Cincinnati Reds

TRACK RECORD: After two years as a reliever and fill-in starter for Texas A&M, Roa moved into the Aggies' weekend rotation and had an uneven four starts before the coronavirus pandemic ended the college season, but the Reds and other teams were enthused by what they saw. Roa had sports hernia surgery that kept him from pitching at the alternate training site or instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Roa has four pitches that project as average or above-average, and his spin rates and movement profiles are promising. He has a clean arm action and a durable frame and above-average control. Roa will succeed in pro ball if he can throw strikes and mix his pitches to keep hitters from sitting on his average, 92-94 mph fastball. Roa can throw his above-average slider for strikes or bury it, and his above-average changeup's deception gets awkward swings and misse. His average curveball is useful as a change of pace option early in counts.

THE FUTURE: Roa's varied assortment of usable pitches, frame and delivery should lead him to be a fourth or fifth starter. If he can sharpen the slider or changeup a little further he could end up being even better.

TRACK RECORD: After playing infrequently as a freshman at Georgia, Johnson transferred to Chipola (Fla.) JC and had a loud sophomore season. He hit .389/.500/.606 and became the year's highest drafted junior college position player. After a productive debut, Johnson was one of the most consistent and impressive hitters at the Reds' instructional league in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Johnson is one of the Reds' better pure hitters. Solid swings from both sides of the plate give him a shot to be a plus hitter, and his competitiveness and intelligence at the plate stand out even more. He uses the whole field and he has fringe-average power that should continue to improve. For now, Johnson is a surprisingly competent shortstop. His fringy range is offset by steady reliability, quick hands and an accurate arm. He has fringe-average speed, but his mature body should slow him down a touch. He's a safe bet to stay in the infield and could end up as an above-average second baseman.

THE FUTURE: Johnson's blend of usable tools and skills give him a solid path to a big league role. The pandemic means the Reds have a backlog of middle infielders ready for Class A, which could lead to Johnson going straight to high Class A.

TRACK RECORD: Richardson seemed on his way to being a two-way contributor at Florida, but he pitched his way into the second round out of high school by bringing his fastball into the upper 90s. Richardson struggled in his pro debut but bounced back with a reliable and durable season at low Class A Dayton in 2019. The Reds brought him to the alternate training site in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Richardson is a better athlete than most pitchers, but so far he has struggled to match the dominance he flashed as an amatuer. At the alternate site, his strike-throwing simply wasn't consistent enough to outwit more advanced hitters. Stuff-wise, he started to show the mid-90s velocity he'd flashed in high school more consistently, albeit in shorter stints. He generally sat 90-93 when he was taking the ball every fifth day in Dayton. In high school, Richardson's curveball showed power and depth. Now, it's a softer, potentially average pitch thrown in the mid 70s. His below-average changeup needs refinement. Despite a stiff delivery, Richardson could have average control but below-average command.

THE FUTURE: As a pro, Richardson's stuff has been more average than plus. He should head to high Class A in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Gutierrez was expected to be a fast-mover when the Reds signed him for $4.7 million in Sept. 2016. Four seasons later, Gutierrez has yet to make his MLB debut. He struggled to pitch with the more lively Triple-A ball in 2019. He was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug stanozolol. Gutierrez did get approval from MLB to report to instructional league and pitched as a starter for Licey in the Dominican League.

SCOUTING REPORT: Gutierrez's velocity took a jump in spring training before his suspension. He showed that same 94-96 mph velocity at the end of instructional league. His changeup and curve have both flashed above-average, but too often he's focused on strike-throwing and the quality of his stuff suffers. He can vary the break of his curve, making it a sweepier strike or a harder pitch he buries in advantageous counts. Gutierrez has average control.

THE FUTURE: Gutierrez has 20 games remaining to serve on his suspension, so his 2021 season will be delayed. The Reds added him to the 40-man roster despite his PED suspension. He's more likely to end up as a reliever, but he could fill a back-end role if the opportunity arises.

TRACK RECORD: As a freshman, Davis served as UC Santa Barbara's No. 2 starter behind ace Shane Bieber as the Gauchos made their first College World Series. Davis pitched through a significant toe injury as a freshman, but an elbow injury derailed his junior season after just three appearances. He had Tommy John surgery in March 2018. The Reds drafted him knowing he wouldn't pitch until a year after he was drafted.

SCOUTING REPORT: Davis impressed in the Rookie-level Pioneer League in his return to the mound in 2019. He battled some shoulder soreness at instructs, but got back on the mound and showed a potentially plus fastball and slider. Davis' top-end velocity bumped up to 96 at instructs, but he sat 91-94 as a starter in 2019. His fastball has solid carry. He also throws a curveball that isn't as impressive as his slider. Davis' changeup needs to improve if he's going to remain a starter. Davis' control has wavered in his limited pro action, but he could eventually get to average control.

THE FUTURE: Davis is ready to jump to high Class A in 2021. Between injuries and the pandemic, he's not gotten to pitch much, but his patience may pay off before long. He has potential to be a No. 4 starter.

TRACK RECORD: Callihan was one of the most advanced hitters in the 2019 high school class. He impressed scouts with his ability to square up quality pitchers and velocity. In his pro debut in 2019, he largely lived up to those expectations, showing a solid swing, although he was somewhat allergic to taking a walk. He struggled at the Reds' instructional league in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Callihan's bat has long been ahead of his glove. A high school shortstop, there are questions about whether Callihan has the quickness to handle second or third base long-term. His hands work fine, but he seemed a step slow at instructional league. His arm is above-average and could fit in an outfield corner. He played some catcher in high school, which could be another option. Callihan has a shot to be an above-average hitter with above-average power, though he needs to pair his solid hand-eye coordination with improved plate discipline. Like many young lefthanded hitters, he needs plenty of atbats against lefties, but his swing and fast hands should continue to work.

THE FUTURE: The Reds hope that Callihan will bounce back after a rough instructional league. Finding a defensive home remains a priority, but his bat should give him chances to find a fit.

TRACK RECORD: After a year in Arkansas' bullpen, Bonnin transferred to Texas Tech, where he moved into the rotation and missed both bats and the strike zone. Bonnin made four uneven starts in 2020, which led to a 7.36 ERA in his pandemic-shortened draft year.

SCOUTING REPORT: Bonnin has the stuff to get outs in the majors. His 93-97 mph plus fastball will touch 99, and his plus 85-87 mph slider is even more of a weapon. His crossfire delivery leads to his slider cutting across the plate with plenty of lateral bite. Bonnin has a hard high-80s, well below-average changeup which needs to improve if he is to remain a starter. Though his delivery adds deception, it has also led to below-average command and control. His lengthy arm action involves a plunge and a wrap in the back, which makes it difficult for his arm to be on time.

THE FUTURE: Most likely, Bonnin ends up as a power reliever who can attack hitters with a plus fastball and a plus slider. For now, the Reds will likely let him start as he tries to throw strikes more consistently.

TRACK RECORD: Almonte impressed scouts with his ability to pick up spin, stay within the strike zone and draw walks in game action. He’s a big (6-foot-4, 190 pounds) outfielder with a short stroke for his size, an advanced approach for his age and power that projects to be plus once he fills out.

SCOUTING REPORT: Almonte is able to generate backspin on balls from gap to gap in batting practice, with a flatter swing path in games and a chance for more extra-base damage once he understands which pitches to drive and lift in favorable counts.

THE FUTURE: Almonte is a corner outfielder with below-average speed and an above-average arm for right field, with most of his value driven from what he does in the batter's box. If he hits as well as he’s expected to, the Reds will be thrilled to live with his corner outfield defense.

TRACK RECORD: Valdez isn’t as refined as a hitter compared to fellow 2021 signee Ariel Almonte, but he has some of the best raw tools in the class. He's 6-foot-2, 175 pounds and would probably be an elite wide receiver recruit if he grew up in the United States.

SCOUTING REPORT: Valdez is a quick-burst, explosive athlete with the building blocks to develop into a high-level defender in center field, including a pair of 70-grade tools in his speed and arm strength. Valdez has good bat speed and at least average raw power that could improve to plus when he adds more strength to his lean, athletic frame.

THE FUTURE: Valdez’s tools are ahead of his on-field skills right now, so development time and patience will be required, but he has a very high ceiling thanks to his excellent athleticism. Valdez's game skills and instincts still need to catch up, particularly with his ability to recognize breaking balls.

TRACK RECORD: Triana has had a long wait to play in an official game. He was one of the best players on Cuba's 18U national team in 2017, but he headed to the Dominican Republic in 2018 to showcase for U.S. teams. The Reds signed him for $1.3 million and then sent him to the unofficial tricky league. He was supposed to make his U.S. debut in 2020 but thanks to the coronavirus pandemic he couldn't get a visa for instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Triana worked out for teams as a third baseman, but the Reds took one look at his big, mature frame and immediately slid him to first base, where his skill set will profile. He has plus raw power, but his line-drive swing doesn't always lift the ball over the fence. He showed some issues with breaking balls in the Tricky League, but that can somewhat be chalked up to rust. He could end up as an asset defensively at first thanks to good feet and soft hands.

THE FUTURE: The Reds and Triana have had a long wait to see what he can do in actual games. He has the tools to be a MLB regular at first base if everything develops, but it's hard to feel confident until he gets tested by minor league pitchers.

TRACK RECORD: Teams have gotten understandably nervous about taking prep catchers high in the draft. The Reds, though, have been better than most at scouting prep catchers, picking Devin Mesoraco, Tucker Barnhart, Tyler Stephenson and Joey Votto in the 21st century. A former shortstop, Miller impressed scouts as a well-rounded, athletic backstop.

SCOUTING REPORT: Miller does everything pretty well. Like most catchers, he's a below-average runner who likely will slow further. Other than that, everything projects as fringe-average or better. His lefty swing is simple, repeatable and has the potential to make him an average hitter who produces line-drive doubles to the gap and power that could get to fringe-average. His arm is average, but his soft hands and quiet receiving give him the tools to be an above-average receiver.

THE FUTURE: Miller was viewed as a breakout candidate if there had been a 2020 high school season. Instead, his 2020 season was limited to a few games before the shutdown and some work in instructional league. High school catchers take a while to develop, but Miller has the tools to be a big league regular.

TRACK RECORD: A two-time Top 100 prospect, De Leon made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 2016. He's still prospect-eligible because injuries have ravaged his career, beginning with shoulder inflammation and ending with Tommy John surgery in 2018 that affected his stuff well into 2019. De Leon was acquired by the Reds for cash after the 2019 season and he had a pair of stints in the bullpen.

SCOUTING REPORT: At the end of 2020, De Leon showed glimpses of the form that once made him a top prospect. He regained 3-4 mph on his fastball, turning a 91-92 mph below-average offering back into at least an average pitch. De Leon's fastball doesn't have to be great, but if it's 94-96, it sets up a plus 85-87 mph changeup. De Leon has always thrown the changeup with excellent deception, but his improved arm speed helps him sell it better and it has excellent fading action. His slider improved as well. He doesn't command it as well as his fastball and changeup, but it has plenty of lateral sweep away from righties.

THE FUTURE: Durability will remain a concern considering De Leon's injury history, but a year after the Reds helped Lucas Sims return to prominence, De Leon could be the next reclamation project to click.

TRACK RECORD: After spending big in 2016, the Reds were in the international penalty box, restricted to spending $300,000 or less on signings in 2017. The Reds signed only one player for even $100,000 that year (Leonardo Seminati), but they found Cerda as a low-cost signee who's paid off. Cerda posted the second-best on-base percentage (.402) on the 2018 DSL Reds and was just as impressive in the Rookie-level Appalachian League in 2019. He was invited to instructional league in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Cerda has plenty of tools at his disposal. He has a chance to stick in center field while hitting for power and impressed in the Appalachian League with his feel for the game. He's an above-average runner who flashes an above-average glove in center and has a plus arm that could also fit in right field. Cerda swings and misses too much, but he has survival skills because he also shows a picky batting eye, drawing walks when pitchers try to stay away from his above-average power.

THE FUTURE: Cerda is ready for full-season ball. He has an athletic build, and has a chance to retain his speed to pair with solid power potential.

TRACK RECORD: Thanks to draft rule changes, Friedl holds a record that may go unbroken for years. Friedl went overlooked as a draft-eligible sophomore, but after an impressive summer with USA Baseball, he set off a bidding war and signed with the Reds for $735,000. Now, nondrafted free agents are limited to signing for $20,000, or 2.7 percent of Freidl's bonus.

SCOUTING REPORT: After an injury-plagued 2019 season when he was slowed by a shoulder injury and then shut down because of an ankle injury, Friedl spent the summer at the Reds' alternate training site. There, he once again showed he's a pesky hitter who loves to work counts but doesn't really put much fear in a pitcher's heart. Freidl's well below-average power makes him more of a bottom-of-the-order bat, but he gets on base and should be an average hitter with a contact-oriented approach. He's a plus runner who can play above-average defense in center or left field. His arm is below-average.

THE FUTURE: Friedl has been unpicked in back-to-back Rule 5 drafts. He's a fourth or fifth outfielder whose value is limited by his lack of impact, but he's ready for Triple-A and could help the Reds if injuries hit.

TRACK RECORD: When the Reds drafted Solomon, they were taking a chance on a pitcher with a lot of work ahead. Solomon's performance in junior college wasn't spectacular, but Reds scout Lee Seras believed there was more to come. Three years later, Solomon was throwing 4-5 mph harder at instructional league with a much sharper slider. He tore his right ulnar collateral near the end of instructs and needed Tommy John surgery.

SCOUTING REPORT: Other than Rece Hinds, no Reds player impressed more at instructs than Solomon. He's added strength and uses his legs better in his delivery. Solomon sat 93-97 mph and touched 99, up from the 92-94 he threw in college. His improved arm speed also paid off in a better and harder slider that sat 87-89 mph with significant tilt. Working with two plus pitches, Solomon had the look of a potentially dominating reliever. He also has a seldom-thrown, below-average changeup. Solomon has been a starter for the Reds so far, but he's more likely to end up as a two-pitch power reliever.

THE FUTURE: The Reds were impressed enough by Solomon's improved stuff that they added him to the 40-man roster despite the injury and his lack of experience above Class A. He will miss all of 2021 while he recovers.

TRACK RECORD: A low-profile signing as a 17-year-old, Mey's pro debut could not have been uglier. Hitters hit .370 against him in the Rookie-level Arizona League debut and he walked as many batters as he struck out. The Reds brought him to instructional league in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Mey has the building blocks to be a future MLB starter, even if his debut seemed inauspicious. Mey's fastball sat 93-96 mph at instructional league and can touch 99. His delivery is very smooth and repeatable and he uses a loose arm to generate easy velocity. In addition to his plus fastball, Mey's 80-84 mph slider is potentially average, although he gets on the side of it too often now, which negates some of its depth. Mey doesn't have a third consistent pitch. Mey's control is currently well below-average, but his delivery and athleticism should allow him to significantly improve as he matures and gets stronger.

THE FUTURE: Mey has the athleticism, repeatable delivery and fluid arm action of a potential starter, even if he's still half-decade away from Cincinnati. The 2021 season will be big for him to show he's made strides toward reaching his significant potential.

TRACK RECORD: An astute pick as a $7,500 seventh-rounder out of the College of Idaho, an NAIA school, O'Brien has a long track record of success in the minors, although his 2019 season ended early because of a sore elbow. The Reds picked him up from the Rays in a trade for lefthander Cody Reed after Reed was designated for assignment.

SCOUTING REPORT: O'Brien's 91-95 mph fastball is above-average and flashes plus. He can elevate for swings and misses and tops out at 97. His slider flashes plus as well, but it's erratic. O'Brien's control has been fringe-average, but his command is below-average. His changeup has never really developed.

THE FUTURE: O'Brien's time as a starter may be running out. The Reds added him to their 40-man roster in the offseason, but the cancelled 2020 minor league season means he'll enter 2021 as a 25-year-old who has yet to pitch in Triple-A. O'Brien's future is likely as an up-and-down reliever who hopes to blossom into a middle-innings option.

TRACK RECORD: The actual on-field track record of Contreras as a hitter is pretty limited. Scouts were somewhat concerned about his bat when he was in high school, and he did not hit in 20 games in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2019 before he was sidelined by a wrist injury. He impressed at the plate at the Excellence Tournament in the leadup to the draft and he showed improved power and exit velocities at instructional league in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Contreras' defense at shortstop is his calling card for now. He's an athletic shortstop with plus hands and a plus arm who should be at least an above-average defender. He's also an aboveaverage runner. Now, the question is whether his bat will develop to let him be an everyday regular at short. He's a well-below-average hitter with well-below-average power for now, but there is promise. He needs to keep getting stronger, but his frame gives him the chance to add weight and strength. He has solid bat-to-ball skills, although he needs to improve his pitch recognition.

THE FUTURE: If everything clicks, Contreras will be a steal of a 12th-round pick, but his bat has a long way to go. He should be ready for low Class A in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Ashcraft was one of the top high school players in Alabama in 2016. He led the state with 16 home runs as a junior, but then impressed even more on the mound as a senior as he touched 99 mph. He made five starts for Mississippi State as a freshman, then missed the next year and a half due to hip injuries. He flashed more potential at Alabama-Birmingham in 2019 and pitched reasonably effectively in the Rookie-level Appalachian League after signing.

SCOUTING REPORT: Ashcraft has the potential for two plus pitches. He may not touch 99 mph anymore but he will bump it up to 97, and his plus curveball is better than his fastball. The shutdown did Ashcraft no favors. More than anything, he needs regular innings to develop. He has thrown less than 140 innings combined since high school. Ashcraft's command and control remain below-average, but they have made strides in pro ball—he walked six batters per nine during his abbreviated college career.

THE FUTURE: Ashcraft's stuff is as good as almost any Reds pitching prospect's arsenal, but his injuries and the pandemic have left him behind on the development curve. A full, healthy 2021 in full season ball would be a big step.