perfect within the group (min. 300 PAs), and his AVG and OPS each have been among the many prime 5. Oh, his stroll and strikeout charges have been each within the prime 5 amongst Reds hitters too. That is nothing new for Stewart although. During the last two seasons, twenty hitters have a stroll charge above 12%, a strikeout charge decrease than 20%, and an OPS greater than .800 (min. 800 PAs). Amongst them, Stewart ranks second in wRC+ of 134.
It’s straightforward to see why the previous Vanderbilt commit places up such good numbers. His swing is a murals. With a pronounced load step and many rotation, Stewart is ready to generate straightforward energy, which has resulted in 30 profession minor league dwelling runs. The 21-year-old possesses a uncommon mixture of elite plate self-discipline, plus energy and stable pace (10 SBs in 2024). Whereas his defensive dwelling remains to be a query mark, his bat ought to pressure him into the Reds’ plans throughout the subsequent two years.
Prospects Dynasty Managers Ought to Know
8) Sammy Stafura – SS, 20 YO
MiLB Stats (A+): .270 AVG / .387 OBP / .412 SLG / 8 HR / 31 SB / 24.7 Ok% / 15.2 BB%
The Reds have a celebrity in Elly De La Cruz at shortstop, however the Reds don’t have any scarcity of thrilling prospects behind him. Stafura impressed in his first full season {of professional} baseball after being drafted within the second spherical of the 2023 Draft out of highschool. In 15 video games within the advanced league, he hit .345 with a 156 wRC+. As a 19-year-old in Excessive-A, he stole 27 bases and hit six dwelling runs in 77 video games with Dayton. His 127 wRC+ over the course of 2024 ranked fifth within the group (simply two behind Collier). Stafura is a methods away from the massive leagues, however he’s a participant to look at within the coming years because the Reds aggressive window opens.
9) Alfredo Duno – C, 19 YO
MiLB Stats (A): .267 AVG /.367 OBP /.422 SLG / 3 HR / 2 SB / 28.8 Ok% / 12.9 BB%
Catchers with reputable 20+ dwelling run energy come at a premium in fantasy baseball, particularly in two-catcher leagues. Simply seven hitters on the place in MLB reached that plateau final season. Whereas he’s nonetheless years away from the Majors, Duno might be the subsequent backstop to affix that group. The 18-year-old has 9 dwelling runs and 27 extra-base hits in 77 profession video games within the Reds group. He made his first appearances in Single-A in 2024, the place he registered a 127 wRC+ in 32 video games regardless of being considerably youthful than most of his competitors. Whereas a damaged rib ended his season prematurely, he demonstrated that he’s capable of deal with older competitors and shall be examined once more in 2025. Duno might want to tackle the close to 30% strikeout charge subsequent season, however he needs to be afforded loads of alternatives to take action.
10) Luke Holman – SP, 22 YO
MiLB Stats: N/A – 2024 Draft
Holman is one other 2024 draft decide who has but to get a style {of professional} baseball. The 21-year-old right-hander was picked one spherical forward of Sirota out of LSU. The previous Alabama starter joined the Tigers for his remaining collegiate season and was downright dominant. Holman struck out 127 batters in 91.2 innings en path to a 2.75 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. He possesses pro-level velocity on his fastball (91-94), however his greatest pitch is his slider, which is a good gyro providing with spectacular vertical motion. Holman will spend important time within the minors, and the Reds don’t have any scarcity of thrilling arms to cowl innings. That stated, Holman might be on the fringes of a call-up someday in 2026 if he begins his skilled profession effectively.
11) Adam Serwinowski – SP, 20 YO
MiLB Stats (A): 85.2 IP / 3.57 ERA / 1.27 WHIP / 106 SO
Anytime a 6’5″ lefty places up good numbers within the minors with plus velocity, they need to be thought-about a reputation to recollect. Serwinowski matches this invoice about in addition to anybody might. The previous Fifteenth-round decide has a profession 3.55 ERA in 37 minor league appearances, putting out 150 in 114 innings. His fastball/curveball mixture is his bread and butter. The mid-to-high 90s heater taking part in on the prime of the zone, whereas the sharp curve provides hitters bother in or beneath the zone. Serwinowski is way from a completed product. He wants one other serviceable pitch or two earlier than he will be thought-about a prime prospect. That stated, he has the construct and velocity to develop into a possible ace in Cincinnati.
12) Ricardo Cabrera – SS, 20 YO
MiLB Stats (A): .252 AVG / .331 OBP / .399 SLG / 11 HR / 19 SB / 22.1 Ok%/ 6.8 BB%
The 19-year-old infielder is one other identify on this checklist who carried out admirably among the many a lot older competitors in Single-A with Daytona final season. Cabrera mashed eleven dwelling runs and stole 19 bases in simply over 100 video games in 2024. His 111 wRC+ ranked Fifteenth amongst minor leaguers his age with at the least 450 plate appearances. His glove could restrict his ceiling going ahead, as 19 errors between third and brief in over 600 innings of labor leaves some to be desired. Nonetheless, his offensive success, in tandem along with his plus energy and pace instruments, at such a younger age is an efficient basis for Cabrera to construct on in 2025.
13) Julian Aguiar – SP, 23 YO
MiLB Stats (AA, AAA): 116.1 IP / 3.79 ERA / 1.21 WHIP /95 SO
MLB Stats: 31.2 IP / 6.25 ERA / 1.33 WHIP / 19 SO
It’s not each day a Twelfth-round pick of a Junior Faculty makes his main league debut inside three seasons, however that’s the story behind the success of Aguiar. Hailing from Cypress Faculty, he made 77 minor league appearances earlier than making his main league debut with the Reds in opposition to Toronto on August nineteenth. Aguiar’s temporary, seven-start stint within the Main drew blended outcomes. He was tagged for six earned runs on ten hits in opposition to the A’s, but in addition shut out the Mets over 4.2 innings simply two begins later. The 23-year-old would have entered 2025 preventing for a spot within the Reds’ revamped rotation, nevertheless it was introduced that he’ll want Tommy John surgical procedure in October, inflicting him to overlook the whole season. It’s an extended highway again to the Majors after an operation like that, however he wouldn’t be the primary to come back again from Tommy John as a totally completely different pitcher. Count on Aguiar to be again within the rotation dialog for the 2026 season.
14) Ty Floyd – SP, 23 YO
MiLB Stats: N/A
The previous second-round decide has not pitched in a aggressive baseball recreation because the 2023 Faculty World Collection. Floyd was part of the LSU workforce that took dwelling the Nationwide Championship and joined the Reds group quickly after. Since then, he was shut down for the remainder of 2023 and was compelled into shoulder surgical procedure earlier than the 2024 season. Floyd’s worth is very depending on his efficiency post-surgery. Nonetheless, if he’s capable of return to his collegiate type (11.8 Ok/9) and restrict the management points that gave him bother in Baton Rouge (3.8 BB/9), he might fly by the Reds’ system.
15) Hector Rodriguez – OF, 20 YO
MiLB Stats (A+): .274 AVG / .309 OBP / .420 SLG / 12 HR / 12 SB / 13.3 Ok% / 4.8 BB%
Offensively, Rodriguez has one of many extra attention-grabbing profiles within the Reds system. The 21-year-old outfielder had a .274 AVG and .729 OPS in Excessive-A Dayton final season. He additionally added 12 HRs and 12 SBs in 125 video games. Rodriguez has made main strides on the plate, reducing his strikeout charge considerably between ’23 (18%) and ’24 (13%), along with his stroll charge constantly sitting round 5%. The following step for him shall be discovering consistency along with his energy on the plate, however Rodriguez might be on the verge of a call-up by the top of 2025.
The Subsequent 5
Though these prospects don’t crack the highest 15, dynasty managers ought to hold their eye on these 5 gamers.
Carlos Jorge – 21 YO – 21-year-old infielder with 10 HR/20 SB potential. Regressed closely between ’23 and ’24, with wRC+ dropping over 30 factors. Might want to enhance on a 30% strikeout charge and low stroll charge to succeed on the subsequent stage.
Zach Maxwell – 23 YO – 6’6″ right-hander with stable fastball/slider mixture. Struck out 14.2 batters per 9 innings final season in 54 innings of labor. Wants to chop again on walks (6.33 BB/9) and add one other pitch to take the subsequent step. Excessive reliever danger however might make the transition to the rotation sooner or later.
Sheng-En Lin – 19 YO – 120 wRC+ with a 16% stroll charge and 12 steals as an 18-year-old within the Advanced League. Swing-and-misses are a priority going ahead (42% profession strikeout charge in minors), however a .837 OPS in his first extended stint in professional ball is one thing to construct on subsequent 12 months.
Peyton Stovall – 21 YO – Candy-swinging lefty with plus protection at second base. Accidents restricted his remaining season at Arkansas earlier than being drafted within the fourth spherical in 2024. Posted a 104 wRC+ in his first 16 video games at Single-A. May find yourself being a utility infielder however has the potential to stay at second each day sooner or later.
Ethan O’Donnell – 22 YO – 10 dwelling runs, 31 steals with Excessive-A Dayton in 2024. Performed all three outfield positions effectively, solely making 5 errors in 83 video games. Stroll charge has been constantly round 10% for his two years within the minors, however might want to rebound from a 6.0% improve in strikeout charge.
