With the announcement of Terry Francona as the new manager of the Cincinnati Reds, the team is preparing for a future led by a younger roster featuring stars like Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain. Reds’ President of Baseball Operations, Nick Krall, has made it clear that the team’s strategy will continue to rely on developing homegrown talent to build for the long term.
“We’re always going to be a small-market club,” Krall said following the dismissal of former manager David Bell. “That’s not going to change. Our success will depend on drafting, developing, and bringing younger players up, and we need those players to succeed at the major league level.”
As the Reds look toward 2025, here are three key prospects poised to make an impact:
RHP Chase Petty
Ranked as the No. 8 prospect in the Reds’ organization by MLB Pipeline, Chase Petty finished the 2024 season in Triple-A Louisville, where he posted an impressive 1.80 ERA in two starts. Throughout his full season with Double-A Chattanooga, Petty went 10-5 with a 4.39 ERA over 26 starts, striking out 123 batters in 127 innings. Petty, who will turn 22 in April, overcame early-season struggles, finishing strong with three of his last four starts going seven innings.
Acquired in the 2022 trade that sent Sonny Gray to the Twins, Petty is expected to attend big league camp in Spring Training. He could be called up to the majors if injuries test the Reds’ pitching depth in 2025.
SS Edwin Arroyo
Ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the Reds’ organization and No. 65 overall, Edwin Arroyo lost his 2024 season due to a shoulder injury suffered during Spring Training. Arroyo, who was a key part of the 2022 trade that sent Luis Castillo to the Mariners, is considered one of the best defensive shortstops in the Reds’ system.
Despite the setback, Arroyo has been rehabbing and participating in the Arizona Fall League to make up for lost time. If Arroyo performs well early in 2025 and reaches Triple-A, the Reds may need to adjust their infield to make room for him.
RHP Chase Burns
The Reds’ top prospect and No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Chase Burns is projected to make his major league debut by 2026. However, the 21-year-old could potentially arrive in 2025 if he follows the fast track of fellow Wake Forest pitcher Rhett Lowder, who reached the majors within a year of being drafted. Burns signed a record $9.25 million bonus and spent 2024 preparing at the Reds’ Arizona complex. If the Reds need rotation help late in 2025, Burns could be a solution.
These young talents represent the future of the Reds as the team continues to rely on its player development pipeline under Francona’s leadership.
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