As an organization that has not won a division title since 2012, the Cincinnati Reds farm system has helped them build back up. With numerous former top prospects jumping to the MLB, the Reds may finally be on the verge of doing this. They also have a handful of options currently in their farm system that are top-tier prospects.
Top Prospects in the Cincinnati Reds Farm System
3B/SS Noelvi Marte
After being a 2018 international signing by the Seattle Mariners, Marte was acquired in the 2022 Luis Castillo trade. He has provided above-average power throughout his time in the minor league systems. In 379 little league games, he has put up 56 home runs. This has helped make him the top prospect in the Cincinnati Reds farm system. This has also earned him the number 24 spot among the top prospects in baseball.
After being acquired by the Reds, Marte jumped to Triple-A in the 2023 season. But he has only put up four total home runs on the season while putting up a .279 batting average. Marte has also been able to showcase his speed on the basepaths. He has totaled 18 swiped bases in the minors this season.
But, an area of improvement for him is drawing more walks and being patient at the plate.
Defensively, Marte has entrenched himself in the third base position. Although he has struggled at times, putting up ten errors at third this season. The Reds view him as their future third baseman, especially with Elly De La Cruz entrenched at shortstop.
Marte was called up and made his major league debut with the Reds in August 2023.
RHP Rhett Lowder
After having a collegiate season that saw Lowder put up the most wins in Divison-1 baseball, the Reds selected him at number seven overall in the 2023 draft. He has slid into the top pitching prospect in the Reds’ farm system. This has also led to jumping into the number 44 spot in the top 100.
One big reason for this is the changeup that he possesses. Coming into the 2023 draft, it was considered one of the best in the collegiate ranks. He holds a fastball between 92 and 95 miles per hour and his changeup. He can stay at the bottom of the zone with his fastball, leading to more ground balls induced than fly balls. He also possesses an above-average slider that hits the low 80s.
An area of improvement for Lowder will be the continuation of progress on his slider. If he can do this, he will have three pitches that could lead to a lethal arsenal.
SS Edwin Arroyo
Another prospect was added to the Reds farm system through the Castillo trade; Arroyo was originally a Seattle second-round pick in 2021. The switch-hitting shortstop can show a good handle from both sides of the plate. He has also added more strength to his game, leading to hitting 11 home runs so far in 2023.
But improvements must occur at the plate in the sense of patience and drawing more walks. His walk numbers are down from last season, so he has been able to work on this. His speed on the base paths has been shown off this season, stealing 27 bases.
His arm and glove at the shortstop position is Arroyo’s main asset. This has helped make him the number 62 prospect in baseball and a top prospect in the Reds farm system. But, this season, he has 16 errors at short in 94 games in High-A ball. This will need to be improved upon.
1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand
Originally a Minnesota Twins fourth-round pick in the 2021 draft, the Reds acquired Encarnacion-Strand in a 2022 trade with the Twins. He quickly moved into the top prospects in the Cincinnati Reds farm system. He also sits at number 73 in the top 100 prospects in the MLB.
He has an advanced approach at the plate but has also struggled with having patience while at bat. In his first professional season (2022), he struck out 137 times, drawing only 40 walks. He can drive the ball to all parts of the field with power, leading to him hitting 32 total home runs in 2022.
Defensively, Encarnacion-Strand has been at the first baseman spot after some time at third. But while at third, he was viewed as playing stiff, leading to a full-time switch to first base.
His 2023 season in Triple-A, which included hitting .330 with 20 home runs and 62 batted in, has led to the Reds calling him up to the majors in July.
So far in the MLB, he has hit .263 with four home runs and 15 batted in. He has been in the lineup for 29 games with the Reds.
RHP Connor Phillips
Yet another acquired top prospect in the Cincinnati Reds farm system. This time, the Reds reached the former Seattle 2020 draft pick in a trade for Jesse Winker.
Phillips possesses an arsenal of pitches led by a fastball that can touch 99 miles per hour but is closer to sitting at 97. He also has a low 80s slider, a curveball in the 80s, and an upper 80s changeup. But his changeup is still a work-in-progress pitch.
Mixed in with the improvements to his changeup, Phillips will need to work on keeping the ball inside the park. So far, in 2023, he has given up ten home runs between Double-A and Triple-A.
His strikeout numbers, which sit at 148 in just under 98 innings pitched, mixed with his arsenal of pitches, could lead to Phillips pushing for a rotation spot in 2024 with the Reds.
Overall, the Reds could be pushing to be a force in the NL Central. Combining the current top prospects in their system and those who have made the jump, fans have something to be excited about in Cincinnati.
Main History: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
