Cincinnati Reds Breakout MLB Prospects For 2025

Breakout Prospects

Sheng-En Lin, 3B/RHP

Preseason Rank: 17
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: There are few two-way players where picking a position is a difficult decision. Most, like Reds’ 2017 first-rounder Hunter Greene, quickly specialize. But when the Reds signed Lin in 2022 for $1.2 million, they viewed him as a potential MLB pitcher and hitter, and two years later, they still don’t have a clear answer. Lin hit .308/.418/.419 in the Arizona Complex League as a shortstop/third baseman, but his bridge and instructional league stint as a pitcher was so impressive that the Reds now plan to develop him as a pitcher/DH, even though he’s yet to pitch in an official game in his first two pro seasons.

Scouting Report: Lin showed real feel to hit with some power and speed in the ACL, even if his defensive home was less obvious. There are bat-to-ball skills and the chance to be a long-term power-speed threat. Shortstop may be a bit too fast for him long-term, but he was plausible as a third baseman or speedy outfielder. But when he went to the mound after the season, he immediately sat 92-96 mph with advanced control and command for his age and experience level. He also embraced the role, making it clear he enjoyed pitching. He showed an above-average slider, a potentially above-average 82-85 mph split-change he can bury in two-strike counts.

The Future: The Reds don’t want to close the door to Lin hitting, but he’s now a pitcher who will also hit, rather than a position player who dabbles in pitching. His spring training will determine whether he returns to the ACL as a pitcher or jumps to Daytona in his new role.

Scouting Grades: HIT: 45. POW: 50. RUN: 60. FLD: 55. ARM: 70. | FB: 60. SL: 55. CH: 55. CTL: 50.

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Connor Phillips, RHP

Preseason Rank: 22
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: When the Reds needed starting pitching reinforcements in 2023, they called on Phillips, one of the prospects they added in their trade that sent Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker to Seattle. After a rough debut, he had three solid starts in 2024, but his command fell apart again, he lost feel for the strike zone and had to be sent back to the Reds’ Arizona complex with a 10.11 ERA. Opponents hit .411 against him in four June starts before his demotion. After two months of bullpen work, he returned to Triple-A with more deception and a lower release point. He pitched much better after his return and in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: Phillips’ stuff is good enough to be a big league starter when he’s throwing strikes. His 95-97 mph fastball will touch 100. It’s a plus pitch with life and bat-missing potential, and could be plus-plus with more command. He can also attack hitters with a plus sweepy mid-80s slider. His bigger mid-80s curveball gives him a better option against lefties than his well below-average changeup. But even after he returned to action, there is still plenty of shakiness to his well below-average command and control. He junked his rather abbreviated windup and went to a delivery that emphasizes his cross-fire nature by setting up pointed toward the righthanded hitters’ batter box. Phillips’ arm struggles to be on time, and he’ll miss up and armside badly with his fastball at times.

The Future: Phillips may have made the majors in 2023, but the 23-year-old needs more time in the minors. His stuff is front-line starter stuff when he’s in the zone consistently, but there’s no consistency to his control yet.

Scouting Grades: FB: 60. CB: 55. SL: 60. CH: 30. CTL: 30.

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Jirvin Morillo, C

Preseason Rank: 25
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: In a pretty deep and high-priced Reds 2024 international class, Morillo wasn’t the top target. But the $420,000 signee impressed with his hitting ability, and he quickly reinforced those beliefs with a strong Dominican Summer League stint.

Scouting Report: Morillo’s stat line didn’t jump off the page but scouts were impressed with how he hits. He is a switch-hitter who does an excellent job covering the plate, and he stings line drives. Eventually he’ll likely get to solid-average power, with a chance to do that while being an above-average pure hitter. Defensively, he’s not nearly as polished as he is as a hitter, but he has the raw clay to mold into a solid defender. He’s athletic and has an above-average arm, but now he needs to drill on receiving, framing and blocking to get to average defense. His footwork isn’t clean, but all of his issues can be resolved with a lot of work and desire.

The Future: Morillo is going to need patience, but there’s the makings of a catcher who can hit better than most backstops while getting to playable defense. Just don’t expect him to reach that ceiling any time before the very late 2020s.

Scouting Grades: HIT: 55. POW: 50. RUN: 40. FLD: 40. ARM: 55.