Picture: Redleg Nation Workers
The Cincinnati Reds farm system is an attention-grabbing one. Relying on who you ask and the place you look the farm system is rated anyplace between the eighth greatest and the 18th greatest in baseball. That’s a reasonably large hole. The largest instance of the big selection of ideas is with prospect Chase Petty. Baseball Prospectus had him rated because the ninth greatest prospect within the farm system. At present he was named as #42 prospect in all of baseball by Eric Longenhagen on their launch of Fangraphs 2025 Prime 100 Prospects listing.
One would definitely assume if one publication has Chase Petty ranked ninth within the group and others had him of their Prime 100 lists (Petty has made a number of Prime 100 lists this offseason) and is within the highest 50 in all of baseball that Cincinnati’s farm system can be very, very properly regarded. But it surely’s not. Whereas most locations assume that it’s an excellent to strong farm system, nobody is suggesting it’s an amazing one or anyplace close to one of the best round. It’s type of bizarre to take a step again and take a look at all of it.
At present Cincinnati noticed 4 of their prospects wind up on Fangraphs listing. And all 4 of these gamers have been among the many prime 51 gamers. 2024’s 2nd total choose, Chase Burns, was the best rated Reds prospect and he got here in at #28. He’s coming off of a 2024 season with Wake Forest the place he went 10-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 100.0 innings with 191 strikeouts and 30 walks. He didn’t pitch after the draft. Burns is presently in Goodyear as part of large league spring coaching as a non-roster invitee.
You don’t must go far down the listing to search out the subsequent Reds prospect. In truth the very subsequent participant on the listing is Cincinnati’s prime 2023 worldwide signing – catcher Alfredo Duno. The 19-year-old has solely performed in 77 video games in his two seasons since signing however he’s confirmed off large time energy potential and spectacular athleticism for a catcher regardless of his dimension. Accidents have restricted what he’s been in a position to do on the sector in each 2023 and 2024, however he’s hit .287/.416/.463 so far in his profession.
Behind Duno goes to be Chase Petty, who as famous above is available in on the #42 spot on the listing. The 21-year-old pitcher led the farm system in innings pitched in 2024 with 137.0 innings whereas seeing motion in Double-A Chattanooga and a late season name as much as Triple-A. Final 12 months noticed him take large steps in each his workload and in his repertoire as he moved to utilizing extra 4-seamers (that additionally helped improve his velocity) and including in additional cutters to associate with an excellent slider and alter up. Like Burns, he’s additionally in large league camp as a non-roster invitee.
Rounding out the listing for Cincinnati at #51 is Rhett Lowder. After a hiccup within the early a part of the 2024 season after a promotion to Double-A, Lowder turned issues round in the midst of the summer season with Chattanooga and skyrocketed by the minor leagues and made six begins within the majors to complete out his season the place he posted a 1.17 ERA for the Reds. Sadly Lowder presently finds himself not on time in spring coaching after coping with some elbow points final month whereas starting his throwing program. There’s no structural injury in accordance with the MRI he had, however he’s on an undefined timeline to return at this level because the staff goes to see how he’s feeling as soon as he will get again on the mound and begins throwing once more (which is meant to occur this week).
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