A Cincinnati Reds’ farm system deep dive

In July, the Cincinnati Reds’ Arizona Complex League team (Rookie Ball) was competing for a league championship. Some of the top prospects on the team were ready for the call-up to Low-A. The Reds’ front office decided to keep that team together through the ACL championship, giving those prospects the chance to go on a run in the playoffs. The team ended up losing a competitive championship series.

“You could make an argument that some of those guys had earned a promotion prior to that,” Reds vice president of player development Jeremy Farrell said. “We felt strongly that that group staying together, learning how to win and doing all the things that come with that, we felt that was really important.”

The Reds did the same thing over the summer in High-A Dayton, keeping several prospects at that level through the first half of the season as that team won the first-half season division championship.

“Winning is a part of development,” Farrell said. “The first time that winning is important for our guys shouldn’t be when they get to Cincinnati. It’s something we try to factor into the development paths with each individual guy. It’s something that has shown up this year.”

Let’s go through the Reds’ farm system, some standout prospects and some interesting player development stories in the organization in 2026.

All stats are entering Thursday.

Shortstop Steele Hall: .277 average, .864 OPS, 47 RBI and 27 steals in 71 games between the ACL and Low-A

When this season started, Hall should have been in his senior year of high school. He reclassified to make himself eligible for the draft one year earlier, and the Reds took him in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft. He’s a dynamic athlete who changes direction like a wide receiver, and he impressed with his leadership skills, his ability to lift up his teammates and the way that he plays the game. He just turned 19 and is the youngest hitter in Daytona. With his inexperience, this season has been about learning about professional baseball, learning himself, building up his body and further developing his process at the plate.

Jeremy Farrell: “All positives. The way that his feet work in the infield and his hands work at the plate, he’s just a really good athlete.”

Catcher Jirvin Morillo: .297 average, 1.016 OPS, 13 homers and 50 walks in 63 games between the ACL and Low-A.

Morillo has an advanced bat and an advanced approach at the plate. As a young catcher, he’s developing the foundation that all young catchers work on behind the plate early in their pro careers. Corky Miller has been a good resource in his development.

Jeremy Farrell: “He has bought into the idea of learning the English language, connecting with his teammates, connecting with pitchers when he’s behind the plate. A really, really good year for him so far.”

Outfielder Adolfo Sanchez: .274 average, .382 OBP in 61 games between ACL and Low-A.

In January of 2024, he signed with the Reds as a teenage international prospect from the Dominican Republic. He has progressed quickly into affiliated baseball. He’s a physical athlete with a chance to be an impact bat in the outfield.

Jeremy Farrell: “Our international scouting group does such a good job of identifying young talent in the international market. The way the game is now with guys needing to move faster, our whole staff does an awesome job with that transition when they come to Arizona and their first full seasons in Daytona, managing the baseball adjustments and the life adjustments.”

Starting pitcher Aaron Watson: 4.54 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 35 ⅔ innings between ACL and Low-A.

Watson, the Reds’ second-round pick last year, is 19 years old but looks 25 when you see him on the mound. As is the case for any young pitcher, he’s adjusting to pitching a full season of pro ball. His mound presence and demeanor on the mound should help him overcome any growing adjustment process. He has a case as the best pitching prospect in the entire system.

Jeremy Farrell: “His demeanor, his composure, the way he looks on the mound, he doesn’t look like (a kid drafted out of high school). It’s an advanced approach in that regard.”

Starting pitcher Ryjeteri Merite: 2.78 ERA in 45 ⅓ innings with 77 strikeouts between the ACL and Low-A.

Merite stands out as soon as you see him with his slender, lanky profile. He turned some heads in the WBC for team Netherlands in the WBC.

Jeremy Farrell: “He’s enthusiastic. He loves to play. Loves to compete. A lot of fun to watch. He has had a really good year.”

Starting pitcher Iker Redona: 3.18 ERA in 51 innings with 69 strikeouts between the ACL and Low-A.

A sleeper in the Reds’ system, the 18-year-old has made it to Low-A very quickly. He has a unique path to where he is. The Reds don’t have many prospects from Mexico. He’s a left-hander who has an impressive feel for pitching at his age and leans on a fastball and changeup combination.

Third baseman/infielder Tyson Lewis: .262 batting average, .733 OPS, 22 doubles, 10 homers and 17 stolen bases in 84 games between Low-A and High-A.

Joey Votto has worked with Reds’ hitters in Daytona this year, and he has spoken at length about his appreciation of Lewis’ game. Lewis has since been called up to Dayton, and he has performed better in High-A than he did in Low-A. His tools are special. He has the ability to hit the ball incredibly hard, and he’s one of the more exciting in-box athletes that you’ll see. The 20-year-old infielder, a second-round pick in the 2024 draft, has the highest upside in the system.

Jeremy Farrell: With his approach, what he’s looking for and trying to do, our hitting coach in Dayton (Troy Gingrich) does such a good job with our young hitters in continuing the foundational things that young hitters need in their toolbox. I’m really excited about the progress (Lewis) has made.”

Justin Lebron: Two games played in High-A

When the Reds drafted Lebron out of Alabama in the first round last month, the Reds were open about the fact that they had specific adjustments in mind that they believed could help Lebron tap into his potential. Lebron’s numbers took a hit in his final year of college baseball, and in the scouting process before the draft the Reds projected adjustments that they’d plan to make with Lebron. After reporting to the team’s draft camp in Arizona in July, Lebron got to work. Now, he’s applying those adjustments in Dayton.

Jeremy Farrell: “Right after he signed, he got to work with our hitting coordinators in Arizona. They got to work on some things with his lower half, things that were identified when he signed. We typically have more of a hands-off approach — you can call it a 30-day rule — when guys sign and come in so we can get eyes on them and come up with an individualized plan based on what our scouts saw, why we signed them. We want to give guys an opportunity to show that. With Lebron, he was signed with the idea that we’d want to make some adjustments. He was fully bought in. He worked hard in Arizona. We wanted to get him to an affiliate for some game action to see how it played.”

Second baseman/infielder Eric Becker: Six games played in High-A

The Reds’ High-A infield of Becker, Lebron and Lewis represents a next wave of potential impact players in the farm system. Becker got some first-round buzz this year, and the Reds landed him in the second round of last month’s draft. He’s a polished hitter who can jump right into minor league baseball and make an impact.

Jeremy Farrell: “He’s just a solid college player coming into the system. He has defensive versatility. He puts together a quality at-bat. He’ll be more gap to gap in his approach. It’s a profile that has thrived in this system. Great kid. A lot to be excited about.”

Catcher/first baseman/outfielder Jacob Friend: .403 OBP, .903 OPS, 20 doubles, 19 homers and 22 steals between Low-A and High-A.

The Reds’ sixth-round pick in the 2024 draft has been one of the positive development stories in the system, earning an early season promotion to High-A with his production. It’s always an interesting profile when you’re a catcher who has the athleticism to be versatile and move around the field.

Jeremy Farrell: “It’s an interesting profile that we’ve brought into the organization over the last couple of years. With Jacob, who knows what the future is going to bring in terms of his defensive position. Certainly, the more versatility you have as a player, if you show the ability to swing the bat, you’re going to find opportunities.”

First baseman/third baseman/outfielder Carter Graham: .297 average, .985 OPS, 24 homers, 77 RBI between High-A and Double-A.

Graham opened this year in Dayton, and it was the third season in a row where he reported to High-A. After posting a .677 OPS in Dayton in 2025, he nearly doubled that production in 2026 and earned a call-up to Double-A. He’s a power hitting first baseman who works good at-bats. Graham, an eighth-round pick in 2023, is older for his level at 24. His quick development this year has opened up doors for him. He is most experienced at first base but has also played third and left.

Jeremy Farrell: “Something freed up. He’s impacting the ball. The quality of at-bats are outstanding. Every one has their own timeline. With the state of the game now with fewer roster spots and fewer teams, fewer opportunities to get at-bats, the development timelines have to be sped up. A credit to Carter, he has taken advantage of the opportunity and really run with it.”

Catcher Alfredo Duno: .266 average, .901 OPS, 19 homers in 83 games between High-A and Double-A.

Duno is out right now with a lower body injury, but he’s expected back soon. Duno started the season in High-A on a cold streak but warmed up as the weather got hotter and didn’t slow down when he was promoted to Double-A. He’s one of the most impressive Minor League sluggers that I’ve seen. The big question is if he has the defensive ability to stick at catcher.

Jeremy Farrell: “He’s going to be someone that opponents game plan for. He’s a presence in the box. He shows the ability to have that professional at-bat. He takes his chances. He’s not afraid to draw a walk or use the oppo gap.”

First/third baseman Cam Collier: .216 average and a .681 OPS in Double-A.

The numbers haven’t been what he wanted this season as the Reds’ 2022 first-round pick spends his second year in Double-A. He really improved his body entering spring training this year, and his athleticism has been a positive for him this season as he moves around much better at third base.

Jeremy Farrell: “He’s working on things. You look at the numbers. They’re probably not where you’d like them to be. It’s not for a lack of effort. It’s not for a lack of him wanting to be a great player. He’s continuing to work every day.”

Shortstop Carlos Sanchez: .279 average, .838 OPS between High-A and Double-A.

Early in his minor league career, he moved all around the diamond. This year, he has locked in at shortstop and really impressed with his growth there. The 21-year-old is a very fluid, natural athlete.

Jeremy Farrell: “He keeps growing. It feels like every time you see him, he’s getting taller. The shortstop play specifically, what he’s doing on that side of the ball, it continues to improve. He’s out to prove to people that he’s a shortstop.”

Outfielder Jay Allen: .280 average, .857 OPS in Double-A and just earned promotion to Triple-A.

Allen, a former standout high school quarterback, has always been an impressive athlete. The No. 30 overall pick in the 2021 draft saw some tools click into place this season as he shows significant improvement.

Jeremy Farrell: “He’s using the whole field. He has tapped into some of the power. He continues to play elite defense in the outfield, especially center field. He’s running the bases extremely well.”

Outfielder Carlos Jorge: .313 average, .376 OBP, 31 stolen bases between Double-A and Triple-A.

Jorge had as good of a spring training as anybody. He played so well as a backup in big league games that he earned several shoutouts from Terry Francona for the way that he was a “spark plug” who played hard and impacted the game in so many areas. He’s a speedy outfielder who covers a ton of ground and can take the extra base.

Jeremy Farrell: “He was someone the big league staff talked a lot about (in spring training). The energy, the enthusiasm, the love for the game, he was having success and playing a really good center field. The time in spring training with the Major League team impacted him a lot.”

Infielder Leo Balcazar: .234 average and .671 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A

The Reds added him to the 40-man roster during the offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He’s a very versatile player. While Balcazar hasn’t been an impact hitter this year, he has embraced his role on the teams he has been on as he plays multiple positions.

Jeremy Farrell: “He’s a winning baseball player. He wants to go out and continue in any way possible every night, whether it’s moving a runner, driving in a run or playing really good defense. He’s turning into a solid baseball player.”

Starting pitcher José Acuña: 4.57 ERA in 110 ⅓ innings between Double-A and Triple-A

If the Reds needed a spot start tomorrow, would Acuña be the call-up? The 23-year-old’s biggest asset is his pitchability. He keeps hitters off-balance with his changeup and mixes his pitches.