Cincinnati Reds

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium

Track Record: The Reds plan with Abbott was to let him settle in and pitch at High-A Dayton for quite a while. Abbott blew up that plan by allowing just two runs in five starts while striking out 40 in 27 innings. He was promoted to Double-A Chattanooga in mid-May and struck out 12 in five innings in his debut, but that level ended up proving to be a tougher test. He struggled until September when he rattled off three straight scoreless starts to end the season.

Scouting Report: Abbott's fastball was good enough to dominate in Class A because of how well he located it, but once Double-A hitters saw Abbott a few times, they realized he didn't have confidence in his changeup and he would rarely come inside with his fastball. Abbott has an average 91-94 mph fastball and low-80s slider, and the slider is more effective now that he's made it a little sweepier. But he is going to need to improve the feel for his below-average mid-80s changeup to give righthanded batters an additional look. Abbott is a strike-thrower with plus control.

The Future: Abbott finished the season strong. He will likely return to Chattanooga to prove he's conquered the level, but if he does, Louisville should be calling before long. He's a back-of-the-rotation starter with a smart, cerebral and even-keeled approach.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 40. Control: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium

Track Record: McLain was a two-time first-round pick. He turned down the D-backs as the 25th overall pick out of high school. After a productive career at UCLA he moved up to be picked 17th overall in 2021. After an excellent 2021 debut, the longer full pro season seemed to wear McLain down in 2022. He hit .248/.364/.544 in the first two months of the season, but only .221/.364/.392 from June 1 until the end of the season.

Scouting Report: McLain was Double-A Chattanooga's everyday shortstop in the first half of the season, but once Elly De La Cruz arrived, he played as much second base as shortstop. That is likely a hint of his future role. He's fully capable of playing shortstop, with the feet and hands for the position. But if he's asked to make those throws regularly, his average arm begins to wear down to fringe-average. He doesn't have the kind of arm that can make the difficult play if he doesn't set his feet. Scouts loved McLain's competitiveness and all-out style of play, but that high-energy style also makes it harder for him to hold up, as he's a smaller framed player without a lot of functional strength. He makes excellent swing decisions and has 10-15 home run power.

The Future: Even when he struggled at Chattanooga, McLain still strung together solid at-bats, drew walks and could punish pitchers who made mistakes. The offseason should give McLain a chance to work on gaining strength to help him hold up over the much longer pro seasons. He projects as a super-utility player who can play a variety of positions including shortstop in a pinch.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 40. Field: 50 Run: 55 Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme

Track Record: Back before the pandemic virtually shut down international scouting for a time, Cabrera was already gaining notice as a youngster who didn't look out of place in games and workouts against players one and two years older than him. That made Cabrera's initial pro struggles so surprising. In his first month in the Dominican Summer League, Cabrera didn't hit at all (.120/.274/.200) and he committed 13 errors in 16 games. But in the final two months he hit .320/.410/.420 with 10 errors in 28 games.

Scouting Report: Cabrera didn't show as much selectivity and contact skills as he had demonstrated on the amateur circuit. He was one of the younger players in the league and his short, direct swing should serve him well as he matures. He projects to have five average or better tools with a chance to stay at shortstop, depending on how he grows and fills out as he heads into his 20s. Cabrera's power is well below average right now, but projects to get to average. He should be an above-average hitter with an all-fields approach. He has plus speed, a plus arm and the hands/feet to be an average defender at shortstop.

The Future: Cabrera is the most talented player the Reds have signed out of Venezuela in several years. As he comes to the U.S. he sits at the back of a log jam of shortstop prospects, but that shouldn't affect him in 2023, as the Reds' other shortstop prospects should all be in full season ball.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 50. Field: 50. Run: 60. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme

Track Record: Duno is one of the most promising players in the 2023 international class as a well-rounded catcher who has a shot to produce both offensively and defensively. Unlike most 16-year-olds, there's not a lot of projection with Duno. He's already built like a big league catcher, as a 6-foot-3, 220-pounder.

Scouting Report: Duno's array of future outcomes spans the gamut from becoming a glove-first catcher to other paths where he becomes a plus-plus power slugger who eventually also plays other positions. Duno has a plus arm already and it could end up as a plus-plus arm, and he has worked on his mechanics to have a quick exchange. He also has soft hands and moves well behind the plate despite his size. He's big for a catcher, but he shows the lateral movement to stick behind the plate. Offensively, he's got plenty of bat speed and plus present raw power that could end up being plus-plus as he matures. His ability to get to that power potential will be dependent on how quickly he can refine his swing, as sometimes his lower half and upper half aren't always in sync, but he shows solid barrel control as well and good hand-eye coordination. Duno is an average runner for now, but like most catchers, he can be expected to slow down as the wear and tear of catching takes its toll.

The Future: Duno is yet another example of the Reds' recent shift to international signees with excellent present baseball skills to go with solid tools. Duno is a relatively polished player for his age, but in his case, he's also one with rare athleticism for his size. He'll get to make his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League later in 2023. It would not be a surprise if he was one ofthe Reds top 10 prospects before too long.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45. Power: 55. Field: 50. Run: 45. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: A three-sport star in high school who has scholarship offers as a quarterback, Allen was the Reds' second first round pick in 2021. He had an excellent debut in the Arizona Complex League. His performance took a step back in 2022, but he still impressed with his high-intensity style of play.

Scouting Report: Everything hasn't clicked yet for Allen, but scouts see a path to a productive big leaguer. He's a plus center fielder with 65 speed on the 20-to-80 scouting scale. He can be a truly merciless basestealer when he finds a pitcher/catcher combination who can't control the running game. In one of his best games of the season, Allen had four hits, and stole second all four times. He added a steal of third to finish the game with five stolen bases. Allen's swing is geared for line drives, not home runs. He has solid bat control, but his inability to lay off pitches out of the zone is hamstringing his ability to hit for average. He's a plus defender in center with an average arm.

The Future: Allen is going to have to make strides in his pitch recognition and selectivity, but he has the tools to be a well-rounded outfielder who can help a team in multiple ways. He's ticketed to return to High-A Dayton.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 40. Field: 60. Run: 65. Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: Stoudt was a durable and effective starter at Lehigh, but wear and tear meant his right elbow ligament was torn when the Mariners picked him in the third round in 2019. He opted for Tommy John surgery and had to wait until 2021 to make his pro debut. A revelation in 2021, he struggled more in 2022, but after the Reds acquired him in the Luis Castillo trade, he finished the season on a roll after a jump to Triple-A Louisville.

Scouting Report: Stoudt has plus control, a mid-90s above-average fastball that can touch 98 mph and a low-80s plus split-changeup that has been a diabolical weapon at its best. His changeup wasn't as consistent in 2022, but his now average mid-80s slider has improved. He also flips over a mid-70s curveball. Both the curve and changeup aren't in-zone offerings, but Stoudt controls his fastball well enough to get ahead in counts.

The Future: The Reds added Stoudt to their 40-man roster. He has a year or two more to help the Reds figure out if he's going to be a power reliever or back-of-the-rotation starter. He needs to gain consistency if he's going to avoid a future move to the pen, but his varied pitch mix and control seem to point to him being able to handle the challenge.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 40. Slider: 50. Changeup: 60. Control: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: It's easy to underestimate Jorge. He's somewhat undersized, and he doesn't have the twitchiness to be a big league shortstop. But everywhere he goes, Jorge is one of the best players in the league. In two seasons, he's posted a better than .400 on-base percentage and .500 slugging percentage twice.

Scouting Report: Jorge has a short and direct lefthanded stroke and the bat speed to give him excellent plate coverage. He has a tendency to roll over with his top hand on pitches inside, which limits his ability to drive those pitches, but even then, he still makes contact. And if the pitch is in the middle or outer third of the strike zone, he punishes it. He combines contact ability with an advanced knowledge of the strike zone. Defensively, he's not going to beat out the Reds' bevy of shortstop prospects, but he's fine as an average defender at second with a fringe-average arm. He has a quick first step and is an excellent basestealer despite only above-average speed.

The Future: Jorge has a shot to be an offensive-oriented second baseman who hits for average, posts high on-base percentages and does damage when a pitcher makes mistakes. It's a nice, well-rounded package that should get a bigger test at Low-A Daytona.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 60. Power: 40. Field: 50. Run: 55. Arm: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: As they traded away plenty of prospects in trades to build up the big league roster, the Padres signed Acosta for $1.8 million in 2021 to help restock the system. A year later, he was part of the next wave of prospects San Diego dealt, as he was sent to Cincinnati in the trade that brought Brandon Drury to the Padres. Acosta got into a few games with the Reds' Arizona Complex League before the season shut down.

Scouting Report: Acosta's first season in the U.S. wasn't as dominating as his exceptional Dominican Summer League debut in 2021, but his impressive extended spring bled into a solid season in the Arizona Complex League. Acosta's compact frame does limit his projection, but he already has plenty of plus tools with plus speed, a plus arm and a potentially above-average bat. His lefthanded swing is a little ahead of his righthanded swing. He has the bat speed to hit for both average and power. Defensively, he has the feet and hands to stick at shortstop, but he could also be a plus defender at second base.

The Future: Acosta is yet another in the Reds' overflowing bevy of young shortstop prospects. Whether he sticks at shortstop is partly dependent on his development, but it also will be affected by the Reds' limited number of innings at shortstop available in Class A as Cincinnati tries to get numerous players playing time.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 45. Field: 50. Run: 60. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium

Track Record: After a lost 2021 season that saw miss time in the outfield because of an elbow injury and lost at times at the plate, Siani had a much better 2022. He raised his batting average and on-base percentage and actually hit for more power as well. He hit a career high 14 home runs, stole an organization best 52 bases and made his MLB debut.

Scouting Report: Siani took a step forward in 2022 because he tried to do less. He toned down his swing, aiming less to lift the ball for home runs and focusing more on making contact. That helped him dramatically reduce his strikeout rate, but he actually found the gaps more as well, making his below-average power get into play more regularly. That's important because Siani is a truly exceptional defender in center. He's a plus-plus center fielder who flags down balls in the gap and is fearless going back to the wall. He also has a plus arm.

The Future: Siani's improved approach helps put him back into the Reds' long-term plans. He may not have the bat to be a regular, but his defense and speed make him a viable No. 4 outfielder who could play his way into a larger role.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 30. Field: 70. Run: 60. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: The Reds have gone from signing high-ceiling international amateurs with modest baseball skills but massive baseball tools. The new approach is best exemplified by players like Balcazar. He's not physically imposing, but he's been one of the better players in the Dominican Summer League in 2021 and the Arizona Complex League in 2022. He finished in the top 10 in the ACL in batting average (.322), on-base percentage (.411) and stolen bases (13).

Scouting Report: Balcazar is more pesky than intimidating, but he puts together quality at-bat after quality at-bat. He has enough power to yank an inside fastball over the wall, but he's most comfortable covering most of the plate with a contact-oriented approach. He needs to continue to improve his pitch recognition, but he's showing steady development there. Defensively, he's an above-average shortstop as far as range and hands, but the accuracy of his plus arm needs work. He committed 8 throwing errors in 31 games at shortstop. He's only an average runner, but an opportunistic one who swiped 13 bags in 14 tries.

The Future: Balcazar may end up as an excellent utility infielder with contact skills, modest power and defensive versatility, but for now, he should get plenty of opportunity to show he can be a regular. So far, he's earning plenty of playing time.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 60. Power: 30. Field: 55. Run: 50. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Few pitchers have better stuff than Boyle, but even fewer have pitched as sparingly as he has. He threw just 36 innings in three years at Notre Dame because he walked 48 batters and hit five more. The Reds main focus was to get Boyle innings and get him comfortable finding the strike zone enough to let his exceptional stuff play. It worked in 2022. His 100 innings was more than he'd thrown in the previous four years combined. His .137 opponent batting average was easily the best in the minors among pitchers with 100 or more innings. He allowed 10 extra-base hits all year.

Scouting Report: Boyle only sat 95-97 mph and touched 99 after touching 102 in the past which paid off in improved control. His fastball is a plus-plus pitch that can dominate, but it's his slider that should be his best pitch. Its success is dependent on its power. It has cutter-ish movement, but it sits in the high-80s and has been as hard as 92-93 mph. He also has a bigger high-70s fringe-average curve that he likes to flip over in early counts to steal a strike against hitters geared up for his fastball. Almost no one hit Boyle in Class A, but after his promotion to Double-A, he learned he had to mix his pitchers better.

The Future: Boyle's control remains a 20 on the scouting scale, but it's actually taken massive strides forward. The trend is in the right direction, and it now seems feasible that he will eventually get to 30 or even 40 control. This would be enough for him to be a high-leverage reliever since he gives up so few hits.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70. Slider: 70. Curveball: 45. Control: 30.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Almonte was one of a pair of high-ceiling outfielders the Reds targeted in the 2021 international signing class. While the toolsier Malvin Valdez has struggled, Almonte has shown the polish the Reds anticipated when they signed him. He's added 20 pounds of good weight since signing and now has some of the best power among Reds lower-level hitters.

Scouting Report: Almonte needs a lot of refinement, but he fits the profile of a slugging right fielder who hits for enough average to make it work. His average exit velocities (90 mph) are already among the best in the Reds organization. He shows a mature whole field approach, but he needs to do a better job of recognizing breaking balls and he's going to need a lot more at-bats against lefties to get more comfortable against them. Almonte needs to improve his reads off the bat, as he sometimes takes false steps and then has to rush to make up for his misread. As he gets bigger, he's slowing down as well. He runs well underway but turns in below-average times from home to first. He has an above-average arm that fits in right.

The Future: Almonte's calm demeanor and grinder mentality helps the Reds feel comfortable he will get the most out of his impressive toolset. He should make the jump to Low-A Daytona in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 60. Field: 45. Run: 40. Arm: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: In his third year as a pro, Karcher walked 30 batters in just 19 innings in Class A. Once again, his lack of control was derailing his promising career. His control is still far from even average, but Karcher figured out how to stay around the zone in 2022. It resulted in him climbing to Triple-A to serve as Louisville's closer, and he earned a spot on the 40-man roster during the offseason.

Scouting Report: Karcher's a slider-first pitcher who just happens to also throw a 97-99 mph plus fastball. That's how he attacks hitters at his best. The fastball is the change of pace pitch after he's lulled them to sleep with a steady attack of 87-89 mph sliders in the strike zone. Karcher's delivery is pure high-effort reliever, and his control is below-average, but as he's realized he needs to rely on his slider, he's discovered he can control it better than his fastball and he learned that a high-80s slider will get swings and misses even if it doesn't have massive movement. Even then, he still piles up more walks than are ideal, but few hitters ever square him up. He didn't allow a home run in his final 24 outings.

The Future: Karcher has come a long way in a short amount of time. He'll most likely head back to Triple-A Louisville, but he should make his MLB debut in 2023. His stuff is as good as pretty much anyone in major league bullpens, but only if he throws enough strikes to make it matter.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 70. Changeup: 50. Control: 30.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium

Track Record: Tanner is already a star in Starkville, Miss., as he was the catcher for Mississippi State's first-ever national title. He hit 15 home runs that year, but his offensive production tailed off in 2022, which led to him sliding to the second round.

Scouting Report: Tanner is the epitome of a glove-only catcher, but one whose glove is good enough to be worth carrying on a roster even if he hits under .200. His swing can get long and he struggles against top-notch velocity. He never hit .300 in three years at Mississippi State, and he projects as a nearly bottom-of-the-scale hitter with below-average power. For a player with that resume to get regular at-bats, the receiving has to be pretty special, and Tanner's is. He's an above-average receiver with a plus-plus arm.

The Future: Tanner is the catcher his team's pitchers will love to throw to, but he needs to ensure he's not also the catcher other team's pitchers love to face. If he can shorten his swing or tap more into his power, his glove will handle the rest.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 30. Power: 40. Field: 55. Run: 30. Arm: 70.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: With rules tweaks, MLB is trying to bring speed back into the game. The larger bases, limited number of pickoff throws and pitch clocks all combined to boost stolen bases around the minors in 2022, and those rules are coming to MLB in 2023. That's great news for speedsters like Rodriguez. The Reds acquired him and RHP Jose Acuna from the Mets for Tyler Naquin.

Scouting Report: Rodriguez was battling for the Florida Complex League batting title before the trade. He is a pesky top-of-the-order hitter who sprays line drives, but also can turn ground balls to shortstop or third base into infield hits. With a level swing from both sides of the plate, he feasts on high fastballs. He plays all-out seemingly all the time. There's very little home run power potential, but that's not Rodriguez's game, he chases out of the zone too much, but he makes contact both in and out of the zone. Defensively, the Reds are going to give him every opportunity to acclimate to center field. He's quite raw out there right now, as he played second and third base in 2021. Some evaluators say he will most likely end up in left field.

The Future: Rodriguez has the makings of a fourth outfielder. But with his extreme contact ability, he could end up exceeding those expectations and clear a path to a role as a regular.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 60. Power: 30. Field: 50. Run: 70. Arm: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: A heralded player coming out of the Atlanta prep ranks, Benson has long stood out for his athleticism and power. A first-round pick in 2016, he completed a long climb through the minor leagues in 2022 to make his major league debut as a 24-year-old.

Scouting Report: Benson produces exceptional bat speed thanks to his strength and quick hands. He turns that bat speed into big lefthanded raw power, and has consistently ranked among the organization's home run leaders. He significantly cut his strikeout rate in 2022, dropping it to 22.7% after it had been 30.8% in the three previous full seasons. That newfound discipline didn't come at the expense of his ability to take walks, as his patience has always been a defining part of his approach. He has solid speed and is a threat on the bases. Benson primarily has played right field in the minor leagues but is capable of playing all three outfield positions and did so in Cleveland. His arm strength and speed make him a solid defender.

The Future: Benson's combination of power and athleticism is exciting and he's worked hard to get to the major leagues. Whether he can turn that promise into a regular big league role will depend on his ability to make more consistent contact. Even if he ends up in a reserve role, he'll have value as a lefthanded hitter with power who can play all three outfield positions.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45 Power: 60 Speed: 55 Fielding: 50 Arm: 50

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: The Reds' catching situation was a disaster in 2022. After Tyler Stephenson was sidelined with an injury, Cincinnati ran through catcher after catcher at the big league level. None of the replacements stuck, and when the season ended, they dumped all of them off the 40-man roster. Not coincidentally, the Reds drafted two catchers, Logan Tanner and Hunter, in the top five rounds in 2022. Hunter is the son of Mariners amateur scouting director Scott Hunter.

Scouting Report: While Tanner is a glove-first catcher who faces questions about his bat, Hunter is a bat-first catcher who hears concerns about his glove. He mashed at Virginia Tech in 2022, hitting 17 home runs in 2022 before adding three in 14 games as a pro. Hunter will sacrifice some batting average to get to that above-average power, but it's a useful trade. He's improved as a receiver, as he's starting to better handle pitches on the edge of the strike zone. He has a plus arm and quick transfer to help slow down basestealers. With average speed, Hunter runs very well for a catcher.

The Future: Lefthanded-hitting catchers who can hit for power are hard to find. Hunter's impressive debut raises hopes that he can develop into Tyler Stephenson's heir apparent in a few years.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 55. Field: 45. Run: 50. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Richardson looked to be one of the Reds more promising and athletic young pitchers after a solid 2019 season. He didn't seem the same after the coronavirus pandemic, as he struggled at High-A Dayton before going down with an elbow injury that needed Tommy John surgery. He missed the entire 2022 season, but returned in time for instructional league, where he showed better stuff than he had demonstrated in 2021.

Scouting Report: Richardson touched 99 mph in high school, but he generally sat 91-95 as a pro. In his shorter stints in instructional league, he was once again showing the high-90s velocity that seemed to have disappeared. It's too soon to say for sure that he can carry that stuff into longer outings, but his improved arm speed will help his average slider and curveball and above-average change be more effective. Richardson's control had backed up in 2021, but before the pandemic, he showed average control.

The Future: The Reds were enamored enough with Richardson's impressive return that they added him to the 40-man roster rather than risk exposing him to the Rule 5 draft. That's a pretty significant vote of confidence in a pitcher who has yet to pitch above Class A. He should head to Chattanooga in 2023. With a strong season, he could vault back into the top-tier of Reds' starting pitching prospects.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 55. Control: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: A $200,000 signee in 2019, Confidan was one of the stars of the Arizona Complex League in 2021 where he hit 11 home runs. A quad strain derailed his attempt at a follow-up in 2022. He injured the quad in early May, tried to come back in July, but then missed another month before finally returning in mid-August for a rehab assignment. He finally made it back to low-A Daytona on Aug. 30, but finished the year with just 103 plate appearances.

Scouting Report: Confidan is a prototypical power-hitting right fielder with all fields power. He already can top 110 mph on his best drives, and his 90th-percentile exit velocity of 105.6 mph is among the best in the system. He is an average runner for now, but he will likely slow further as he keeps getting bigger and stronger. The Reds moved him to left and right field in 2022. His plus arm fits in either.

The Future: The Reds sped up Confidan's development in 2021 by having him skip the Dominican Summer League. That paid off as he handled the jump, but it also means that even a lost 2022 season has him on a reasonable development pace. He may need more time at Low-A Daytona, but should get to High-A Dayton in 2023. He is still a high-risk, high-reward player, but he has the potential to be an everyday regular thanks to his power.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 60. Field: 45. Run: 40. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Getting injured unfortunately seems to be part of being a pitcher, since the wear and tear of the pitching motion stresses the shoulder, elbow and arm muscles. A forearm injury somewhat derailed Legumina's draft year at Gonzaga, which led him to slide to the eighth round. As a pro, Legumina has handled staying healthy on the mound. He's had a bigger issue when he's been in the dugout. He was clipped by a line drive in 2021, which forced him to miss a month with a bruised pitching arm. He was traded to the Reds for shortstop Kyle Farmer in November 2022.

Scouting Report: Legumina has split time between starting and relieving as a pro, but he most likely will end up as a power reliever. His fastball sits at 93-95 mph and touches 97 already, and it has the flat plane to be effective in the top of the zone, but it also has made him home run prone. He fills the zone with it. It could get even better with a full-time move to shorter stints. His plus slider pairs well with it and his changeup is a fringe-average pitch as well. He needs to improve his below-average control of his slider and changeup or develop a secondary offering he can more consistently throw in the zone.

The Future: Legumina has been added to the 40-man roster in advance of the 2023 season. That means he'll spend the year at Triple-A Louisville, but could be on call to serve as a reinforcement for the big league team, where he should fit as a useful single or multi-inning reliever.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Control: 40.