Cincinnati Reds Organization Discussion

by John Sickels on Jan 4, 2026 1:01 PM EST

I am now working on the Chicago Cubs top prospect list. The next team in line is the Cincinnati Reds, followed by the Oakland Athletics to finish the process. After that, I will revise Top 20 lists to reflect trades, as well as review each grade for all players.

Use this thread to discuss the Cincinnati Reds farm system, point out sleepers, etc. This one will be particularly interesting since they traded off three of their best prospects in Yonder Alonso, Yasmani Grandal, and Brad Boxberger. How big of a hit to the system is this? Should Reds fans be excited about both the short-term and long-term?

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Read More: Yonder Alonso (1B - SDP), Yasmani Grandal (C - SDP), Oakland Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs

Comments

Since Alonso and Grandal were traded after the Padres top 20 came out,

what grades would they have received and where would they have ranked in the Reds list? Also, where do they rank in the Padres list?

Thanks.

by Looney4baseball on Jan 4, 2026 1:28 PM EST reply actions

reading is fundamental :)

Apparently, “After that, I will revise Top 20 lists to reflect trades, as well as review each grade for all players” did not register the first time. Was just curious as to the grades of Alonso and Grandal. My bad.

by Looney4baseball on Jan 4, 2026 1:31 PM EST up reply actions

It's take a hit, for certain...

but they dealt from a position of strength, at least to get Latos.

The issue for the Reds’ system is lack of depth - dealing Alonso, Grandal, and Boxberger weakened the system as a whole, but moreso because Mesoraco & Cozart are likely in the bigs in 2012, leaving Hamilton as the next big name in the minors, and I think we all know his pluses and minuses. Beyond him, there are lots of arms with potential to break out in this system, but it just seems like a ‘light’ system to me.

by dbreer23 on Jan 4, 2026 1:38 PM EST reply actions

Reds pitching

I still like a lot of the Reds pitchers - especially in the lower minors. I’m interested in to see what John has to say about Pedro Villareal, Tim Crabbe, Stalin Gerson, Justice French, Christopher Manno, Tony Cingrani, Alejandro Chacin and Vaughn Covington, I think there is a lot of depth there. No stars per se but some quality arms. If one or two of them pan out if would be great.

by Votto for President - 2012 on Jan 4, 2026 1:47 PM EST reply actions

No stars per se

Possibly, but Yorman Rodriguez is starting to figure “it” out. He would very easily become a star. He could also very easily fizzle out in AA.

by JoelGuzman'sScout on Jan 5, 2026 7:27 AM EST up reply actions

Yorman

Yes I do believe he could be very good but he is still a way off. I was referring to the list of pitchers I threw out there.

by Votto for President - 2012 on Jan 5, 2026 9:36 AM EST up reply actions

Whoa! lol

by charles wallace on Jan 5, 2026 9:53 AM EST up reply actions

Reply fail...

by charles wallace on Jan 5, 2026 9:53 AM EST up reply actions

Amir

What to do with Million Dollar Man?

by ttnorm on Jan 4, 2026 3:43 PM EST reply actions

Jocketty

Never realized that he looks a lot like Gerald Ford until now.

by ttnorm on Jan 4, 2026 5:28 PM EST reply actions

Ha ha, wow…he totally does.

The bird is struggling out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever wants to be born, must first destroy a world.

by Stupendous Man on Jan 5, 2026 8:47 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

'Say Homer, do you like football?'

‘Do you like nachos?’

by Matt0330 on Jan 5, 2026 10:26 AM EST up reply actions

"Do I ever?!? Yes, Mr. President..."

(insert dual tumble to the ground)

D’OH!

by dbreer23 on Jan 6, 2026 12:28 PM EST up reply actions

Exactly!

Nice. Classic ending to a classic episode.

by Matt0330 on Jan 6, 2026 2:30 PM EST up reply actions

I'd say John Lithgow

by Charlie Scrabbles on Jan 6, 2026 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

I still like the systems depth

But it did take a hit with the trades. I am admittedly higher on Sappelt than anywhere else I saw, and I think the system is missing some bats at this point outside of Mesoraco now that they traded their four most professional ones away (aside from Mesoraco). Like their pitchers though, there is plenty of guys who have the talent, but haven’t put it together yet, who could really break out next year and somewhat replenish what left. Probably a middle tier system at this point, but with plenty of upside even if a bunch of it is still pretty raw.

www.redsminorleagues.com

by dougdirt on Jan 4, 2026 6:24 PM EST reply actions

Some guys I wanna see johns opinion on

Brodie greene, david Vidal, Kyle lotzkar, and Daniel renken

by scoods on Jan 4, 2026 6:37 PM EST reply actions

Ismael Guillon

My personal favorite of the pitchers in the system. Rough year for him last year but it will be interesting to see how the Reds handle him and how he bounces back.

by Zeke K on Jan 4, 2026 8:26 PM EST reply actions

Just showing up here to say the Chris Manno should be on the list

we never should have traded him for Gomes

MOAR SEVERINO!

by jeff550 on Jan 4, 2026 9:29 PM EST reply actions

Sleeper

Juan Duran had a nice bounce back year at age 20 in a full-season pitchers’ league all year. Very good power production; plate discipline still needs a lot of work tho. Very tall at 6’7".

by rhd on Jan 4, 2026 9:44 PM EST reply actions

Yeah,

the swing is still long, but I was reminded a bit of John Mayberry, Jr in ST looks. It took Mayberry until his late 20s to figure things out, of course…

by charles wallace on Jan 5, 2026 12:46 AM EST up reply actions

He might put up cartoonish numbers in Bakersfield.

by Eastwindquinn on Jan 7, 2026 8:29 PM EST up reply actions

Brackman

Will he make the list? What do people think of his chances?

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 4, 2026 11:49 PM EST reply actions

come back please

I’m in the middle of year end reporting here!

by BigG'S on Jan 5, 2026 9:34 PM EST up reply actions

I will

I a’m coming back from vacation this weekend

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 5, 2026 11:42 PM EST up reply actions

TG

I will roll over the current set of polls in the next hour or so

by BigG'S on Jan 6, 2026 6:17 PM EST up reply actions

Sulbaran

is one of my favorites of the pitchers. Solid stuff and consistent strikeout ability. Still young, and if the control improves a bit he’s a potential 3/4 starter. Sounds like he’s outgrowing some of the personal issues. I know Corcino is the bigger name for many, but I like Sulbaran to take a step forward. The arm action is a little arm and he needs to concentrate on a consistent front foot landing, but the arm is loose and the delivery is sound and repeated well. He’s getting above avg to plus FB velo without a lot of effort.

by charles wallace on Jan 5, 2026 12:52 AM EST reply actions

Should read: the arm action is a little long.

by charles wallace on Jan 5, 2026 12:53 AM EST up reply actions

Brodie Greene

Brodie Greene is the new Todd Frazier. The Reds appear to be bound and determined to find someplace for him to play in the infield, but he just doesn’t have the quickness to play there.

I like Didi Gregorius, but I don’t know if the bat’s going to play.

Keep an eye on Henry Rodriguez. He’s hit everywhere he’s played.

Mike Emeigh http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/minor_key/

by MikeE on Jan 6, 2026 10:03 PM EST reply actions