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Reds Top 50 Prospects

Our rankings ahead of the 2026 season

​Diamond Reds News Top 50 rankings are built from independent evaluation, statistical trends, and player development projection rather than public consensus lists. Rankings reflect a combination of ceiling, proximity to the majors, statistical performance, scouting traits, and developmental trajectory.

1

Sal Stewart

Sal is is one of the most promising young hitters in the Cincinnati Reds organization. The Miami, Florida native was selected 32nd overall in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Westminster Christian School, where he posted a .514 average with nine home runs as a senior and was named to the All-USA Today High School Baseball Team. He made steady progress through the minors, overcoming a 2024 wrist injury to put together a breakout 2025 campaign that saw him dominate at Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville before making his MLB debut on September 1, 2025. Stewart’s combination of advanced hit tools, power, and on-base ability has quickly made him one of the Reds’ most exciting young bats. At the plate, Stewart has drawn praise for his mature approach and pitch recognition, with scouts lauding his ability to control the strike zone and drive the baseball to all fields. In 2025 between Double-A and Triple-A, he hit .309 with 20 home runs, 80 RBIs and a .907 OPS, showcasing both contact skills and developing power that translates well at higher levels. He also posted a respectable .255 batting average with five homers and eight RBIs in his first taste of major league pitching late in 2025. Due to his offensive performance, Stewart has appeared on many national Top 100 prospect lists and is frequently cited as the #1 prospect in the Reds’ system entering 2026. Defensively, Stewart’s long-term home remains somewhat uncertain. While he has seen time at third base and first base, evaluators question whether his arm and range will profile sustainably at the hot corner in the big leagues. As a result, many project him settling at first base or as a versatile corner bat capable of handling multiple infield spots. Regardless of position, his bat is the foundation of his value — with 60-grade hitting and plus power potential, he profiles as a middle-of-the-order contributor with a high floor for offensive production. As the 2026 season approaches, Stewart is widely expected to compete for regular playing time with Cincinnati’s big league club, with a bright future ahead as one of the organization’s cornerstone young hitters.

1B/2B/3B ---------- MLB Cincinnati Reds

22

6' 1"

215

12/07/03

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Acquired:

Draft - Round 1 Competitive Balance Pick 32 - 2022

2

Alfredo Duno

Duno is one of the most exciting young offensive talents in the Cincinnati Reds’ farm system. Signed as a high-end international free agent in January 2023 for a $3.1 million bonus, Duno has quickly climbed prospect boards thanks to his advanced hit-tool and burgeoning power potential. Standing around 6’2″ and weighing roughly 210–235 lbs, he combines rare physical strength with athletic actions behind the plate — an intriguing mix for a catcher profile. Heading into the 2026 season, many evaluators see him as the Reds’ top positional bat in the system and one of the more impactful young catchers in all of baseball. Offensively, Duno broke out in 2025 with the Daytona Tortugas at Low-A, posting an impressive .287 batting average with a .430 on-base percentage and a .518 slugging percentage, leading the Florida State League in walks and ranking among the league leaders in virtually every major offensive category. His 18 home runs and 95 walks in 495 plate appearances underscore both his power upside and plate discipline, a rare combination for such a young hitter. That performance helped him garner attention on national prospect lists — including mid-season Futures Game honors — and climb into Top 100 rankings around baseball. Scouts praise his bat speed, ability to consistently barrel the ball, and knack for drawing free passes, while some project him as a potential 30-home-run threat as he fills out physically. Defensively, Duno’s future behind the plate has been a key development storyline. After limited catching experience early in his pro career, he began seeing more time behind the dish in 2025, showing a strong arm at times and improving blocking and receiving skills. While evaluators differ on how he’ll ultimately stick long-term — some projecting he could outgrow the position or shift roles if his body changes significantly — the consensus is that his defensive tools are at least average with above-average arm strength. Even if the catching profile remains a question mark, his bat alone gives him a high floor, and his offensive profile (plus walk rates, emerging power, and athleticism) makes him one of the more intriguing young hitters in the minors with frontline potential.

C ----------- A Daytona Tortugas

20

6' 2"

210

12/07/03

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International Signing - 2023

3

Hector Rodriguez

Héctor has quickly developed into one of the more intriguing young outfield bats in the Cincinnati Reds system. Originally signed by the New York Mets as an international free agent in January 2021, he was acquired by the Reds in a trade for Tyler Naquin and Phillip Diehl in July 2022 and has steadily worked his way up through the organization. Standing about 5’10″ and 200 lbs, Rodríguez is a left-handed hitter with a well-rounded offensive profile and plus contact skills who can impact games with both his bat and his improving power. Rodríguez’s breakout came in 2025, when he hit .298/.357/.481 with 12 home runs and six stolen bases in 345 plate appearances for Double-A Chattanooga before earning a promotion to Triple-A Louisville, where he continued to produce at a .260/.304/.405 clip with seven homers and nine steals. His strong offensive performance — particularly his ability to make contact and put the ball in play with a low strikeout rate — has drawn praise from evaluators and helped him climb prospect rankings, with some outlets placing him among the Reds’ top five prospects heading into 2026. He was also added to Cincinnati’s 40-man roster in November 2025 to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, underscoring the club’s belief in his near-term future in the big leagues. Defensively, Rodríguez has transitioned from his early days as a middle infielder into a full-time outfielder, primarily playing center and left field. His plus speed is an asset in the outfield, though questions remain about whether he’ll stick in center long term; many project him as a corner outfielder with above-average range. While he still needs to refine his plate discipline and continue adjusting to advanced pitching in Triple-A, Rodríguez’s combination of contact ability, emerging power, and athleticism gives him a realistic shot to earn a role with the Reds’ big league club in 2026, potentially as a left-handed bat who can make an impact at the top and middle of the lineup.

OF ----------- AAA Louisville Bats

21

5' 10"

186

12/07/03

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Tyler Naquin Trade - Mets 2022

4

Rhett Lowder

Rhett Lowder enters the upper levels of the Reds’ system with the look of a pitcher built to contribute meaningful innings sooner rather than later. A product of Wake Forest University, where he emerged as one of college baseball’s premier arms, Lowder was selected seventh overall by the Reds in the 2023 MLB Draft and rapidly rose through the minors to make his major league debut in late August 2024. Entering 2026, he’s widely regarded as a top arm in Cincinnati’s prospect hierarchy, currently ranked around the No. 3 prospect in the organization and among Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects nationally. On the mound, Lowder’s profile centers on his excellent command, heavy strike-throwing ability, and a three-pitch mix that plays at every level. His fastball sits in the mid-90s (topping out near 97 mph), and he complements it with an above-average slider and a strong changeup that consistently keeps hitters off balance — traits that helped him repeat as one of college baseball’s premier pitchers before being drafted. After progressing quickly through High-A and Double-A in 2024, Lowder earned a late-season promotion to the Reds, where he impressed with a 1.17 ERA over six big-league starts — an outstanding showing that reinforced his high floor and poise on the mound despite his limited pro experience. Lowder’s 2025 campaign, however, was largely derailed by injuries, including a right forearm strain followed by a left oblique issue that severely limited his innings, leaving him with just a handful of minor league outings on the year. As a result, he’s coming into 2026 with questions about health and workload but plenty of optimism surrounding his recovery and long-term impact. The Reds used his Arizona Fall League stint in 2025 to help him regain rhythm and refine his delivery after the setback, and spring training offered another chance to compete for a rotation spot. With elite command as his calling card and a projectable mix of pitches, Lowder still projects as a potential mid-to-top-of-the-rotation starter once fully healthy, making him one of the organization’s most important pitching prospects to monitor.

SP ----------- AAA Louisville Bats

24

6' 2"

200

12/07/03

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Draft - Round 1 Pick 7 - 2023

5

Tyson Lewis

At just 20 years old, Tyson Lewis has emerged as one of the most intriguing young bats in the Cincinnati Reds’ minor league system, blending rare raw power and athleticism with a high-ceiling skill set that excites evaluators. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Lewis was selected by the Reds in the second round (51st overall) of the 2024 MLB Draft out of Millard West High School, where he earned Nebraska Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year honors after hitting .496 with eight homers and 31 stolen bases as a senior. Since signing, his combination of size (6′2″, ~195 lbs), left-handed bat, and plus speed has set him apart from many peers in the system. Lewis took a significant step forward in his first full professional season in 2025, splitting time between the Arizona Complex League Reds and Single-A Daytona Tortugas. Over 81 games, he hit .311 with nine home runs, 54 RBIs and swiped 27 bases, showcasing both his power and athleticism in game action. His Statcast metrics stood out as well, with elite exit velocities ranking among the best in the minors — including multiple barrels measured over 118 mph — highlighting his ability to generate hard contact. Despite the tantalizing tools, Lewis’ profile carries volatility. His aggressive approach led to a high strikeout rate in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League, and there remains work to do refining his contact skills and consistency against advanced pitching. Defensively, he shows the range and speed to stick at shortstop, but questions about his hands and actions could prompt a move to another infield spot as he progresses. If he can harness his bat control while maintaining his plus power and speed, Lewis projects as a potential middle-of-the-order impact bat with five-tool upside — a profile that could see him climb prospect boards rapidly with continued growth in 2026.

SS ---------- A Daytona Tortugas

20

6' 2"

195

12/07/03

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Draft - Round 2 Pick 51 - 2024

6

Edwin Arroyo

Edwin is a switch-hitting, defense-first infielder with a compelling blend of contact ability and premium defensive instincts. Originally drafted in the second round (48th overall) by the Seattle Mariners in 2021 out of Arecibo Baseball Academy, Arroyo was acquired by the Cincinnati Reds at the 2022 trade deadline in the package for Luis Castillo and has been a headliner in their system ever since. Known for his athleticism, football-field range, and strong arm up the middle, Arroyo has consistently been ranked among Cincinnati’s top prospects and was recently placed inside the organization’s top five for 2026. After losing all of 2024 to shoulder surgery, Arroyo returned in 2025 to anchor the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts’ infield, slashing .284/.345/.371 with three home runs, 12 stolen bases, and excellent plate discipline across 120 games. His contact skills — underscored by a strikingly low strikeout rate — and switch-hitting ability have stood out, particularly his stretch from mid-June on where he hit closer to .296 with an even stronger on-base rate. Defensively, his work at shortstop has remained a calling card throughout his career, with scouts routinely citing his range, hands, and instincts as above-average tools at a premium position. The primary narrative around Arroyo heading into 2026 revolves around opportunity and projection. With his name now on the Reds’ 40-man roster and middle-infield depth at the big-league level in flux, he’s positioned to begin the year at Triple-A Louisville with a legitimate chance to push for Major League playing time — particularly in a utility or backup role that showcases his defensive versatility. Long term, Arroyo’s profile is built on his glove and contact bat; if he continues to grow his offensive output while maintaining his elite defense, he could carve out a steady MLB role as a high-contact, switch-hitting shortstop capable of impacting lineups at the top or bottom of the order.

SS ---------- AAA Louisville Bats

22

6' 0"

175

12/07/03

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Acquired:

Luis Castillo Trade - Mariners 2022

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