The Bats are hot. It’s time we got a closer look.

The MLB Pipeline Game of the Month is headed to Louisville as the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate hosts Jacksonville tonight at Louisville Slugger Field at 6:35 ET. Broadcast of the game will be available for free on MLB.com and the MLB Pipeline homepage and can also be viewed through MLB.TV, MiLB.TV and the First Pitch app.

• MLB Pipeline | Top 100 prospects | Prospect video

The headliner of tonight's showcase is one of the most exciting talents in all of the Minor Leagues. Infielder Elly De La Cruz climbed to No. 4 in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospect rankings over the weekend and is coming off his most productive week at the Minors’ highest level. The 21-year-old switch-hitter went 7-for-20 (.350) with three homers, two doubles and 10 walks over six games last week against Columbus.

After missing the start of the season with a left hamstring strain, De La Cruz has a .278/.369/.567 line with six homers in 23 games. His power, run and arm tools all grade out as at least plus, and he has the Statcast numbers to back it up. Last Tuesday, he recorded three batted-ball exit velocities above 116 mph – something no team (never mind individual) had ever recorded in a single game in the Statcast era. His 99.2 mph seed from third base on May 5 remains the highest Statcast-measured velo on an infield throw by anyone in the Majors or Triple-A this season.

But one multi-tooled prospect does not a Game of the Month make, and Louisville is loaded beyond De La Cruz.

No. 7 Reds prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand also opened 2023 on the injured list with a back injury but hasn’t missed a beat since joining the Bats on April 23. The right-handed slugger is tied for the Minor League lead with nine homers over 19 games since that date, and he’s produced a .341/.371/.706 line over his first 89 plate appearances of the young season. His 471-foot homer on May 11 is tied for the second-longest dinger in Triple-A this spring.

Cincinnati’s No. 22 prospect Michael Siani (.579 OPS) is off to a rough start offensively, but the 23-year-old center fielder is considered a plus defender who could make a highlight-worthy snag anytime he touches the grass. His 60-grade speed should also make him a constant threat on the basepaths.

Notably absent from the Louisville roster is No. 95 overall prospect Matt McLain, whom the Reds called up on Monday. The 2021 first-rounder hit .348/.474/.710 with 12 homers in 38 games with the Bats, and his promotion opens up the possibility for De La Cruz to get even more reps at shortstop.

On the Jacksonville side, keep an eye on the infield. Marlins No. 10 prospect Jordan Groshans makes his living on the dirt and will feature in the Jumbo Shrimp lineup Thursday.

The Marlins farmhands will have an interesting matchup as they face off against Levi Stoudt (Reds No. 14). The right-hander has made two appearances in the Majors this season and has four pitches that grade as average or better.

As part of the MLB Pipeline Game of the Month, be sure to follow the @MiLB and @MLBPipeline Instagram feeds. On the @MiLB side, we’ll bring fans inside the ballpark with a pregame tour of Louisville Slugger Field, and over on @MLBPipeline, I’ll have a live Q&A with one of the game’s top prospects. Later down the line, circle back to MLB.com/Pipeline for a Pitching Lab breakdown with top-ranked Reds arm Andrew Abbott, who enters the week as the Minor League strikeout leader with 65 in 35 2/3 innings across Double-A and Triple-A.