Non-roster invitees who can make some noise this spring for Cincinnati

Spring Training is a time where baseball fans unite, and players begin to make their name known on the national stage. Each year, different players find their name in headlines, and some can drastically change their outlook as a prospect, fringe veteran, or young star. In this article we will dive into three Reds players who may make some noise during camp this spring.

Rhett Lowder

One guy already turning lots of heads through the first few days of spring training is 2023 first-round pick, Rhett Lowder. Rhett already has sky high expectations, and some believe he may be up in the bigs as soon as the end of this year. If Rhett can get off to a hot start this spring, expect these expectations to ramp up even further as Cincinnati fans get anxious for a return to the playoffs.

The #7 pick in 2023's draft, Rhett led college baseball in wins last year with 15 wins. To go with this, he also was 4th in the nation in both ERA (1.87) and strikeouts (143) across 88.2 innings. With all the talent in the world, Rhett may have a real argument to be a big leaguer this year. It'll important for Reds management to take his progression slow though, as there is plenty of MLB ready pitching talent already at the show.

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Josh Harrison

Another key name to watch in Spring Training this year is veteran utility man Josh Harrison. Over the last three years, Josh has bounced around, spending time in Washington, Oakland, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Although Josh doesn't have an opportunity to gain everyday playing time, he does seem to have a good shot if Noelvi isn't healthy by the season's start.

Josh also may generate noise just off of his history as a ball player. He played his collegiate career at the University of Cincinnati, and spent much of his early MLB career in Pittsburgh, the Reds rivals. Most Cincinnati natives are familiar with his game, and may jump on the idea of him joining the team if he starts hot this spring.

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Mat Nelson

Although more of a longshot to make commotion in camp, a sleeper name to watch is catcher, Mat Nelson. Mat is a former second round pick, from Florida State where he mashed 23 homeruns paired with a .330 batting average during his junior season campaign. Mat has always had big strides to make defensively as a catcher, but this offensive talent is uncanny for catchers in major league baseball.

Despite his clear offensive talent and knack for power, Nelson hasn't quite lived up to expectations. Between Dayton and Chattanooga last season, Mat slashed .229/.340/.437, hitting 21 homeruns. As an offensive minded catcher, Cincinnati needs to see him reach base at a higher clip.

With all of that said, Mat has the tools to catch some eyes this spring. His undeniable power could be on full show, and every fan in baseball loves the longball. Mat may not have a real chance to make the roster, but with a big spring, some may be calling for a new addition to the Cincinnati catching platoon.