Here are the Reds¡¯ 2024 Top 30 prospects
Jonathan Mayo
@JonathanMayoThe Reds have a good thing going here. Every time they graduate an elite-level prospect, there¡¯s another ready to take his place.
Last year, Elly De La Cruz took over when Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo graduated in 2022. De La Cruz is now a big leaguer, and other top prospects from last year¡¯s list have also moved on after contributing in Cincinnati in 2023 (looking at you, Spencer Steer, Matt McLain, Andrew Abbott and Brandon Wlliamson). McLain, Steer and De La Cruz all got Rookie of the Year votes while helping the Reds hang around the NL Central race for a lot longer than anyone expected. Though they fell short, the youth movement led to a 20-game shift in the win column compared to their 62-100 finish in 2022.
And there¡¯s more coming. Noelvi Marte has stepped in as a worthy No. 1 prospect, though after his strong debut in the big leagues last year, he¡¯ll graduate soon (and give the Reds another ROY candidate). Rhett Lowder may have just been drafted, but the Wake Forest product is so advanced on the mound, many feel he¡¯s going to make it to Cincy in a hurry.
Beyond the quintet of Top 100 guys listed below, this is a pretty deep Top 30, with a number of young bats with plenty of offensive upside in the Top 10 and beyond.
Here¡¯s a look at the Reds' top prospects:
1. Noelvi Marte, 3B/SS (MLB No. 21)
2. Rhett Lowder, RHP (MLB No. 34)
3. Edwin Arroyo, SS (MLB No. 67)
4. Connor Phillips, RHP (MLB No. 70)
5. Chase Petty, RHP (MLB No. 98)
Complete Top 30 list ?
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2023 preseason list to the 2024 preseason list:
Jump: Blake Dunn, OF (2023: NR | 2024: 11)
A 15th-round pick back in 2021, Dunn had some injuries in the first year and change of his pro career. Healthy in 2023, he exploded on the scene with a 23-homer, 54-steal season across High-A and Double-A. The power-speed combination is intriguing, even if he ends up settling in as a fourth outfielder.
Fall: Logan Tanner, C (2023: 19 | 2024: NR)
The Reds¡¯ second-rounder in 2022 out of Mississippi State had a reputation of being glove-over-hit, and he has one of the strongest arms in the Minors. But you do have to hit a little, and in his year-plus of pro ball, he¡¯s slashed .201/.309/.307.
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 55 -- Sal Stewart (Cam Collier, Ricardo Cabrera)
Power: 60 -- Noelvi Marte
Run: 65 -- Jacob Hurtubise (Sammy Stafura)
Arm: 65 -- Rece Hinds
Defense: 60 -- Edwin Arroyo
Fastball: 70 -- Connor Phillips
Curveball: 60 -- Cole Schoenwetter
Slider: 60 -- Chase Petty
Changeup: 60 -- Rhett Lowder
Control: 65 -- Rhett Lowder
How they were built
Draft: 14 | International: 9 | Trade: 6 | NDFA: 1
Breakdown by ETA
2024: 6 | 2025: 6 | 2026: 8 | 2027: 6 | 2028: 2 | 2029: 2
Breakdown by position
C: 1 | 2B: 1 | 3B: 4 | SS: 7 | OF: 8 | LHP: 1 | RHP: 8