Here’s the Reds’ new Top 30 Prospects list

August 17th, 2022

CINCINNATI -- Few organizations have reshaped their Minor League system as rapidly as the Reds have this summer.

Now fully committed to rebuilding, Cincinnati has been shedding veterans since the offseason, but its work ahead of the Trade Deadline has a legitimate chance to shape the club's future. The Reds traded five veterans -- including ace Luis Castillo to the Mariners -- and acquired a total of 10 prospects in return for those players.

That, coupled with what many viewed as a very successful 2022 Draft, has helped the Reds upgrade their system. That's been most reflected in their Top 30 prospects, which has nine new names that came via summer trades or the Draft.

This is where things stand after an in-season re-ranking by MLB Pipeline.

Here’s a look at the Reds top prospects:
1. Elly De La Cruz, SS/3B (MLB No. 15)
2. Noelvi Marte, SS (MLB No. 18)
3. Edwin Arroyo, SS (MLB No. 55)
4. Cam Collier, 3B (MLB No. 63)
5. Matt McLain, SS (MLB No. 76)
Complete Top 30 list »

Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the preseason list:

Jump: Andrew Abbott, LHP (Preseason: 13 | Midseason: 10) -- A second-round pick in 2021, Abbott dominated at High-A Dayton before a promotion to Double-A Chattanooga. Although the results haven't been great, he has a chance to move up quickly once he figures it out.

Fall: Mat Nelson, C (Preseason: 12 | Midseason: 25) -- Taken 35th overall in the 2021 Draft because of his power potential, Nelson hasn't shown much bat for High-A Dayton this season.

Top 30s:
ALW:
HOU | LAA | OAK | SEA | TEX
ALC: CLE | CWS | DET | KC | MIN
ALE: BAL | BOS | NYY | TB | TOR
NLW: ARI | COL | LAD | SD | SF
NLC: CHC | CIN | MIL | PIT | STL
NLE: ATL | MIA | NYM | PHI | WSH

New to the list
Here are the players added to the Top 30 from outside the organization:

2. Noelvi Marte, SS (Trade)
3. Edwin Arroyo, SS (Trade)
4. Cam Collier, 3B (Draft)
7. Spencer Steer, 3B/2B (Trade)
8. Sal Stewart, 3B (Draft)
13. Logan Tanner, C (Draft)
14. Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 3B (Trade)
15. Victor Acosta, SS (Trade)
16. Justin Boyd, OF (Draft)
17. Bryce Hubbart, LHP (Draft)

Impact callup: Spencer Steer, 2B/3B (No. 7)
Steer’s power hasn’t shown up quite as much as it did in his first full season of pro ball in 2021 (24 homers), but there has still been plenty of extra-base thump as he played his way from Double- to Triple-A and to the Futures Game before heading from the Twins to the Reds in the Tyler Mahle deal. The Reds do like guys with positional flexibility who can hit, and Steer has shown he can play second and third and even fill in at short if needed.

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 above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.

Hit: 60 -- Cam Collier
Power: 60 -- Elly De La Cruz (Noelvi Marte)
Run: 65 -- Justin Boyd
Arm: 70 -- Logan Tanner
Field: 60 -- Mike Siani (Edwin Arroyo, Jose Torres)
Fastball: 80 -- Joe Boyle
Curveball: 60 -- Brandon Williamson (Andrew Abbott)
Slider: 60 -- Bryce Bonnin
Changeup: 60 -- Levi Stoudt
Control: 50 -- Andrew Abbott (Brandon Wililamson, Chase Petty, Bryce Hubbart)