This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon's Reds Beat newsletter. Ben Weinrib filled in for this edition. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
The Reds’ farm system has a decidedly international feel as of late.
With the midseason update to every team’s Top 30 Prospects list, only two teams have more ranked players that they signed internationally than Cincinnati's 12, as the Red Sox and Rangers each have 13.
COMPLETE REDS PROSPECT COVERAGE
While Cabrera has not found sustained success in pro ball, Duno has ascended to become Cincinnati’s top prospect, and Sanchez and Nuñez are among the nine prospects acquired in international free agency who rank in the club’s top 16.
Not only that, but the three biggest risers on the midseason list were also international signees. Jirvin Morillo, who signed for $420,000 out of Venezuela in 2024, leapt 15 spots, while Carlos Sanchez, who signed for $70,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2022, and Nuñez both climbed 14 spots.
Strong Draft picks have fortified the top of the list as well -- Day 1 Draft picks from the past three years make up five of the Reds' top seven prospects -- but this is truly a farm system that has built depth from all corners of the baseball world.
Here’s a look at the Reds’ top prospects:
1. Alfredo Duno, C (MLB No. 22)
2. Steele Hall, SS (MLB No. 92)
3. Justin Lebron, SS
4. Héctor Rodríguez, OF
5. Tyson Lewis, SS
Complete Top 30 list »
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the preseason list:
Jump: Jirvin Morillo, C (Preseason: 24 | Midseason: 9)
The 19-year-old gave a glimpse of his offensive prowess when he slugged a double off the left-center-field fence during the Reds’ Spring Breakout game in March, and he’s continued to slug in his first season playing stateside. Morillo’s glove still needs polish, but he proved to be one of the best hitters in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League before his promotion to Single-A at the end of July. The switch-hitter tied for the circuit's lead with 13 home runs and ranked fourth with a 1.101 OPS.
Fall: Mason Morris, RHP (Preseason: 13 | Midseason: 25)
After he displayed iffy control in his first two years at Ole Miss, Morris took a big leap forward as a junior, leading the Reds to draft him in the third round last year. Unfortunately, his control has backed up in his first full pro season, as he's walked 56 batters in 86 1/3 innings. Cincinnati is trying to develop the 6-foot-4 righty as a starter after he only made three starts in college, but his stuff could play up in relief if his inability to find the zone forces the club to pull the plug on this experiment.
New to the list
Here are the players added to the Top 30 from outside the organization:
3. Justin Lebron, SS (Pick No. 18 in 2026 Draft)
7. Eric Becker, SS (Pick No. 58 in 2026 Draft)
10. Mulivai Levu, 1B (Pick No. 70 in 2026 Draft)
17. Dylan Bowen, SS (Pick No. 154 in 2026 Draft)
21. Ethan Norby, LHP (Pick No. 122 in 2026 Draft)
29. Tyner Horn, RHP (Pick No. 94 in 2026 Draft)
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 plus and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 55 -- Héctor Rodríguez (Eric Becker, Dylan Bowen, Alfredo Duno)
Power: 60 -- Justin Lebron
Run: 70 -- Lebron (Steele Hall)
Arm: 60 -- Lebron (Duno, Cam Collier)
Defense: 65 -- Liberts Aponte
Fastball: 60 -- Edgar Colon
Curveball: 50 -- Tyner Horn
Slider: 60 -- Luke Holman (Ethan Norby)
Changeup: 65 -- Mason Morris
Control: 55 -- Deivi Villafana
How they were built
Draft: 16 | International: 12 | Trade: 2
Breakdown by ETA
2026: 2 | 2027: 4 | 2028: 7 | 2029: 13 | 2030: 3 | 2031: 1
Breakdown by position
C: 2 | 1B: 3 | 3B: 2 | SS: 7 | OF: 7 | RHP: 8 | LHP: 1