Cincinnati Reds

BA Grade: 50/High

Track Record: When the Reds picked Hendrick 12th overall in 2020, it was just the third time in draft history that Cincinnati had picked a prep outfielder in the top 15 picks of a draft. The previous two—Jay Bruce and Austin Kearns—both worked out. Hendrick’s pro debut in 2021 didn’t go as planned. A groin strain sidelined him for a month, and when he did play his power production was less than expected.

Scouting Report: Hendrick’s first full pro season was a rather mixed bag. He struck out in 38% of his plate appearances and his exceptional bat speed did not lead to many home runs. He walked 19% of the time, however, and showed an advanced batting eye. Unlike many Class A hitters with strikeout issues, Hendrick doesn’t really struggle with pitch recognition. His problem is he too often fouls off pitches he should drive. Hendrick’s swing is quite steep. When he does connect it leads to plenty of long fly balls, but the loft in his swing means his barrel is not in the strike zone for very long. If he can fix that, Hendrick has the components to be a very productive hitter. His bat speed, batting eye and power give him the makings of at least an average hitter with plus power if he can fix his issues. His plus arm and fringe-average speed should work in right field.

The Future: Hendrick’s 2021 season was disappointing, but the pieces are still there for him to be a potential middle-of-the-order hitter. He’ll head to High-A Dayton with a healthy to-do list.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50. Power: 60. Speed: 45. Fielding: 45. Arm: 60.

Track Record: After a college career marred by injuries to both of his hips and a modest 2019 pro debut, Ashcraft was a revelation in 2021. He was the minors’ hottest pitcher for much of the first half of the season and had a seven-start, 43-inning stretch when his only run was allowed via catcher’s interference.
Scouting Report: Ashcraft’s dominance and his struggles both stem from his all-power, all-the-time approach. At his best, Ashcraft can dominate a lineup with a 65-grade fastball, an above-average cutter and a plus slider. Everything is hard, but when he’s throwing mid-90s fastballs with plenty of cut, knowing what’s coming may not be enough for a hitter. But when Ashcraft is missing his spots, his simple approach allows hitters to simply look for a pitch to drive. Ashcraft is able to throw to the strike zone and let the movement of his fastball take care of the rest. He’s unlikely to ever be a pitcher with the command to hit his spots, but he can throw strikes. His changeup is more a concept than a pitch right now, and he’ll also flip over an early-count, well below-average curve.
The Future: Ashcraft reached Double-A, but he has plenty of development of his secondaries left if he’s going to be a starter. He’d have a quicker path as a reliever, where he could ride his pure power approach for one-inning stints. The dominance he demonstrates at his best is impressive, but he has to show he can sustain success. He also has to continue to demonstrate durability. It’s been better as a pro, but it was an issue for him during his college career.

Track Record: A hitter who sporadically pitched for the first three years of his high school career, Bonnin established himself as one of the best prep arms in Texas in his senior season. He headed to Arkansas, but shoulder surgery meant he never pitched for the Razorbacks. He transferred to Texas Tech because the Red Raiders gave him the opportunity to start while Arkansas saw him as a future closer. In his second pro start, Bonnin struck out 11 of the 15 batters he faced in five perfect innings. His final three starts of the season after a promotion to High-A Dayton didn’t go nearly as well.
Scouting Report: Hunter Greene throws harder, but Bonnin’s fastball is harder to hit than Greene’s because of its combination of 94-99 mph velocity, a low release point which leads to a low vertical approach angle which hitters aren’t used to seeing and the pitch’s exceptional carry through the top of the zone. The Reds worked with Bonnin to get him to stop cutting his fastball and to help him finish a little less closed off in his delivery. The result was better vertical movement on his fastball as well as improved velocity. His slider is a plus pitch as well, but his cutter and changeup are still unrefined because he hasn’t been able to use them much in games.
The Future: Bonnin carries plenty of reliever risk, but he also has some of the best stuff in the organization. His improved delivery buys him time to prove that he can start, and even if he can’t his stuff is the type that can get saves.

Track Record: Nelson was a star at Calvary Christian High in Clearwater, Fla., on a team that won 60 straight games and had Hall of Famer Roy Halladay on the coaching staff. He was an immediate starter as a freshman at Florida State. After going undrafted in 2020, he blossomed in 2021. His power improved, and his 23 home runs led all Division I hitters and vaulted him into the supplemental first round.
Scouting Report: Nelson took a pitch off his wrist in his 10th game as a Red and missed the rest of the season, although he returned to action at instructional league. He has a chance to be an extremely well-rounded catcher with an ability to get on base, hit for power and play solid defense behind the plate. He’s good at blocking pitches in the dirt, and is an average receiver with a plus arm. Offensively, he uses the whole field, although he’ll swing and miss enough to be a fringe-average hitter. He likes to get his arms extended. A pitcher who can work inside consistently can neutralize him, but he’ll do enough damage on pitches on the middle or outer third of the plate to have above-average power.
The Future: Nelson was one of the older players in the 2021 draft class. That’s mildly concerning, but otherwise he has the look of a valuable everyday catcher. With Tyler Stephenson just settling into the everyday job, Nelson has time to develop.

Track Record: Torres was born in the Dominican Republic, but his family moved to the United States when he was a child. As a second-year freshman in 2021 thanks to the canceled 2020 season, he helped lead the Wolfpack to the College World Series.
Scouting Report: Torres was one of the best defensive shortstops in the 2021 draft class. He’s only an average runner, but his hands, first step, body control and internal clock make him an extremely reliable, plus defender. He was bothered by an oblique injury early in 2021, but he has a plus arm when healthy. Offensively, he’s steadily eliminated some of the concerns that have surrounded him. In 2020, he was an easy mark for any pitcher who could spin a breaking ball, but in 2021 both in college and pro ball he showed better pitch recognition against sliders and curves while continuing to punish fastballs. He has sneaky power, giving him a chance to get to 10-12 home runs a year.
The Future: Torres has been projected as a utiltyman whose glove will get him to the majors. He’s showing signs that might be selling him short. He has a chance to be a regular if his bat continues to improve.

Track Record: When the 2020 draft was cut to five rounds, the Reds spent plenty of effort finding nondrafted pitchers who had the attributes to succeed in pro ball. Spiers looks like the best of an impressive bunch. The nephew of longtime MLB infielder Bill Spiers and the son of Clemson baseball star Michael Spiers, Carson was a reliable closer at Clemson, but he’s become a useful starter in pro ball.
Scouting Report: Even though Spiers has moved from relieving in college to starting in pro ball, he’s managed to add several ticks to his fastball, going from a 90-91 mph reliever to a starter who sits 92 mph and touches 96. He’s also adjusted his pitch selection, switching from being a sinkerballer to a pitcher who thrives by throwing an average four-seam fastball with enough carry to stay above hitters’ bats. His plus changeup is still his best pitch thanks to separation and deception, but he’s also developed an average cutter and an average curve. All of Spiers’ pitches work in part because he has plus control.
The Future: There’s not much sexy about Spiers’ assortment of pitches, but he’s a durable, reliable starter who should pitch in the big leagues because of his multiple pitches and control.

Track Record: Cerda was part of a Reds 2017-18 international signing class that was limited to low-cost signings because of the team’s spending spree in 2016. He’s proven to be quite the find so far, and has posted a .360 or better on-base percentage at every stop. His 14 home runs were fifth best in the Low-A Southeast league.
Scouting Report: Cerda’s hand-eye coordination and bat-to-ball skills are only adequate at best, but he makes up for that by having an excellent understanding of the strike zone. Hitting from a wide-open setup, Cerda will swing and miss at pitches in the zone, but he knows how to take a walk when pitchers nibble. He has above-average power to go with his average hit tool. When he was promoted to Dayton, Cerda largely transitioned to right field, which is his most likely eventual home because of his plus arm. Although he’s still relatively skinny, he has slowed and is an above-average runner who is now average in center.
The Future: The Reds adding Cerda to their 40-man roster is a clear sign of how highly they value his well-rounded offensive game. He’ll head back to High-A Dayton to start 2022.

Track Record: Sometimes it takes a while for everything to click, and Moreta didn’t establish himself in full-season ball until his fifth season. After being left available and unpicked in the 2019 and 2020 Rule 5 drafts, Moreta took a massive step forward in 2021. He made it to Double-A for the first time, dominated there and in Triple-A and made it to Cincinnati at the end of the season.
Scouting Report: While it took a while for Moreta to get to Cincinnati, he should stay for quite a while. Moreta is the rare reliever with plus control. He fills the strike zone with his fastball, slider and a hard changeup. His mid-90s plus fastball can get above hitters’ bats at the top of the strike zone thanks to its flat plane and above-average carry. He can reach back for 97-98 if he needs to as well. His mid-80s plus slider doesn’t have a ton of movement but it pairs very well with his fastball. Those two pitches and his 87-89 mph, above-average changeup all can miss bats.
The Future: Moreta was better in almost every way in 2021 than he was pre-pandemic, but his step forward seems sustainable. Relievers with pinpoint control are rare, but Moreta has it to go with excellent stuff. The combination should make him a key part of the Reds bullpen for 2022 and beyond.

Track Record: Ideally, Roa will be a big and durable starter, but so far he hasn’t shown he can eat innings. He’s yet to throw 60 innings in any official season stretching back to his high school career. His chance to do that at Texas A&M was torpedoed by the pandemic. He then missed instructional league in 2020 because of a sports hernia. In 2021, he missed time with an elbow flexor strain that limited him to 58.2 innings.
Scouting Report: Roa has the makings of four average or better pitches with average control. He’s more of a sum-of-the-parts pitcher than one who depends on any one plus offering. His four-seam 91-94 mph fastball is a solid-average offering and he’s shown he can bump it up to 96-97 when he reaches back. His low-80s changeup has developed into his best pitch, an above-average offering with solid deception and fade. It’s his best two-strike pitch, as he can get swings and misses from hitters who chase it. His low-80s slider and high-70s curveball are both average as well. His ability to throw strikes with both breaking balls and his fastball keeps hitters guessing.
The Future: What Roa needs more than anything is a season when he can make 20-plus starts and get to 100 or more innings. He has the arsenal to be a No. 4 starter, but durability is a key component of filling that role.

Track Record: Heading into the 2019 draft, Callihan was viewed as a very promising prep hitter with significant defensive questions. Three years later, he’s still waiting to show what he can do. After losing the 2020 season like everyone else, he played just 29 games in 2021 before an elbow injury necessitated Tommy John surgery.
Scouting Report: Callihan showed up in better shape in 2021 and was reaping the benefits before his elbow injury. He has above-average bat speed and excellent hand-eye coordination. He was putting together plenty of quality at-bats before his injury, and his average speed made him a minor threat on the bases. Callihan should be an above-average hitter with average power, even if that power has yet to show up much in games. After playing second and third base in 2019, the Reds had Callihan focus on second base in 2021. He looked a little more agile and relatively sure-handed fielding balls he reached. The hope is he can be a fringe-average defender at second, which is playable thanks to his bat and good positioning. Callihan’s arm was above-average before the surgery. Now, he’ll have to show that it can bounce back.
The Future: Callihan should be back by the end of spring training. After getting less than 350 plate appearances in the past three seasons, he needs 120 games between Low-A and High-A in 2022. Optimistically, he could develop into a bat-first second baseman with a reliable enough glove.

Track Record: After spending his freshman year at Georgia, Johnson transferred to Chipola (Fla.) JC for more playing time. He responded by hitting .389/.500/.606 and playing his way into the fourth round at a time when junior college hitters struggled to get drafted. After earning a promotion to High-A Dayton during the season, he finished the year by hitting six home runs in 17 games in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: Because of the lack of a clear alternative, the Reds have had Johnson play more at shortstop than second base early in his career. That’s likely to change now that he’s paired with Matt McLain and Elly de la Cruz. Johnson is better suited for second—or third, although he hasn’t played there yet. His hands and consistency need some work, but his plus arm and body control give him a shot to be above-average at second, where he has a little more time to make the play. His righthanded swing can get a little bit big at times when it should be more contact-oriented, but both swings work and he has plus power when swinging lefty. He’s a fringe-average runner.
The Future: Johnson is unlikely to stay at shortstop, but his hitting ability and athleticism should fit at second base. He’s been productive so far, but there are evaluators who think Johnson has further upside.

Track Record: The decision to use an automated ball-strike system makes it tough to fully evaluate hitters and pitchers from the Low-A Southeast, as the league saw low batting averages but high on-base percentages due to plenty of walks. Vellojin was the epitome of the trend. His .401 on-base percentage led all minor league catchers in full-season ball, even though he hit only .247.
Scouting Report: Vellojin drew raves from scouts and coaches for his well-rounded combination of a discerning batting eye and a solid, well-rounded game behind the plate. He has a plus arm and is an above-average receiver. Vellojin shuts down the running game—he threw out 41% of basestealers in 2021. Vellojin does struggle significantly with his blocking. He led all full-season catchers with 102 wild pitches allowed (25 more than anyone else) and 11 passed balls. Offensively, Vellojin doesn’t hit the ball very hard, but he makes extremely good swing decisions. It’s very hard to get him to chase.
The Future: Vellojin has a lot of work ahead of him, but he has the foundational skills to be an everyday MLB catcher, although his on-base-heavy approach doesn’t exactly fit the normal profile. When he heads to High-A Dayton next year, he needs to focus on improving his blocking.

Track Record: A 35th-round pick by the Blue Jays out of high school, Phillips was committed to Louisiana State but instead rerouted to McLennan (Texas) JC, where he made six starts before the coronavirus pandemic canceled the 2020 season. The Mariners saw enough to draft him in the second round, No. 64 overall, and sign him for a $1,050,300 bonus. Phillips made his pro debut in 2021 and struck out more than 13 batters per nine innings while moving from Low-A to High-A, but he also walked more than five per nine. The Reds acquired him as the player to be named in the Jesse Winker trade.
Scouting Report: Phillips has big stuff but is still learning to harness it. His fastball sits 94-96 mph with late zip and gets swings and misses up in the zone. His mid-80s slider is a second plus pitch with hard, late break away from righthanded batters. His firm, 86-90 mph changeup is a well below-average pitch and leaves him vulnerable against lefties. Phillips dominates with his fastball and slider when he’s on, but his control and command vary wildly from game to game. His effortful delivery leads to scattered, below-average control despite his solid athleticism.
The Future: Phillips’ delivery and two plus pitches make him a likely reliever, but the Reds will keep starting him for now. He’s beginning at High-A Dayton but could reach Double-A this year.

Track Record: Friedl came to fame when he went undrafted as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2016. He then stood out for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, which helped him land a $735,000 bonus, which is the largest ever for a nondrafted free agent. Friedl’s 2019 season was delayed because of a shoulder injury and ended in early July because of an ankle injury, which meant his return to action in 2021 marked the end of a 21-month layoff. He made the most of it and made his MLB debut in September.
Scouting Report: Friedl didn’t get a chance to play a full game until his sixth MLB appearance. That sums up Friedl’s likely role. He does a lot of things well, but probably not well enough to ever be a regular. He’s a lefthanded hitter who works counts, knows how to draw a walk and has gotten stronger to the point where he has below-average power. He can play all three outfield spots, pinch-hit or serve as a defensive replacement. His above-average speed, average arm and above-average defense in the outfield are all useful.
The Future: Freidl went unpicked in two straight Rule 5 drafts before he made it to the majors. Even now, he’ll be a player who lives on the edge of the MLB roster, as backup outfielders are luxuries when the bullpen or rotation needs help. He’ll compete for a spot on Cincinnati’s bench.

Track Record: The biggest name in the Reds’ 2020-2021 international signing class, Almonte impressed as an amateur by showing power and an advanced ability to recognize spin. His Dominican Summer League debut lived up to those expectations.
Scouting Report: Almonte showed a little bit of everything in his pro debut. He was second on the DSL Reds in home runs (five) and third in steals (25) while blistering line drive after line drive. He has already started to show plus power potential, with more likely to come as he fills out his still somewhat skinny frame. He shows excellent swing decisions for his age and squares up the ball consistently. In addition to hitting the ball hard, he shows the skills to post solid on-base percentages as well. He is a fringe-average runner who will likely slow down, but he should be fine in right field with a plus arm.
The Future: Almonte was one of the highest-priced outfielders in the 2021 international class. It looks to be money well spent. He has the foundational skills to be a fast-moving corner outfielder. He’ll make his U.S. debut in 2022 while still a teenager.

Track Record: A little lefty, Abbott was coached in high school by an even smaller lefty in seven-time all-star Billy Wagner. Abbott doesn’t throw nearly as hard as Wagner, but like Wagner, he was an excellent reliever. Abbott spent three years as a multi-inning, high-leverage reliever at Virginia. He was passed over in the shortened 2020 draft, which gave him a chance to start in 2021. After going 9-6, 2.87 for the Cavaliers, he vaulted into the second round.
Scouting Report: Abbott doesn’t have a clear plus pitch, but three average to above-average offerings and plus control give him plenty of chances to compete. Working as a starter gave Abbott a chance to further refine and improve his average changeup, which pairs well with his above-average, high-70s, 12-to-6 curveball. Abbott’s fastball has ticked up a little bit to sit 92-93 mph and he will touch 96-97 sporadically. His fastball has solid carry up in the strike zone. All three pitches work well together because he mixes them well. Coaches have long raved about Abbott’s competitiveness and he has excellent durability.
The Future: Virginia has had 10 pitchers taken in the top 100 picks this century. Just two—Sean Doolittle and Daniel Lynch—have put down significant roots in the big leagues. Abbott has a chance to be the third, although more likely as a No. 5 starter or multi-inning reliever.

Track Record: The younger brother of Mets closer Edwin Diaz, Alexis has proven to be a very useful developmental project. He sat 88-92 mph when the Reds drafted him in 2015. Now his slider can touch 88. He had Tommy John surgery in 2016 but has bounced back nicely. He earned a spot on the Reds’ 40-man roster after an impressive season at Double-A Chattanooga.
Scouting Report: Because of his low three-quarters slot, Diaz has an exceptionally low release point. He has a very low approach angle on his 93-97 mph fastball. Diaz’s above-average fastball has enough velocity to keep hitters looking for it, but really it’s just the appetizer for his plus slider that he throws every bit as much as his fastball. It’s thrown at 83-88 mph and looks like his fastball coming out of his hand. Diaz can throw it in the zone or out depending on the situation, flipping between a short, cutterish version as well as a bigger one that runs away from hitters’ bats. His command is average, but he has below-average control thanks to his slider-heavy approach.
The Future: The best thing a pitcher can be is unusual. If you can throw hard and still be unlike anyone else hitters normally see, all the better. Diaz is a fireballer who has an unusual release point and a nice two-pitch mix. He could help Cincinnati at some point in 2022.

Track Record: Of the 22 players who signed after being drafted in the 27th round in 2015, only Lopez has reached the majors. Six years after signing out of high school, he was called up to Cincinnati in late June. Lopez’s grandfather and father played baseball in the Mexican League, and his father Alfonso is a vice president of the Mexican League’s Puebla franchise.
Scouting Report: Lopez is a plus hitter who has hit wherever he’s played. A career .303 hitter in the minors, Lopez has exceptional contact skills. He swings a lot, but he rarely swings and misses with a slap-heavy approach. Lopez has bottom-of-the-scale power. He is an extreme ground ball hitter who sprays the ball around the field. He’s an average runner who isn’t a basestealing threat. Defensively, Lopez is versatile, but his inability to really play shortstop limits him. He’s best at second base, where his heady play, above-average arm and body control help him be average. He’s fine in left field, but his bat is stretched there. The ball gets on him a little quickly at third.
The Future: Lopez is a big league-ready hitter but his lack of impact makes him better as a fill-in. He has survival skills, but he’s most likely headed back to Triple-A Louisville to be ready whenever he is needed.

Track Record: The DSL Reds were loaded with talent, but of all the intriguing prospects on the team, Jorge is the one who had the loudest debut. In a league with 46 teams, Jorge ranked in the top 10 in batting average (.346), OBP (.436), slugging (.579), stolen bases (27) and total bases (92). He also led the league with 10 triples.
Scouting Report: Jorge impressed as an amateur, but he’s proven to be even better than expected. He has a very simple, short swing that leads to tons of quality contact. While his frame doesn’t portend a lot of strength gains, he made solid contact for a teenager in the DSL. He’s short but not small. He’s a plus-plus runner who is a real threat on the basepaths. Defensively, he has the skills to stay in the middle infield with an average arm and above-average range. His twitchy athleticism gives him an excellent first step.
The Future: It’s hard not to think of Ozzie Albies or Vidal Brujan when watching Jorge. Like them, he is speedy, short but strong, and has plenty of offensive potential to go with defensive value.

Track Record: After barely playing in his first two years at Florida, Kolozsvary was supposed to be a backup as a junior. But Mike Rivera got hurt, Kolozsvary stepped in and impressed enough to get drafted by the Reds. Similarly, he emerged from obscurity—and a .188 batting average in 2019—to become Team USA’s everyday catcher at the Olympics.
Scouting Report: After reworking his swing to try to hit for more power, Kolozsvary had an excellent start but struggled to sustain it. He hit .349 in May but .186 from June 1 until the end of the season. He’s a solid defensive catcher who blocks and frames. Defensively, he’s capable of serving as a solid backup, but his hitting will have to improve. Kolozsvary does have surprising above-average raw power, but his all-power approach led to significant contact issues. His swing-and-miss rate of 39% has to improve.
The Future: Added to the 40-man roster, Kolozsvary’s defensive ability gives him a shot to become Tyler Stephenson’s backup, but only if he gets much better at the plate. Without that improvement, he’ll be stuck as a catcher on call at Triple-A in case of injuries.