Under is an evaluation of the prospects within the farm system of the Cincinnati Reds. Scouting reviews had been compiled with data offered by business 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 needs to be added to the 40-man roster to keep away from being made eligible for the Rule 5 draft. Handbook changes are made the place they appear applicable, however we use that as a rule of thumb.
A fast overview of what FV (Future Worth) means could be discovered right here. A a lot deeper overview could be discovered right here.
The entire 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 varied sources) than this text and integrates each workforce’s checklist so readers can evaluate prospects throughout farm techniques. It may be discovered right here.
Different Prospects of Word
Grouped by sort and listed so as of choice inside every class.
Energy Prospects I’m Fearful Gained’t Hit
Rece Hinds, RF
Yerlin Confidan, RF
Ariel Almonte, RF
This can be a fairly self-explanatory group. Hinds is essentially the most developed athlete and upper-level performer, however once you’re putting out a 3rd of the time within the minors, your probabilities of persistently succeeding on the large league stage are distant. Confidan and Almonte are extra frame-based developmental initiatives 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 shifting on from lefty bat pace pretty much as good as Callihan’s too rapidly, however his method and protection are nonetheless fairly large considerations. 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 need to see that velo spike earlier than placing him on the principle part of the checklist. 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 School) are small faculty arms with mid-90s warmth and poor command. Branche (one among 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 situated 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 might get there, too. Hollan is a soft-tossing lefty with a superb curveball who bought 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 workforce’s fanbase, whether or not as a result of they’re distinguished on different publications’ lists or bought a giant bonus, and I really feel obligated to say them as a result of I do know you’re curious what I feel. I typically really feel unhealthy in regards to the tone of those gamers’ reviews as a result of I’m explaining why I feel they aren’t good, and it will possibly 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 gifted rookies final 12 months — Cincinnati would price extremely if we had been taking a look at “younger expertise” relatively than simply minor league prospects. The Reds’ method to scouting newbie 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 resulting from poor plate self-discipline. Elly De La Cruz epitomizes this within the excessive. He’s a human spotlight reel who wants polish. To some extent, that’s true of most of the Reds’ minor league hitters, even after they’re on the thicker aspect (like Ricardo Cabrera and Cam Collier, whose contact is tremendous loud).
A giant a part of the most important league workforce’s surge in 2023 was because of the approach the professional scouting division nailed facets of their rebuild. Christian Encarnacion-Strand (who I feel I’ll find yourself being gentle on), Spencer Steer (who, thus far, I nailed), Will Benson, and Jake Fraley had been all acquired by way of commerce, as had been half the prospects within the high 10 on this checklist. It’s harking back to the Royals’ rebuild (the Greinke commerce particularly) that led to their World Collection title occurring a decade in the past.
Are the Reds good at growing pitchers? I feel that’s open to debate. There are definitely pitchers with fascinating traits, or an ideal pitch or two, throughout this technique. However have any of the Greene/Ashcraft/Lodolo/Abbott success tales exceeded your expectations? Groups which can be good at growing arms both make pitchability varieties throw more durable or assist arduous throwers find higher. I’m undecided there’s actual proof that both is happening right here. The org is nice at figuring out pitchers with fascinating stuff, however I’m undecided it’s nice at maxing these gamers out. The core group of younger hitters on the large league stage provides the Reds an actual shot to maintain postseason rivalry for a very long time if they’ll repeatedly generate pitching depth from inside, which I feel they should show they’ll do.